Tata Harrier: Things you will like
We are still reminiscing about the two days we spent in Jodhpur with the Tata Harrier. While we have already put together our impressions about the Harrier, here is a quick synopsis of the thing you might like about the car, and some that you may not.
-Cabin noise
While some of the underpinnings of the Harrier are shared with the smaller Land Rovers, using a different engine and suspension components have necessitated quite a few changes and that shows in the sound insulation department. While the road and tyre noises have been curbed to a large extent, there is a fair amount of powertrain noise that creeps into the cabin. The large wing mirrors add to it with significant wind noise that's evident past the 80kmph zone.
-Fit and finish
While this is the most premium car from Tata yet, and the fit and finish is better than whatever we have seen so far from Tata, it is still not up to the quality levels offered by the Jeep Compass or the Hyundai Creta/Tucson - the two cars that the Harrier will rival upon launch.
+Design
Despite those rough edges though, you simply cannot ignore the sheer road presence that the Harrier has. You may have heard this already - the images just don't do any justice to the imposing stance of the Harrier. It's Land Rover underpinnings that have made it the largest car in its segment and that hulk shows on the road.
+Cabin design
Compared to the radical exterior, the interior is a lot sober. Yet, it's functional and as a soothing vibe to it.
+Infotainment
While the infotainment is still being fine tuned, we loved it and we think you will too. The audio unit tuned by JBL is easily the best in this price bracket and the massive 8.8-inch screen is slick and easy to use. It is complemented by a sweet instrumentation too.
+Logo projection
The Harrier silhouette projection as a puddle lamp is a small, but very likeable feature that also imparts a bit of a feel-good factor and make the Harrier feel a tad bit more premium when you unlock it at night.
- Co-developing the Tata Harrier with Land Rover has worked wonders for the SUV's dynamics as it handles well. At the same time, it boasts excellent ride quality as well, which makes it all the more interesting as a premium-compact SUV.
+Driving dynamics
Though the Harrier doesn't have the same suspension components as the Land Rovers, it has an extremely well-tuned suspension setup and gives it confident driving dynamics. Even the ride quality is excellent and surpasses the benchmark set by the Hexa.
+Pricing
We have a hint that Tata is aiming at offering this Compass/XUV rival at the price of a Creta and if they manage to do that, it's a win-win for the Harrier as well as the consumer shopping in this space.
Also see: Tata Harrier vs Hyundai Creta vs Mahindra XUV500 vs Jeep Compass Comparo Video