Tata Motors launched the new Harrier back in October 2023. The full-size SUV came with a starting price tag of Rs. 15.49 lakh in India. The Harrier Facelift features refreshed interiors and some newly added features. While the overall silhouette of the SUV remains the same as before with some exterior updates such as a new grille and more aggressive styling. The new Tata Harrier rivals the likes of the Jeep Compass, Mahindra XUV700 and the MG Hector. If you are planning to buy an SUV soon, the Tata Harrier could be one of your best options. In this article, we will jot down 5 pros and cons of the Tata Harrier which you should know before buying this SUV. Before moving ahead, join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Group to stay updated on the latest automotive news.
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Tata Harrier Pros
1. Segment's Best Ground Clearance
Tata Harrier has a ground clearance of 205mm which is best in the segment. Apart from there are various drive modes on offer- Eco, City and Sport. The new Tata Harrier facelift also gets ESP-based models which significantly enhance its off-road capability.
2. Most Variants Get AT Options
Tata Harrier gets automatic options in most of its variants except the Smart, Smart (O), Pure and Pure (O) variants. It is noteworthy that all the mid and top-end variants of the SUV come with an automatic transmission option. The upgrade from the Pure Plus (the cheapest automatic option) costs Rs. 1.40 lakh more than the manual version of the same. The new Tata Harrier Automatic price starts from Rs. 19.99 lakh to 26.44 lakh (ex-showroom).
3. Most Affordable SUV With ADAS
The pre-facelift model got the ADAS on offer with only the XZ+ variant of the SUV. Although, the new Harrier Facelift is the most affordable SUV that offers an ADAS suite in its segment. The Harrier Facelift carries ADAS from the mid-spec Adventure variant to the Fearless Plus top-end variant.
The ADAS suite of the SUV offers features such as traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning and avoidance assist, rear collision warning, blind spot detection, driver drowsiness detection, adaptive cruise control, auto high beam, lane change assist and others.
4. Affordable Base Variants Than Rivals
Tata Motors has priced the new Harrier strategically lower than all its rivals. The new Harrier is much more affordable than its straight competitors like the XUV700 and MG Hector when it comes to the base variant. On the other hand, the XUV700 MX diesel trim costs much less than the Harrier Smart and Smart (O) variant. While it lacks some major features that Harrier offers.
5. Exudes a real SUV Stance
When hits the roads, the Tata Harrier exudes a real SUV stance with its noticeable road presence. Even in its pre-facelift phase, the Tata Harrier facelift had an aggressive stance, but the new facelift gets more aggressive design upgrades which makes it a worthy option in its segment.
Tata Harrier Cons
1. Higher Variants are Overpriced
However, the base variant of the SUV is aggressively priced. The mid-spec and top-end variants are quite overpriced. Any upgrade from the Adventure variant does not justify the value of the features it offers.
2. No 4x4 Drivetrain
Despite being a straight competitor of the XUV700 and Jeep Compass, Tata Harrier has no 4x4 drivetrain option which becomes a deal breaker for some buyers. It is noteworthy that the Tata Harrier is based on a monocoque chassis which is capable of handling a 4x4 drivetrain. For this reason, the multi-terrain modes offered with the SUV are of no or nominal use.
3. Mid-Spec Variants Lack Features
Feature distribution is one of the biggest cons of the Harrier. While the base Smart variant has no convenience features inside the cabin, feature distribution throughout the cabin is not appreciable. We are saying this because the Smart variant of the Harrier lacks necessary features such as power mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control and height-adjustable driver seat.
On the other hand, the mid-spec trims of the SUV lack multiple features that should be offered in their respective price segment. The strategy of cutting must-have features and offering them in higher variants is not a good thing at all.
4. No Petrol Variant on Offer
Tata Motors decided to not offer any petrol option for the Harrier. While the stricter emission regulations allow to keep diesel cars only for 10 years in areas like Delhi-NCR. If someone wishes to keep their vehicle for a longer duration, they can't do this because there is no petrol option. While the MG Hector and XUV700 are offered in petrol trims also. However, there is a possibility of the introduction of a petrol variant for the Harrier.
5. No Adaptive cruise control on MT Variants
The new Harrier Facelift gets an exciting ADAS suite, the manual variants of the SUV lack adaptive cruise control. While its rivals offer this feature with the manual variants.
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Verdict
The Tata Harrier stands out in its segment with class-leading ground clearance, extensive automatic variant availability, and the most affordable ADAS system. However, it falls short with overpricing in higher variants, lack of a 4x4 option, and feature discrepancies across mid-spec trims. The absence of a petrol variant and adaptive cruise control on manual versions further limit its appeal.
