Tata Motors made waves at the 2018 Auto Expo when it took the wraps off the H5X SUV concept. Radical in look and desirable like no Tata before, the H5X was easily one of the stars of the show. The best bit? Tata’s team promised the final product will look much like the concept. The production SUV in question has just been christened the Harrier. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming Tata Harrier.
Two names for two models
While Tata has confirmed that its new SUV will be named the Harrier, it is interesting to note that there will be two versions, each with its own name. The Harrier name is reserved for the five-seat variant. The seven-seat version of the SUV, which will come later, will get a different name.
The Harrier will hit showrooms by January next year, where it will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and even the Jeep Compass. The seven-seater, which will launch later, will compete against the Mahindra XUV500.
Underpinnings shared with the Land Rover Discovery Sport
The Harrier will be built on Tata Motors Omega platform that is a derivative of Jaguar Land Rover’s L550 platfrom that underpins the Discovery Sport. While the Harrier will have a similar floor pan, steering gear and an all-independent suspension, some of the aluminium bits will be replaced by more affordable steel parts to keep costs in check. Despite this, Tata insiders claim the SUVs kerb weight is unlikely to exceed 1,650kg. The Harrier and Discovery Sport are also expected to share the same 2,741mm wheelbase.
Diesel engine from Fiat
The Harrier will use a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' (FCA)-sourced 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine. Incidentally, it’s the same engine that powers the Jeep Compass. In a bid to further differentiate between the five- and seven-seat versions, the former will have the engine in a 140hp state of tune while the latter will have it in a 170hp state of tune. Our exclusive spy images showed that the Harrier will be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission as standard and an automatic transmission is also on the cards. Tata has developed a new four-wheel-drive system for the model and is also expected to offer the engine with multiple drive modes – a feature that is available on their Revotron and Revotorq series of engines.
What community is saying on the Harrier?
Eye-catching design
Tata designers say that the final product will look very similar to the concept and spy pics and sketches of the final production version concur. The Harrier will be the first model to sport Tata’s latest Impact Design 2.0 design language. Styling will be bold with exaggerated wheel arches, large wheels and sleek creases being the highlights. Slim headlights, high-set LED tail-lamps and a floating roof are just some of the other design and style highlights that will make it to production, as well.
Practical and feature-rich cabin
Spy shots of the five-seat Harrier show front and rear centre armrests and ample room for the second row of seats. Overhead storage bins have also be seen on the H5X under test.
While the prototype spied did not sport rear AC vents or a sunroof, both these features are expected to be offered on the final product. In fact, the cabin of the Harrier is expected to be feature-rich in top-spec form. Our spy shots showed steering-mounted buttons, a touchscreen infotainment mounted on the dual-tone dashboard, and even memory function for the front seats.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
