2020 Tata Harrier Automatic & Manual Road Test Review – Extra Horse’s here
Tata Harrier has been one of the most awaited SUV’s in recent times, right since it showed up at the 2018 Auto Expo as the H5X concept. With the huge hype and anticipation running on the Harrier, Tata Motors almost got it right when it was launched back in January 2019. Despite being a great car, it had a few shortcomings. Tata motors decided to leave out a few features and most importantly underplayed the engine, that is, tuned the engine in such a way that it felt a tad bit under-powered to many. That was until Tata Motors decided to come up with the 2020 Harrier, let’s take look.
What’s new?
The 2020 Harrier is more less the same as the outgoing model. However, there are some small yet significant changes. Let us take you through the updates one by one. The 2020 Harrier now gets a massive panoramic sunroof in the top spec’d variant, which is largest in its segment (a paid feature which was an optional extra in any variant). It makes the cabin more airy and also gives the SUV an upmarket feel. It also gets an auto dimming inner rear view mirror which was sorely missed on the outgoing model. A 6-way electrically adjustable driver seat has been added to make things easier for the driver while on the move – a welcome change indeed. For additional ease of operations, the 2020 Harrier now comes with extra USB port with improved accessibility.
A new color option namely ‘Calypso Red’ with dual tone options has been added to the existing list of exterior paint schemes, and trust us guys – it looks ravishing to say the least. The 2020 Harrier now comes equipped with a newly designed dual tone diamond cut 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels which adds to the character of this mean looking SUV. Also, the large outside rear view mirror which was a hindrance and blocked drivers view to quite an extent has now been replaced with a slimmer aerodynamic housing without compromising the actual view. Additional chrome elements which enhance the exterior detailing will be provided to the chrome loving customers as a paid option through Tata Motors genuine accessories. Last but not the least, continuing with the Tata Motors commitment to offer the safest range of cars to the Indian customers, the 2020 Harrier now comes equipped with ESP across all variants.
Heart of the matter!
Now this is where things get mighty interesting – the biggest change most enthusiasts were waiting and praying for (including us) is the change that will bring back a lot of customers to the showrooms. Yes, you guessed it right! – The BS6 compliant 2.0L KRYOTEC Diesel engine is now re-tuned to deliver 170PS of power at 3750RPM while the meaty torque output of 350NM between 1750-2500RPM remains unchanged. The second most interesting change is the addition of a 6-speed automatic transmission (torque converter) apart from the usual 6-speed manual transmission on the list. A massive bump of 30BHP over the outgoing model not only has given the 2020 Harrier a new lease of life but also made it immensely fun to drive. And yes the engine now gets a special ‘170’ badging in red on its cover boldly proclaiming its power output.
Not that the outgoing model was any less in terms of performance, but who doesn’t like more horsepower?. All of this extra power coupled with the comfort of an automatic transmission makes driving this beast so much more easier in traffic. Although, we would have liked the shifts to be slightly quicker; but then you always have the option to take matters in your own hand by shifting manually. We, being the enthusiasts, found the manual transmission to be better in terms of gearshift quality. Moreover, the feather light clutch with just the right amount of travel and progression added to the pleasure of driving. The ride and handling characteristics were always on point with the Harrier – built on the Omega Arc architecture which is derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 platform. This has been admired by not just the auto journalists but also loved by the existing customers alike. Now with the 170PS engine you can enjoy full potential of the D8 platform and see for yourself how capable the Harrier truly is.
Final word.
The 2020 Harrier is exactly how we imagined the Harrier to be since day one and this exactly how it should have been from the word go. The 2020 Tata Harrier is the perfect example of the famous saying ‘good things come to those who wait’ or to those who have patience. With a starting price of just ₹13.69 lakhs ex-showroom for the manual transmission and ₹16.25 lakhs for the automatic transmission, we don’t think there’s any other SUV which offers the same amount of space, practicality and performance at this price. We sincerely hope that this flagship SUV from Tata Motors – the 2020 Harrier helps revive our country’s forever slumping economy to some extent. The 2020 Tata Harrier now with a refreshed heart that’s pumped with extra horses and a few party tricks loaded to it becomes one of the better options if you are looking for an macho SUV in this segment.
Review – Amit Shelar
Photography – Govind Gadekar
