Tata Harrier vs Hexa: Who should buy what [Video]

The Tata Harrier has become an immense hit ever since its launch and the waiting period for the SUV has soared to about three months. Its attractive design, decent engine and a long list of features along with great interior space are among the reasons why the SUV is getting so much attention. However, Tata offers another SUV in the same price bracket that is also a pretty good rival to the Harrier. We are talking about the Hexa, which is the current flagship vehicle in the company’s lineup. The question of which one to choose among these two comes down to one’s personal preference and use. Before moving on to answer that question in more detail, check out this video by Zubin Mathew which shows both these SUVs side by side.

Talking of the street presence, both the SUVs hold their own in this aspect. The Harrier sports a more modern design with aesthetics that are sure to turn heads when it passes on the road. The Hexa, on the other hand, has got the old school butch SUV looks and looks intimidating. In terms of dimensions, the Hexa leads the way over the Harrier. However, the Harrier does not look much smaller than the Hexa due to its clever design. Done with the street presence comparison, let’s now clear your doubt about which one should you buy among the two.

Want a Big family SUV for with enough space and comfortable interiors – Hexa

The Hexa is larger in size than the Harrier in all aspects. Not only is it taller, longer and wider, it also has a longer wheelbase than the Harrier. To be precise, the Hexa measures 4788 mm in length, 1903 mm in width, 1791 in height and has a wheelbase of 2850 mm. The Tata Harrier, on the other hand, measures 4598 mm in length, 1894 mm in width, 1706 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2741 mm. the added dimensions along with the extra wheelbase mean that the Hexa gets more cabin space. It comes with 6 or 7 seating configurations, while the Harrier only gets a 5 seat arrangement.

Want a more modern and stylish looking SUV – Harrier

There is no doubting the fact that the Harrier is more stylish of the two if not more imposing. The Harrier is designed on the lines of Tata’s IMPACT 2.0 design philosophy, which means that it has a more modern and curvy design that will attract to the new age buyer. Though the Harrier may be smaller than the Hexa dimensionally, it does not look that small due to its huge wheel arches, bulbous front design and big SUV body language. The unique placement of the headlight and LED DRL is a like it or hate it feature but it makes it stand apart from the rest of the crowd.

Want a powerful SUV with AWD drivetrain – Hexa

One of the major drawbacks of the Harrier is that it comes with only an FWD drivetrain. Therefore, if you want an SUV which can take on the rough terrain with ease, without any hiccups, the Hexa will be good for you. It comes equipped with Borg Warner all-wheel drive (AWD) system which is electronically controlled with torque on demand feature. This means, that in the event of slippage on any of the wheels, power is transferred to the wheels with the most traction. The adaptive drive system is augmented with a limited-slip differential on both the axles that really helps during challenging situations. The engine on the Hexa with AWD option is also more powerful than the Harrier. To be precise, it is a  2.2-litre Varicor 400 engine that develops 156 PS and 400Nm.

Want a feature rich SUV – Harrier

Being a new vehicle, the Harrier already has an edge in terms of features and other equipment. However, Tata has gone an extra mile to ensure that Harrier gets some class leading features to boast of. It comes with a segment-best 8.8-inch touch infotainment system by Visteon that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apart from this, the car gets a 7 inch MID, 9 speaker audio system with subwoofer from JBL, puddle lamps, cooled storage box, multi-drive modes, multi-function ESP and faux wood inserts on the dashboard, which make it look premium. Safety features include 6 airbags, ABS+EBD, cornering fog lamps, perimetric alarm system, seat belt reminders for driver and co-passenger, reverse parking camera and ISOFIX child seat mounting points.

Want an SUV with automatic transmission- Hexa

Another major gripe that potential Harrier have is the lack of an automatic option on the SUV. Its 2.0-litre KRYOTEC engine comes mated to a six-speed manual gearbox for now. Though the company is developing a Hyundai sourced 6-speed torque converter gearbox for the Harrier since long, there is still some time before it is finally brought as an option. Therefore, if you want an SUV that has an automatic transmission, the Hexa fits the bill for you. It gets a six-speed automatic gearbox option apart from the manual transmission.