Tata Harrier 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

What are the variants on offer for 2020 Tata Harrier?

The Tata Harrier reaches the market in 4 variants, namely: XE, XM, XT, and XZ, with the XE being the base trim and the XZ resting at the top of the bunch. Prices for the Harrier starts at Rs. 12.99 Lacs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and can go up to Rs. 16.55 Lacs for the top XZ variant.  

However, you also get two cosmetic options on the XZ, which are- Dual Tone, and Dark Edition. The Dual Tone tweak adds a blacked-out roof to the vehicle, and the Dark Edition, which features all-black exteriors and interiors. These two editions drain out an additional sum of Rs.20,000 over the XZ trim, thus taking the prices up to around 16.75 Lacs.

The variation among various trims available is confined to the likes of creature comfort features that help cater to an audience who can nit-pick on the perfect one for them. A few secondary safety features are also added to the top end variants which focuses on making off-roading simpler.

Which variant should you go for?

We’d recommend you to go for the XZ variant since it bundles a whole lot of features that make your Harrier a true-blue SUV. With highlights such as terrain response modes, traction control, and hill assist, you can take all roads and no roads with your Tata Harrier. Moreover, with upgrades such as Xenon HID projector headlamps, and an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, the XZ rather becomes a tempting choice to go for.

Tata Harrier March Offers and Discounts!

There are presently no offers on the BS6 compliant Tata Harrier, but you can get discount offers on BS4 stock, if available. The discount amount is listed below for each of its variants.

* All the above offers are valid for existing BS4 stock; subject to availability

Also read,

How does MG Motor's wildcard entry fare against the Tata Harrier?

Can the Jeep Compass mask Harrier's success?

How does the ageing Mahindra XUV500 stand against the new kid on the block?

How potent are the new set of engines from Tata?

The Tata harrier gets a 1956cc, 4 cylinder Kryotec diesel engine, with an electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger, which is derived from Fiat. For the Harrier, this engine churns out a good 140 PS of power and 350 lb.-ft. Of torque. The Jeep Compass shares this powerhouse with Tata, however, in that case, it is tuned up to 173 PS, which just happens to be 33 more PS than that of the Harrier. 

The Harrier’s 2.0L Kryotec engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission(sorry pals, no automatic for you this time), that delivers all this power to the front wheels in a no-nonsense manner. Though Harrier’s transmission is not as slick as the one in Compass, the gearbox feels light enough. One of the greatest highlights of Harrier’s transmission arrangement is its clutch. The Pedal does not feel heavy to operate and is quite easy to modulate.

The Harrier’s power figures may look solid when considered in solidarity, but place the ride against its rivals, and the tables simply flip. It is the most underpowered ride of the segment. The 2.0L turbocharged engine triumphs the table, just not inside a Harrier instead, in a Jeep. The Compass, which shares its powerhouse with the Harrier comes out as the most powerful vehicle of the segment at 173 PS. The Mahindra XUV and the wildcard entrant MG Hector make a close chase at 170 PS and finally ranks the Harrier at a huge difference of 140PS.

How quick is Tata Harrier from 0-100?

The Harrier may seem like an underdog, considering its power figures, but keep that perception off for a while. The Harrier, weighing at 1675 Kgs, is one of the heaviest vehicles in this segment. With a power to weight ratio of 83 ps/ ton, the Harrier surprise us with its dashing capabilities. The diesel engine moves off the mark with the utmost ease.

The ride sprints from 0-100 KMPH in 10.84 seconds, which just happens to be a respectable figure for a car of such dimensions. The Kryotec engine does impressively in hauling an SUV of such bulk with ease and in that endeavour, surpassing its competitors to be one of the best sprinters. The gearbox is tuned linearly, which doesn't give you the jitters and thus keeps you comfortable even at triple-digit speeds.

As expected, the Jeep Compass comes out as the fastest set of wheels in this league, with a 0-100 time of 10.50 seconds. The Harrier ranks second with 10.84 seconds under its belt, whereas the XUV and the Hector ask for 11.51 seconds and 14.21 seconds respectively, and this is mostly due to added kerb weight and lazier gearboxes.

How impressive is the handling characteristics of 2020 Harrier?

With names like Sierra, Safari, and Nexon in its portfolio, Tata has had its fair share of manufacturing SUVs. Just like the above-mentioned heavyweights, the Harrier is a delight to be in as well but with much better driving dynamics and body control, thanks to the OMEGARC platform Depress that clutch, push the start button, and you can feel a bit of rumble, as the engine lights up that spirit. Oh well, Typical Tata stuff!

The Harrier starts rolling from a standstill, in its second gear, with the utmost ease. Well, not absolutely a breathtaking one, yet the Harrier stood firm on our expectations. Rev that pedal up, and the power bombards at around 1800 RPM, taking the Harrier through highway cruising speedometer digits with ease. Continue pinning the throttle, and the engine starts fizzling after the 3000 rpm mark. Let the needle cross the 4200 rpm mark, and *poof*, the Harrier runs out of the adrenaline. 

