Buy A Bulletproof Tata Safari For Roughly Same Price As High-end Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is one of the most successful models from the Indian automaker in recent times. Launched in 2017, the compact SUV is one of the most spacious and practical vehicles in its segment, and even though it’s not at the very top it manages very respectable sales figures every month. The Nexon also received a mid-life facelift in early 2020, which gave it a wholly redesigned front-end with a more angular design language and even more, features have been added throughout the range. Overall the Nexon is a great buy, But what if you knew you could buy a used bulletproof Tata Safari for the same price as an upper-midrange Nexon instead? Well, then you’ve come to the right place.

The picture above is from a Facebook ad for a used 2008 model Tata Safari which comes with only one but very noticeable modification, that it is bulletproof. The ad-mentions that is was being used by the ex-Chief Minister of UP, but doesn’t say who. Since modifying a vehicle to be bulletproof means adding a load of weight in protective armour, this Safari also gets upgraded suspension to compensate for the added weight. It also comes with a VIP number plate as it has been re-registered by the current owner, though other than that it remains largely stock. The bulletproof Safari has done 70,000 kms and going by the pictures, it looks to be in good condition. Asking price for this Safari? Rs 12 lakhs.

For Rs 12 lakh, its much younger cousin the Tata Nexon only gets you the upper-mid range XZ+(O) MT dual-tone option at Rs 12.10 lakh or the non-dual-tone version of the same variant for Rs 11.90 lakh. Over that, there are 7 more variants with the most expensive one coming in at Rs 12.70 lakh. You can make a case for the Nexon in that is a much newer vehicle and comes with modern features, but then again you don’t come across a bulletproof Tata Safari every day that’s for sale.

The bulletproof Tata Safari in the pictures is powered by 2.2-litre Dicor turbo-diesel engine which makes 140 PS and 320 Nm of max power and torque respectively and comes mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The Tata Nexon is available in two engine options, a 1.2-litre turbo petrol making 120 PS/170 Nm of max figures or a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel which makes 110 PS/260 Nm of peak figures. Both engines can be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed AMT.