Tata Harrier vs Jeep Compass: What we know so far

Tata has taken the market by storm ever since the testing of its new SUV began. This new vehicle, based on the H5X concept which was shown at the Delhi Auto Expo 2018, will be called as Harrier. Guessing by all the leaks and information till now, we can tell you that it will be the most premium Tata vehicle till date.

The Harrier, upon its launch, will provide stiff competition to the likes of Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV500 and the Jeep Compass. The Compass is one of the SUVs that has been selling in good numbers and Tata plans to disrupt all of that. Let’s take a look at how Jeep’s most affordable offering fares against Tata’s most premium product.

Design

The H5X concept shown at the Delhi Auto Expo 2018 showcased a radical design theme and looked quite appealing. But then, concepts are meant to look cool, barring a few exceptions. However, Tata has confirmed that the production version H5X will retain 80% of the original design. Going by the leaked pics and speculative renders, we can confirm that to be true.

The Jeep Compass on the other hand is another handsome SUV which has a different approach towards design. Instead of all the curves and bulges as in the Harrier, the Compass is more about straight lines and squared body panels. It carries the typical Jeep DNA all over with that seven slated grille, squared wheel arches and imposing looks. Therefore, both of the cars score good on the design front and it’s mostly upto your liking that’ll help you decide on which looks better.

Interiors and Features

Tata has certainly upped the game in terms of interiors. Though there has been no official statement or picture of the interior, some spyshots have surfaced recently that show that the Harrier will come with premium interiors. The highlight however is a large floating infortainment screen, which probably will support Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

The centre console and steering wheel too look quite premium and different from other Tata offerings. The 5-seater SUV is expected to sport all black interiors with silver accents. Other features include 6-airbag system, sunroof, leather seats and use of premium feel plastic parts on the interior parts. Reports also suggest that the Harrier will come with different drive modes.

The Jeep Compass also does not stay behind in terms of interiors and features and comes with a set of most comfortable front seats in business. It gets features like dual-zone climate control, bi-xenon headlamps, auto up/down front windows, a decent 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and keyless entry and ignition.

The cabin, though quite sober to look at, is made up of premium feeling materials. The safety features on the car include ABS, dual airbags, electronic stability control, and hill-start assist. The top-spec Limited variant gets eight airbags, traction control, cornering lights and adaptive brake lights.

 

Size

This is where the Harrier scores big. While there is no official details given by Tata upon the vehicles dimension, going by the leaked images and the H5X concept, it’s pretty safe to say that the car will be the biggest one in its category.

The H5X concept measured 4575x1960x1686 mm (LxWxH) and had a wheelbase of 2,740 mm. While there may be some differences in the production version Harrier, it is more or less likely to stay around those figures, with the image leaks suggesting the same.

The Compass on the other hand measures 4395x1818x1640 mm (LxWxH) with a wheelbase of 2,640 mm. That makes it much more smaller than the Harrier. In fact, the Harrier may be bigger than even the CR-V in terms of sheer size.

Engine

The Harrier will be the most premium Tata product till date and the company is leaving no stone unturned for the same. It will be powered by a 2 litre, 4 cylinder KRYOTEC diesel unit sourced from Fiat. In other words, it’s actually the 2.0 litre Fiat Multijet engine which has been re badged by Tata Motors. The engine will feature a variable geometry turbocharger and will also come with multi-drive modes. The company has also revealed that the engine will be paired to a terrain response system, indicating that the top-end variant Harrier will get an all wheel drive system. The engine is expected to produce around 140 Bhp of power and has been re-tuned by the company as per their needs.

The Jeep Compass also gets Fiat engines and unlike the Harrier, there is a choice of either a petrol unit or a diesel one. The petrol version is a 1.4 litre Multiair engine that delivers 161 Bhp of power and 250 Nm of torque. The diesel unit on the other hand is the same one which will be used on the Harrier but with different power output. The 2.0 litre Multijet diesel engine here produces 171 Bhp of power and 350 Nm of torque.

Transmission

Though the Harrier will not come with a petrol engine even as an option, Tata has made sure that it does not stay behind the competition. For the same, the Harrier will come with both an automatic and manual transmission options to choose from. The engine will come mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed torque converter that will be supplied by Hyundai.

The Jeep Compass does not have an automatic option on its diesel variants, something which it has been long criticized for. There, however, is an automatic option on the petrol engine Compass. The diesel variant only offers a 6 speed manual gearbox.

Price

Tata, being an Indian company knows that India is a price sensitive market and hence will price the Harrier accordingly. The company has positioned the Tigor and the Nexon quite effectively and that the Harrier is expected to follow the suit. Going by speculations and reports, Tata is expected to price the SUV starting at around Rs. 13 lakhs, ex-showroom.

The diesel version of the Jeep Compass starts at Rs. 16.55 lakhs, ex-showroom, which is much higher than the Harrier’s price. Even the top-end of Hyundai Creta is priced at Rs. 15.10 lakh, ex showroom.