Tata Harrier: The Indian SUV market has seen a tremendous growth in sales and while there are many capable players in the segment, one that stands out is the Tata Harrier; a mid-size SUV that comes with a butch design and strong engineering.
First introduced in 2019 and since updated, the Harrier is Tata Motors’ attempt to take on foreign rivals on their home turf.
Bold design, a strong diesel engine and a slew of modern features makes the Harrier appealing to buyers who want something more than the average compact SUV but don’t want to pay for a full-size one.
Here’s a closer look at the Harrier and what it has to offer, as well as where it may fall short.
Tata Harrier Design & Exterior:
The Looks That Make The Heads Turn, On-Road Presence
The Harrier has a massive, aggressive design going for it, which is one of its biggest strengths. The SUV has a dominant stance with a large grille, split headlamp design, and bonnet positioned high up.
The new update is an even sharper design with slimmer LED DRLs, new bumpers and cooler alloy wheels.
It’s sophisticated at the rear too, with a linked tail-lamp design and unadorned lines. LooksThe Harrier appears more expensive than its price tag would have you believe, and looks imposing in a sea of cookie cutter crossovers in a parking lot. From either end, the Harrier is every bit the upmarket SUV that it desires to be.
Inside and Comfort: Roomy, Modern, and Driver-Focused
Features and materials used The Harrier is built by integrating a mix of soft-touch materials and quality finishes in its cabin. The dashboard design is pretty simple with a big ol’ 10.25-inch touchscreen for infotainment stealing the show.
Tata has included a fully digital instrument cluster as well in the top-of-the-line variants so as to offer customers a more comprehensive view of vehicle information.
And the panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, ventilated front seats and wireless charging pad certainly help the appeal too. The legroom and headroom for both rows is sufficient. The backseat now reclines a smidge for better long-distance comfort. Boot space is enough for a weekend’s worth of luggage for a small family.
Ride and Handling: Rock-Solid Diesel Power
Powering the Tata Harrier is a 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel engine (sourced from Fiat) that delivers 170 PS and 350 Nm. It is paired to a choice of two transmissions, 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.
On the highway, the motor feels strong and there is solid mid-range punch, so overtaking is easy.
NVH levels are better in newer models even if the engine is a tad vocal at lower rpm’s. The Harrier rides decently well, that being one of its highs — planted on highways and absorbent on rough roads.
The hydraulic steering provides some decent feedback; only at parking speeds does it feel a little heavy.
Where the Harrier disappoints, however, is in the lack of a petrol or all-wheel drive (AWD) option both of which are available in some competitors.
Features and Safety: Tech Guys, With Attitude
Topping variants also now sport ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), which includes the likes of lane departure warning, blind-spot detection and autonomous emergency braking. It also has six airbags, ABS, ESC, traction control, and 360-degree camera.
The SUV also recently achieved a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating therefore, being one of the safest options in its class — a great deal for safety first buyers.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Muscular and Premium road presence
Highway-friendly diesel with plenty of power.
Comfortable and spacious cabin with high-quality materials
Feature rich, with ADAS and Panoramic Sunroof
5-star safety rating by Global NCAP
Cons:
No gasoline engine or all-wheel drive model
Diesel at idle may be a bit noisy
Sometimes, the interface can be slow to respond.
Heavy steering at low speeds
Tata Harrier Conclusion
The Tata Harrier, therefore, appears to be an exciting product for those in the market for a macho SUV that is safe, offers great comfort and performance.
Nissan’s ultra-popular compact lacks some drivetrain diversity, but what it does, especially in upper trims, is competitive with more expensive competition.
No matter if you’re ready to tackle highway drives or city traffic or are just looking for an SUV that makes a statement, the Harrier is a smart contender that demands serious attention.