2019 Tata Harrier review, road test

Tata’s big SUV sure got people talking. But is it as good as everyone hoped it would be? Only an exhaustive road test can give the definitive verdict.

Published on May 07, 2019 10:00:00 AM

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The striking-looking Harrier stands out in the urban jungle and the real one.

Pinched glasshouse at rear looks sleek but rear window is small.

Thrust control-like handbrake lever nicer to look at than it is to use. It is fiddly to operate.

With its Land Rover-derived platform and Fiat-sourced engine wrapped in a confident and new-age Tata design, the Harrier promises the best of all worlds. And for the most part, it delivers. The striking look will be the hook for many but the Harrier’s positives extend to its spacious cabin, tough build and excellent high-speed ride.

There are a fair few ergonomic guffaws, long-term reliability is unproven as yet and, at few places, the Harrier feels rough around the edges too. The absence of all-wheel drive will be missed by only a handful of off-roaders but the lack of an automatic will be a deal breaker for many and should have been an option right from launch. Still, see what you get for the price and it’s hard not to feel you are getting more than your money’s worth.

Tata’s reinvention started with the Tiago and Hexa. And just like the Nexon did two years ago, the Harrier takes the process into a higher gear.