Tata's Safari EV, the three-row electric SUV, has slipped to January 2027. It's expected to start around ₹22.5 lakh, costing ₹2–3 lakh more than the Harrier EV already on sale. The real question for buyers is simple: do you actually need that third row, or is the cheaper Harrier EV enough?
Safari EV launch: now January 2027, not late 2026
Tata Safari EV
SUVThe Safari EV was earlier pegged for late 2026, but it's now expected in January 2027. Tata has not confirmed this date, a battery size, a certified range or a price. So treat everything here as expected, not official. What we do know is that it will be Tata's new flagship EV, sitting above the Harrier EV. It's built on the same acti.ev+ platform that already underpins the Harrier EV.
Expected price: ₹22.5–30 lakh, about ₹2–3 lakh above Harrier EV
The Safari EV is expected to cost around ₹22.5 lakh (ex-showroom) at the base, going up to ₹30 lakh for the top trim. Ex-showroom means you add road tax, registration and insurance for the on-road price, which varies by state. That base figure is roughly ₹2–3 lakh more than the Harrier EV, and the extra money mainly buys you the third row. Since Tata hasn't shared a variant list yet, we can't do a full trim walk. Expect the cheaper trims to use the smaller 65 kWh battery and fewer features, with the 75 kWh (or rumoured 80 kWh) pack reserved for the top.
Tata Safari EV — Price by variant
| Variant | Ex-showroom price |
|---|---|
| Expected | ₹22.5 lakh |
(This is not confirmed but expected price)
80 kWh battery rumour: longest-range Tata EV yet?
The Harrier EV already offers 65 kWh and 75 kWh packs, and these are expected on the Safari EV too. But reports suggest a bigger 80 kWh pack (the battery size that decides range) could come on the top trims. If true, that would make the Safari EV the longest-range Tata EV yet. It would also give it a paper edge over the Mahindra XEV 9S, whose top variant uses a 79 kWh pack. For now this is a report, not confirmed by Tata, so don't bank on it.
Powertrain, range & charging vs Harrier EV and XEV 9S
Power numbers should mirror the Harrier EV. The rear-wheel-drive version makes about 238 PS (roughly 235 bhp) and 315 Nm of torque (pulling power). An all-wheel-drive setup adds a front motor, pushing torque to around 504 Nm. On range, the Harrier EV's 75 kWh RWD claims 627 km ARAI (ARAI is a government test, always higher than real driving). In real-world use, expect closer to 430–450 km, more on the highway at steady speeds, less in heavy city traffic. For running cost, charging at home works out to roughly ₹1–1.5 per km, against ₹7–9 per km for petrol, so it's about 5–6 times cheaper to run.
Triple screens, features & safety: what's new vs the ICE Safari
Inside, the Safari EV is expected to get a Sierra-style triple-screen dashboard, including a display for the front passenger. Most of the kit should carry over from the Harrier EV: ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control and a powered tailgate. On the safety front, expect a Level 2 ADAS suite (safety tech that can brake and steer-correct for you), a 540-degree camera and multiple airbags. Outside, the EV gets a closed-off grille, aero alloy wheels and fresh badging. Much of the rest stays close to the petrol-diesel Safari you already know.
Rivals & the ₹ gap: Mahindra XEV 9S, MG Hector Tomahawk EV
The Safari EV's main rival is the Mahindra XEV 9S, which starts at ₹20.65 lakh, about ₹1.85 lakh less than the Safari EV's expected base. The big catch: the XEV 9S is on sale now, while the Safari EV is still months away. The MG Hector Tomahawk EV, with a 69.2 kWh pack and up to 517 km claimed range, is the other three-row electric option in this space. Among Tata's own EVs, the Curvv EV (₹17.19–19.69 lakh) is smaller and five-seat only. So the Safari EV's clearest selling point is a usable third row with the longest potential range in Tata's line-up.
Should you wait for Safari EV, or buy Harrier EV now?
Tata Harrier EV
SUVHere's the honest read. If you genuinely need three usable rows of seating, the Safari EV is the one Tata EV worth waiting for, because nothing in the brand's range offers it today. But if five seats are enough for your family, the Harrier EV is already on sale, does the same job on the same platform, and will undercut the Safari EV by ₹2–3 lakh. Our pick of the wait is the 75 kWh six-seat trim, which should balance range and comfort. Wait only if that third row is the actual reason you're shopping.
References: Tata India — official website
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