Tata safari made its debut at the 1998 auto expo. Its humongous proportions and those manly looks made it an instant hit. Having a 4WD option, Safari was widely recognized for off-road capabilities. The massive amount of ground clearance further adding to the that go anywhere factor.
Safari's strong character was one of its kind back in the day, and there wasn't any other car that could stand toe-to-toe with its stature. The car's road presence was so strong that it made the traffic around it look petite and insignificant. It was the first time that the Indian market got familiar with the concept of climbing into the car instead of the conventional way of sitting in the car.
History Of Indian Automobile Design (1998)