The Harrier apart from its default “City” mode gets two more modes, which are - Eco, and Sport. The “Eco” mode, as the name suggests, lames the throttle response, inclining more towards limiting engine output, and saving fuel. The “Sport” mode, on the other hand, makes it a no holds barred affair. The ride becomes ultra-responsive to throttle inputs, once the Sport mode is turned on. 

How sure-footed is the braking in Harrier?

The braking performance of this Tata offering is the last thing the owners will complain about. The Harrier boasts Disc brakes at the front, and Drums at the rear. Though the 100-0 data is not yet available for the ride, yet it performs well in this department. All the Harrier variants get ABS and EBD as standard features.

The best part about the Harrier’s ABS is that it does not make an unwanted entry. The ABS transpires only when necessary, and that’s what we liked the most. The Harrier does not disappoint in panic braking situations and stops without any drama. However, the brake pedal bites sharp and is sure to take some time to get acclimated to. 

All of these SUVs are prone to nosedives during hard braking and that is something which comes naturally to vehicles with a higher centre of gravity. There is no escaping it, but can be contained. With Tata's new OMEGARC platform, they have managed to confine it to a minimum and comes a close second to the Jeep Compass in terms of overall handling dynamics.

How do the various driving modes help improve mileage figures?

Eyeing the Harrier’s hefty weight, and the power getting produced underneath its voguish hood, the Harrier may get perceived as a fuel-guzzler, however, that’s just not the case(completely). This is because of the flexible character of this engine, that is fuelled by the various driving modes on offer. It helps the SUV prepare for upcoming driving situations that can optimise fueling and other wizardly gizmos to give you a wholesome yet efficient experience.

The ride lets you cover around 15 km on a single litre, which just happens to be a respectable figure for a ride of these dimensions. Slap the dial to ECO mode, and you get the best mileage figures of the lot, and if you let loose this beast in the SPORT mode, it will be a gas-guzzler, but will surely leave a grin on your face. The choice is yours!

The Tata Harrier comes out as one of the least fuel-friendly rides of this segment. The MG Hector is your pocket’s best friend with a fuel economy of 17.41 kmpl. The Jeep Compass makes an abutting chase with a figure 17.10 kmpl. The Harrier ranks second, passing the XUV 500 which can go 13.50 km on a litre. However, fuel economy is not the only downside with the Harrier. The ride possesses the smallest fuel tank in this league, which further affects its overall range. 

How radical-looking is the 2020 Tata Harrier?

Tata Motors has scored a brilliant home-run with the Harrier’s design ideology. Built around the Tata’s Impact 2.0 Design language, the Harrier is nothing short of drop-dead gorgeous. Carrying its major cues from the H5X concept, which the company exhibited in the 2018 Auto Expo, the Harrier is a complete turn-around from the Tata’s orthodox design concepts. 

Starting up front the Harrier’s front fascia is an altogether refreshing style, that breaks the typical SUV design stereotypes. The most striking feature of this part is the DRLs which are placed on the top, and the headlights, which have been placed below these DRLs and are housed in a tri-arrow enclosure. The DRLs double up as turn indicators and look pretty stunning doing that. Moving forward, the floating roof, and the blackened C-pillars, lend the Harrier a sleek yet muscular appeal. All these elements get pinched towards the back, with slim taillights hovering around the corners and a vertical band that lends a merging effect to those taillights. And not to forget that this particular Tata has vague connections to the likes of Land Rovers! 

The Harrier has a mighty road presence, all credits to its urban styling, and the high-set bonnet. The body-cladding on the harrier nicely complements it’s dominating allure while enhancing it’s SUV character. 

The Harrier comes out as the heaviest, longest, and the widest car in this segment. While the length and the width add to its SUV character, the hefty weight of this ride acts more like a hindrance than an advantage. However, the Harrier also offers a great ground clearance, which can act as a potent edge, on the off-chance you take this SUV for some adventurous expedition.  

Exterior Features

There are plenty of features on the outside of the Tata Harrier, some of which have been listed below: 

• Xenon HID Projector Headlamps
•  Outer Mirrors with Logo Projection
•  Shark Fin Antenna
• Rear Wiper Washer
• 17-inch alloy wheels

How upmarket is the cabin of Tata Harrier?

Open that heavy door of the Harrier for the first time, and you might recheck the front grille for a Tata badge. The Harrier is every bit classy on the inside and emits a very European vibe. The interior carries a black theme, with bits of faux-wood, and chrome inserts augmenting the dashboard, and piano black complementing the centre fascia and air-con vents.

The dashboard comes wrapped in Nappa grain top layer, and the use of soft-touch plastic is bound to lend you that plush energy you will expect from a car of this price range. However, this plushness is not widespread throughout the cabin. The lower part is mainly covered with cheap and hard plastic, that disrupts the fun, and may just snatch away that wide grin from your face. 

