Tata Harrier SUV to get segment leading features: Details

Tata Motors has just revealed the exteriors of the Harrier, a flagship SUV from the brand. While the full reveal of the Tata Harrier’s specifications will happen in December, during the media drives, here are a few new details.

The Tata Harrier will have multiple segment leading features, according to CarDekho. The SUV will offer a cooled glove box integrated into the front armrest, which is a feature that is quite unique. Another segment leading feature will be storage areas for smartphone, another feature that’s uncommon. The SUV will also have a rotary dial to select various driving modes, and also to select Terrain Response functions on the variants equipped with all wheel drive.

The Tata Harrier will be the automaker’s priciest vehicle, and will be positioned above the Hexa. Unlike the Hexa’s 3 row-7 seat layout, the Harrier will offer only two rows of seats, in a 5 seat layout. Prices of the Harrier are expected to range between 15-20 lakhs. This will put the SUV in between the Hyundai Creta and the Jeep Compass in terms of positioning. Even the Mahindra XUV500 will be a potential rival of the Harrier.

As for mechanicals, the Tata Harrier will be powered by a 2 liter turbocharged diesel engine sourced from Fiat. This engine is expected to be offered in 140 Bhp-320 Nm state of tune. Tata Motors will offer multi-drive modes with this engine, which will get 6 speed manual and 6 speed torque converter automatic gearboxes. The automatic gearbox will b sourced from Hyundai.

As for drivelines, a front wheel drive layout will be standard across most variants while the top-end trims will offer all wheel drive layouts with a Terrain Response system. The Harrier is based on a low cost variant of the Land Rover D8 platform. Tata Motors calls this platform OMEGA, and multiple new SUVs from the brand will use this platform in future. This includes a larger, 7 seat sibling of the Harrier.

Tata Motors will soon make the Harrier compliant with the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 emission norms although it’s unclear if BS6 compliance will happen right from launch of the SUV, which is scheduled for early January 2019. The SUV will comply with new crash test norms under the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP). Twin airbags, ABS and reverse parking sensors will be standard safety features.