Harrier - Icon of Tata Motors !

A YEAR OF TATA HARRIER!

In India, Tata showcased at Auto Expo 2018 a concept known as H5X. This concept car was the Tata's premium SUV in the upcoming line-up. The concept design states an Impact Design 2.0 for future cars from Tata Motors.

Impact Design 2.0

Tata Motor's Impact Design 2.0, having a unique styling. In front of the body, featuring DRLs at top & headlamps with fog lights at bottom. A matured hexagonal grill in piano black finish, at rear floating lamp are of LED. Even having a unique styling on bumper design that standout its look and making a car sportier and more gorgeous. Such spectacular design never seen in Automobile Industry so far that causing a buzz even in International markets.

Launch of Tata Harrier!

Tata Harrier launch back in January 2019 as a complete product derived from concept car 'H5X' . Harrier is the best product from Tata Motors debuted in our Indian market having a segment leading features and specs and astonishing body design ever seen in INR 20 lakhs price bracket.

Harrier is a first car from Tata Motors sharing the same platform from Land Rover's OMEGA-ARC that showcasing a 5-seater crossover that rivals Renault Capture, Nissan Kick & Jeep Compass. 

Harrier also known as 'Buzzard Sport' in International Market.

Unique features in Harrier!

Exterior:

harrier also featuring a cocoon like chassis for increasing safety. DRLs are as a 'Devils Eye' making aggressive styling on front. Also, at a same time DRLs working as indicators for the car. There are many piano black finishes all around the car appealing as a premium car. On top side of rear quarter panel there is a chrome plating of Harrier. Harrier also having a big mirrors and indicators flushed into it. Mirrors also has logo projection built into it.

Interior:

Interior having few touches of Jaguar and Land Rover. Harrier having a special leather seat upholstery and having premium door pad inserts. An Oak brown wood treatment on the dashboard taking a huge appeal, floating infotainment system mounted on it and featuring JBL sound system with subwoofer installed.
Harrier also having a grab handle on doors adding a special premium touch all around. Hand break of the Tata Harrier is flushed into centre console, hand break lever having a styling inspired from Jet planes. Center console featuring rotary dial to setup the mode for driving style. There is a perfect use of chrome garnishing in interior blends as extra-ordinary appeal things goes more crazier in Harrier featuring a mode lightning system. Instrument cluster having 7" display showing all information. Harrier featuring 6 airbags such as Driver, Co-Driver & Curtain airbags.

Mechanical and Electronics:

Tata Harrier having a Break Disc Wiping system. Harrier featuring a wide 17" alloy wheels. Front Fog lights with cornering function. Hill Hold Control & Hill Decent Control. Electronic Tractuon Control for terrain, Electronic Brake Pre-fill and many more systems.

Engine is Kryotec 2.0l diesel powered motor. Basically, it's same engine from Jeep Compass but with Multi drive modes and transmission from Hyundai Creta. 
Suspension setup is from Tata but they were perfectly tuned by Lotus's engineers specially for Indian roads. Chassis is from Land Rover platform for ruggedness and quality assurance level as an International Standard of Safety.

Competition to its indirect rival - Hyundai Creta & Mahindra XUV 500

When Tata introduced this car, the features what Harrier offering was up to mark in its segment. Creta features have been good and having a enough height & wide body offering a style of proper SUV. It also has 17" diamond cut alloy wheels that look sportier.

It offers H-band that's actually a fitness band - it count your steps and track your sleep hours. Creta already having all essential sensors such as ABS, EBD, 6 Airbags, Hill Assist Control, Rear Parking Sensor with Camera and Traction Control.
Creta is already in market for so long that, tones of accessories already available in market to customize the car. Creta starts at 9.5lk to 15lk ex-showroom. However, Creta is on expensive side after introducing Harrier.

Harrier, offering more space and having more sensors for safety & multi drive modes. Harrier features a proper SUV styling and the design was outstanding n the industry. The comfort level offers premium touches and Land Rover's platform is it's major USP.
The ride quality what Harrier offers none of its rivals can do.

XUV 500 featuring AWD drive mode, a sunroof and 7-seater specification which were lacking in Harrier.

So, here we came to know that Harrier is much better buy rather Creta. 

Let's see all competitors to Harrier!

Let's talk about Creta first, Hyundai Creta feels little struggle after launch of Harrier. Creta offers both petrol and diesel engine option and also offering manual and automatic option for buyers. Hyundai have better after sales service and wide dealership networks in India. So, Creta was strong in the market for buyers until Kia Seltos arrived. Harrier offers diesel engine with manual transmission only.
Tata said that they will offer automatic variant for harrier in later date. It's been on sale from January still we haven't got yet.

However, there were some shortage of delivery due to late manufacturing but after launching the Harrier in the market the booking and sales figure was not enough as we seen from Kia motors.
Harrier was the segment leading product until MG Hector arrives.

MG Motors stands for 'Morris Garage' is brand from UK, owned by SAIC Motors based in Shanghai, China. Hector debut in Indian market rivaling direct to Harrier, Creta , Kicks, Compass & Capture. Hector is way more progressive than Harrier and having both petrol and diesel option with manual & automatic transmission. Hector offering a boxy MPV styling with practicality and aggressive front and rear end. It also supports 5G speed of internet enabling more high-end features. Hector also complies 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine with mild Hybrid (48V battery) & same 2.0L diesel engine from Jeep Compass producing 170HP and 340Nm.
Hector owners also facing problems about battery pack, build quality issues, cheap touchscreen, poor cooling from rear AC vents, suspension issues and unavailability of spare parts in the market.