The Harrier offers more than sufficient headroom and legroom both for the front and rear passengers. The car’s comfortable-level flooring and swooping roofline make up for a high, and confident driving position. If that’s not enough the Harrier’s tilt and telescopic steering wheel offers a wide range of adjustments, thus aiding you to find your ideal driving position. Tata has just launched the 7-seater model based on the Harrier and has named it Gravitas which was earlier codenamed as Buzzard.

Creature comforts on offer?

Tata has left no stone unturned in the way of making the Harrier a feature-laden car. Some of the most prominent interior features of the ride are:

• Leather Seat Upholstery & Door Pad Inserts
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel & Gear Shift Knob
• Front Armrest with Cooled Storage
• 28 Intelligently Designed Utility Spaces

What are the various infotainment features available in Tata Harrier?

The Harrier employs a 7.0-inch touchscreen in the middle-spec variants, and an 8.8-inch in the top XZ variant, to fulfil the ride’s infotainment duties. This arrangement which Tata calls the Visteon-developed ConnectNext infotainment system, offers high-resolution graphics, image & video playback, voice recognition, voice alerts, on-screen SMS display & readout, and a reversing camera display. 

Infotainment Features

• 8.8-inch floating island infotainment system
• 320W bundle of audio joy from JBL
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 9 speakers
• Steering mounted controls
• Voice recognition and alerts

How much cargo can the Harrier take in?

When it comes to boot space, the Harrier may seem weak on paper, but don’t let the stats misguide you. Yes, the competitors offer much better space in their back, but the Harrier compensates for the numbers with its sensible boot design layout.

Make the rear seats do a front flip, and the Harrier’s loading capacities increase exponentially. Folding those seats down in a 40:60 split (yes, you read it right), leaves you with a cargo capacity of up to 810 litres.

The gorgeous design language comes with the sacrifice of cargo space, and the shorter roofline with sloping rear end makes the cargo space of Harrier, least of the lot. Mahindra XVU500 maximises, on the other hand, and the tall boy design speaks for it. MG Hector has the footprint of a 7-seater, so there is no doubt that it has impressive cargo volume.

What are the various safety features in 2020 Harrier?

The Tata Harrier offers two airbags as a standard feature across all its trims, along with ABS and EBD (Alas! the Government of India). Escalate to the top-spec XZ trim, and you get 6-airbags, along with safety systems like traction control, cornering stability control, electronic stability program, rollover mitigation, and hill descent control.

This new SUV from Tata is based on the platform called ‘Omega Arc’ which is derived from the Land Rover D8. Owing to this fusion, the Harrier has better driving dynamics and enhanced torsional rigidity. And with the current streak of Tata building the best bunch of safe cars from India, Harrier has our trust.

What are the Safety features on offer?

Some of the most prominent safety features that the Harrier offers are: 

• 6 Airbags
• Auto-dimming IRVM
• Hill Hold
• Hill Descent Control 
• Front Fog Lamps with Cornering Function
• Perimetric Alarm 
• Reverse Parking Sensors

How does the Harrier compare against its rivals?

Tata Harrier vs Mahindra XUV 500

The XUV500 has been in the market for a considerable time now and has it’s fair share of monopoly in the market as well. However, the XUV500 has become more of a veteran now. With more and more new entries in this segment, and each offering bringing something new with it, it’s high-time the XUV takes a respectful retirement. The Harrier beats the Mahindra XUV500 in almost every aspect. Be it look, performance, comfort, utility, or fuel-efficiency. The XUV500 takes a major beating from the Harrier.

Tata Harrier vs MG Hector

The MG Hector is the wildcard entry of this segment. Being the company’s stepping stone in the Indian market, Hector is designed to make a lasting impression. The car looks charismatic, with a front design very much similar to the Harrier (DRLs on top), but much more sophisticated. 

The Hector hosts a wide range of technological features and is the country’s first connected car. The Hector and the Harrier post similar performance figures, however, the Hector feels more on the cosmopolitan side, whereas the Harrier carries more of a robust look. 

Tata Harrier vs Jeep Compass

What to say about the Jeep. The company has always been a king of the SUV segment. The Jeep Compass carrying this legacy forward totally smashes it in India as well. Fitted with a similar 2.0L turbocharged engine, the Compass leads the Harrier in all aspects, be it power, performance, utility, or fuel-efficiency.

A proof of the dominance that the Jeep Compass has over this segment, can be found in the vehicle’s chart-busting sales figures. Finally, the brand name “Jeep” over “Tata” acts as a cherry on the cake in luring the buyers.

Is Tata Harrier the best SUV from Tata yet?

Tata has turned the tables around with this hottest offering. The Harrier sans the orthodox Tata SUVs’ bull character, and comes out as a more metropolitan and modish set of wheels. With those Land Rover-ish exterior and luxurious interiors, the Harrier does everything right to give a tough fight in the jam-packed compact SUV segment. With the innovative Land Rover underpinnings and the Fiat-sourced engine, the Harrier can prove out to be a worthy contender of this market fragment. However, long-term reliability remains a question, that can get this beast in the crosshair. Let’s see what the future beholds, but as of now, the Tata Harrier is a true value for your hard-earned money.