There’s little doubt that the Safari DiCOR is much improved. It now has more power, better performance and freshened looks, all of which go a long way in making it competitive. Tata has provided for a wide range, that extends upwards from the DiCOR LX at Rs 8.6 lakh, with a Safari to fit almost any budget. The VX, the top-of-the-line DiCOR, is also superbly kited out. And you can’t take away how appropriate, how right the Safari still is for the market, especially how comfortable it is to travel in and the tremendous value it offers. But factors like the lack of refinement of the motor, its average all-round performance and poor dynamics mean the Safari loses a match it should rightly have won. The Ford wins, but only by default. It clearly needs some new bits like a common rail motor, an up-to-date rear suspension, a modern four-wheel-drive system and new interiors. But it still wins thanks to its built-to-last feel, appealing looks, smooth drive and comfortable interiors. It does everything you would expect of an SUV and does most of them better than the DiCOR. A technical knockout if you will.