Forland recently introduced a brand-new MPV named Safari. This universal vehicle has seven seats, a strong engine, and many modern features and comforts. It’s going head-to-head with Suzuki’s well-known APV, a popular choice among families, and car rental services for journeys to the northern regions, also known as a complete family car.
Since this is a rival to the Suzuki APV, let’s see how it’s better than the Suzuki APV and what new features it offers.
The Exterior:
The Safari’s overall design appears relatively understated. The front of the MPV has large headlights, a slightly tilting hood, a roomy grille, and fog lamps positioned at the edges of the bumper. The dual-tone paint adds a touch of character to help it stand out, but the color choice seems somewhat uninspiring,
When you look at its color, it doesn’t appear to be exceptionally good; it lacks a professional touch. If we were to see it in black or a different color, it might look more inspiring.
Now, if we focus on the rear of the vehicle, you’ll notice that it features a new design for its taillights, which gives it an appealing look. When you look at the vertical lights, they align with reflectors, creating a unique and distinct appearance. The vertical lights resemble something you might find in the Toyota Hiace, almost like a mini version, adding to its charm.
The Interior:
If we look at its dashboard, it doesn’t appear to have the charm of wood and beige tones, which should have added to its beauty. This dual-tone color scheme extends to the seats, which blend beige and dark grey, creating a unified and cohesive look. You’ll also find a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers Bluetooth connectivity, and a dual-zone climate control system adds comfort and convenience.
If we examine it further, the air conditioning controls have been placed right below, near the gearing system. This arrangement works well, especially when the driver needs to make quick adjustments while driving.
Engine:
The Safari, specifically the Deluxe and Comfort versions, has a 1,500-CC 4-cylinder EFI engine paired with a 5-speed gearbox. This engine generates 107 horsepower and 147 Nm of torque, comparable to the Suzuki APV (with 104 horsepower and 128 Nm of torque), but it offers slightly better torque.
The Standard model, on the other hand, features a 1,300 CC engine with the same 5-speed transmission. It’s worth noting that this MPV is exclusively available with a manual transmission.
Forland claims that the Safari achieves a fuel consumption rate of 13-14 kilometers per liter for city driving.
The Suzuki APV achieves an average fuel consumption of 13-14.09 kilometers per liter (km/L). In simpler terms, this means that for every liter of fuel, the Suzuki APV can cover a distance of 14.09 kilometers.
The average fuel consumption is the same, but the Forland Safari is a newer version, so there might be a slight difference.
Features and Safety Options
This is where the Safari MPV stands out from its competitors in the market. It comes equipped with electronic power steering, a rearview camera, DRLs (Daytime Running Lights), central locking, power windows for the front seats, ABS brakes, tire pressure monitoring, door open warning, parking brake warning, and a seat-belt warning for the driver.
Moreover, all seats have seatbelts and an ISOFIX child seat anchor for added safety.
Price, Booking and Availability
The Forland Safari is now out and can be reserved at authorized dealerships in Pakistan. You have three options to choose from, each with its price tag:
- Standard: Priced at Rs. 37.99 Lac.
- Comfort: Priced at Rs. 40.99 Lac.
- Deluxe: Priced at Rs. 42.99 Lac.
The Comfort version doesn’t come with features like rear AC, dual-color paint, central locking, power windows for the front seats, touchscreen display, fog lamps, reverse camera, ABS, and tire pressure monitoring. The Standard model goes even further by offering a smaller 1,300 CC engine to decrease the price.