However, after couple months later, Kia debuted Seltos to rival Harrier & Hector.
Kia is on sale now in India, Sletos is been made in India but the parts are from Korea. Hence, only the assembly work done in India.
Seltos is a versatile product from Kia Motors, rivaling to Compact SUV segment, Mid-sized SUV segment and also Full sized SUV segment. Kia Seltos rivals Mahindra XUV 300, Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier, MG Hector & Mahindra XUV 500.
Kia Seltos is an Urban SUV meant for City and highway drives. Kia Seltos has various segment first features like Bose Speakers, Heads-Up display, UVO controlled air purifier, Ventilated Seats and tones of features in Touch screen Infotainment system. Kia Seltos offering 24 variants across the line making it very complicated for buyers. However, there still some compromise on particular variant options. 

Seltos is powered by BS-6 complaint naturally aspirated 1.5L & 1.4L turbocharged Petrol and 1.5L turbocharged diesel engine options. Seltos also offering manual and automatic transmission options with every engines and features are differs in its way.

Owners of Kia Seltos facing small troubles with the car such as overheating of clutch because the car isn't suitable for Indian Conditions, Display issues, unavailability of spare parts, high temperature of engine and many other electronic issues as well.

In Q1 & Q2 of 2019, this segment is got heat-up by many manufacturers so buyers are more sensitive about the product quality and price range. Hence, Manufacturers also add an offer during festive seasons and Kia offering guarantee for better resale value after 5 years so, Seltos itself standing firm in Indian market as rivaling better in various department. Crossing bookings over 50,000 on Seltos but Kia can be seen struggling in December Sales Figure to as lower than the first month. December sales is just 4645 units.

Why sales figure of Harrier is low?

If we take a look on Harrier, Harrier was offering features but about drivability for buyers there were no engine options, no transmission options, no hybrid technology like other manufacturers were offering. During hype of Harrier, Tata motors started booking for harrier but they haven’t unveiled the price tag of the vehicle. Harrier having a Land Rover platform for durability purpose but they have not offering any RWD or AWD options. Harrier still misses out 18- or 19-inches wheels that provide more rugged look and better drivability for any terrain. Harrier seems to provide better practicality but managing boot space is gone for toss providing boot space of 425L i.e. quite less against its rivals. After sales service of Tata Motors in certain areas is very poor. Many buyers have complain regarding NVH level of car from engine. Engine borrowed from Jeep Compass producing 170 HP and 340 NM but Tata’s engineers tuned the engine for fuel economy so the engine produce 140 HP and 340 NM in Harrier. They tuned the engine and changed the power figures but the fuel economy is still average 17 Km/L from ARAI.

Buyers also facing problems regarding after sales service, smoke from engine bay, poor fit and finish and clutch issues.

Tata also launched Dark edition of Harrier for meant to increase in sales figure by differing it in interior and exterior color scheme. However, Tata has a chance to uplift the product by this edition and Buff-UP the Harrier with electronics to lead the segment and also to overtake the sales from Kia & MG but Tata didn't do it and made the product still the same in electronics. 

However, Tata resolved it and focusing on after sales service and low maintenance of car.

Harrier a reliable product?

Definitely Yes, every manufacturer in Indian market faces Cut Throat competition. India is a price sensitive market if any manufacturers takes a risk to provide better and well-equipped product, they face many challenges. Hence, the manufacturers try to build better products for buyers offering better aftersales service and affordability in the market due to which consumers are gaining more enhanced features and better products without stretching their hands and legs.

Coming back to the point, Tata Motors are hard stubborn in the Indian Market and Harrier is the best Tata car ever produced. In this market, Tata Motors targeting to enthusiast who love to drive manually, Harrier having terrain system making it possible to drive when there are no roads. Except Harrier no other car in this segment can drive through sand, mud, lake, etc. Harrier is FWD car and others are too but still harrier have an ability to face any terrain and highways. Talking about build quality its like tank! Harrier having #darkedition model looking more aggressive and gorgeous featuring different interior schemes. Engine is from Jeep sourced producing less HP and 2 sec slower than Compass but in city this engine has enough torque to make quick overtakes and fun to drive around corners. Harrier has been tested for so long ON & OFF the roads of Leh and on highways ensuring that the car must be reliable to run on Indian roads and conditions. Making it this car perfect for driving pleasure weather you’re ON or OFF roads.

Till now the Tata Harrier crossed sales of 15,000 units in a year. The sales figure is not seem to be good but as considering that brand was offering one engine and one transmission option can be said  Harrier did it well against the rivals.

The Facelift product of Tata Harrier is BS-6 complaint engine and may feature petrol engine in near future. 2020 Harrier now available in red color & producing 170HP from same Kryotech engine and mated with torque converter unit automatic transmission. It features Panoramic sunroof, New Wheels, New ORVMs, Electrically adjustable seat. The Harrier 7-seater version known as 'Gravitas' and Buzzard in international markets, have been spied on roads consistently as testing vehicles but may be debuted in Q1 of 2020.

My Verdict!

Harrier is a perfect product for those, who wants to cross cities also to enjoy the endless roads. In nights that dominates the bolder looks that loves to accelerate the SUV to next level. To be feel premium inside and aggressive outside. Styling that's lifts the competition and make you feel #AboveAll