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MA

Mayank

5w

Planning to buy a petrol automatic 5-seater SUV with a budget of Rs 25 to 30 lakh. Any good recommendations? My preference is the Tata Harrier Petrol Fearless Ultra.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
4w
The Tata Harrier is a good choice for a 5-seater SUV in your budget, and if you have your eye on it, you should go for it. The new petrol engine, though 'just' a 1.5-litre mill, is powerful enough for the big SUV. It doesn't feel as effortless as Mahindra's 2.0-litre petrol in the XUV 7XO but instead delivers its 170hp and 280Nm in a smooth and linear manner.
Still, a 10.5-second 0-100kph is far from slow, so there is enough performance on offer. The 6-speed manual is slick enough, but the 6-speed torque converter automatic is our pick, owing to its smoothness, which matches well with the engine's linear nature.
And, overall, the Tata Harrier has grown into an accomplished SUV that's spacious and comfortable; although some ergonomic niggles and electronic gaffes do remain.
Tata Harrier

Tata Harrier

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DU

Dushyanth

4w

Why not look at the Jeep Compass? Even though it is lagging from a feature POV, it more than makes up for the power, safety, and the luxury feel from an interior perspective.

PA

Patrick

3w

Maintenance and running cost of the Jeep is way more than Harrier.

PA

Patrick

3w

And not just this, finding service centers in tier 2 and tier 3 cities will be difficult.

Latest questions people are discussing

KM

Krishna Mohan

1d

I am looking for a comfortable 5-seater with a spacious and comfortable rear seat. My usage will be around 80% in Bangalore city and 20% on highways. I am currently choosing between the Kia Seltos HTX IVT and the Tata Harrier Adventure X Plus. Which one should I prefer if I plan to keep the car for the long term? Please also consider resale value in your recommendation. If there are any other vehicles in a similar price range that I should consider, please suggest them as well. Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
19h

Between the two, we would suggest going for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Considering that 80% of your usage will be in Bangalore city, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT/CVT transmission is a very good combination. The gearbox is smooth and makes the car extremely easy to drive in heavy traffic conditions, which is important for everyday city commutes.The Seltos is also easier to drive and park in the city compared to the larger Tata Harrier. In addition, Kia generally has a more consistent ownership and service experience, which is something that becomes important when you are planning to keep the car for the long term. From a resale perspective as well, the Seltos tends to hold its value well.The Tata Harrier does offer a wider rear seat and a more spacious cabin, so if rear seat comfort for three adults on long trips is your absolute priority, it does have an advantage there. However, considering your usage is mostly in the city, the Seltos will be the easier and more practical car to live with.

VehicleKia New Seltos
VehicleTata Harrier
VA

Vaibhav

1w

Hello Sir, I am looking to purchase an SUV within a budget of ₹15 lakh (on-road). Initially, the Tata Sierra was one of my preferred options, but after watching your video, I became a bit uncertain about it. Since then, I have also started considering the base petrol variant of the Harrier. I do not drive a car on a daily basis. My average monthly travel is around 400 km, and my annual usage is approximately 6,000-7,000 km. My driving is usually less in the city and more on highways. I frequently travel through the ghat sections of Pune and the Konkan region with five passengers and a significant amount of luggage. Therefore, I am looking for a car that is safe, fuel-efficient, and has relatively low maintenance costs. I would really appreciate your suggestion on which option would be the best choice for my requirements. Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d

The Tata Harrier Smart turbo-petrol MT (base) should be close to your Rs 15 lakh budget (on-road). It is a spacious 5-seater with a large boot, and its turbo-petrol has ample performance to effortlessly drive through the ghat sections with a full-load of passengers and luggage. Do keep in mind that the Harrier is a heavy car, and turbo-petrol engines are very sensitive to your driving style, so we'd advise you to keep your fuel efficiency expectations low.Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Seltos HTE(O) Turbo-petrol iMT. It is spacious, and performance is adequate, too. And being lighter, fuel efficiency is likely to be a bit better.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Harrier
SM

Sylvester Mathew

3d

I have been driving a 2012 Ford EcoSport diesel with a manual transmission, and I am quite impressed with its performance. Since the fitness certificate (FC) renewal is due soon, I am planning to upgrade. I am specifically looking for a diesel manual SUV and have shortlisted the Tata Sierra and Tata Harrier. However, I am inclined towards the Harrier mainly for two reasons: Build quality The Fiat-sourced diesel engine That said, the Sierra appeals to me because of its design and features. I am comfortable with the Pure+ variant, but I am not convinced that a sunroof should be mandatory on higher variants. Could you please suggest which of these two would be the better option? Also, if there are any other alternatives, please let me know. My main priorities are build quality and ride comfort.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

Given what you're looking for in your SUV, the Tata Sierra makes more sense than the Harrier for you. It will feel like a considerable upgrade from your Ford EcoSport Diesel MT, most notably in size and features. And yes, as you mentioned, its standout design is really one of its biggest selling points. The Harrier has a much stronger engine, though build quality isn't too far off, but the premium Tata Motors is asking over the Sierra, spec for spec, doesn't feel worth it when the latter is such a good package. The sunroof, unfortunately, has become an inescapable feature in modern cars, especially in these segments, and it's something that you'll just have to accept and not use if you want the rest of the features as well. Tata is known to update its models regularly and add new trim levels, and maybe it will introduce more variants that have the rest of the features minus the sunroof. All things considered, the Sierra represents far better value than the Harrier.

VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleTata Harrier

Posted on: 14 Feb 2026