Tata Harrier 2019-2023

The interior of the contents/Tata Harrier has a contemporary layout, and if you're coming from a tiny vehicle or compact SUV, the cabin will be a significant boost in both space and quality. It has plenty to keep you content even on longer rides, whether you're the driver or a passenger in the back seat. The enormous panoramic sunroof is the first thing you will notice when you go inside the Tata Harrier. This is a feature that was previously unavailable but is now offered with a modest facelift.

The dual-tone black and brown colour scheme, which looks much better than the beige and black used by competitors, is carried over into the cabin. Although an all-black theme would have been more logical, the dual-tone colours that are now available look fantastic. A larger 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with compatibility for contemporary connectivity technologies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now included in the well-designed dashboard. In contrast, the dual-tone black and beige colour, the steering wheel, dashboard, door handles, door pads, AC vents, and touchscreen now have silver trim.

The leatherette treatment continues, and yes, the overall cabin quality is still quite good. The rear seat has enough room for three adults, and the long 2741 mm wheelbase allows you to stretch your legs. You also get a JBL sound system, which ensures an excellent aural experience. The overall material quality is good, and the boot space, at 425 litres, is more than adequate to accommodate a couple of large pieces of luggage as well as smaller ones.

contents/Tata_Harrier is powered by an FCA-sourced 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel engine. This four-pot oil burner churns out 170 PS of maximum power with 350 Nm of peak torque. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the SUV can easily potter around in the second cog due to well-contained turbo-lag and abundance of torque. However, the manual transmission is not recommended for people driving purely in the city as the long travel of the clutch will make things uncomfortable.

The automatic transmission variant offers stress-free driving that makes it a better choice for both city as well as highway users. The fuel economy for the MT sticks to 16.35 kmpl while for the AT, it is 14.63 kmpl. With three driving modes- City, Sports and Eco- the driver can adjust the car’s performance depending on his usage. The Sport mode surely makes things fun with a sharper throttle response while the Eco mode can be used to obtain the highest possible fuel economy. The city mode provides a mix of both powerful performance and high fuel efficiency.

The NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) levels are well contained in the Harrier, but the motor gets a bit more vocal once it revs past the 2,800 RPM mark. The automatic transmission is quick to respond when you want to overtake some fast-moving traffic. There are no paddle shifters on offer, but you can use the Manual mode on the gear lever to override the electronics.

Among the highlights of the Tata Harrier is its great ride and handling characteristics. A major part of the well-sorted dynamics is played by the JLR L550-derived OMEGA architecture. The SUV offers a pliant ride even over slightly broken surfaces and the body roll remains quite well-contained even when going through twisties at high speeds. In fact, the car can hide all the bulk when being thrown hard into the corners. This, despite its 1,675 kg kerb weight and a long wheelbase measuring 2,741 mm. And out on a fast expressway, the car really comes into its elements. Even at high three-digit speeds, the suspension keeps the Harrier stable, and the steering continues to inspire confidence.

The only complaint we have with the Tata Harrier is not with the ride and handling setup but with the fact that the brakes have been carried over from the previous version. Like before, there are no disc brakes at rear, and given the weight of the vehicle, it’s not particularly easy for the current setup to shed momentum. Also, the bite from the anchors could have been sharper.

Although Tata has consistently been quick to promote the Global NCAP scores of their vehicles, the Harrier has curiously not yet undergone testing. When the SUV is finally certified by the Global NCAP, it would be reasonable to anticipate a rather good rating given Tata's successful track record.

Additionally, the abundance of safety features should keep you secure in difficult circumstances. Six airbags, an electronic brake-force distribution anti-lock braking system, an electronic stability program, disc brake wiping, hill hold control, rollover mitigation, hill descent control, and traction control are all standard on the Harrier. Only dual airbags are included in the SUV's lower trim levels, and ISOFIX child seat mounts are also absent.