Proud Tata Harrier owner shares 13 pros & cons for prospective buyers

The SUV handles well in city traffic with decent fuel efficiency and the highway experience is mind-blowing.

BHPian Dcs99 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey guys,

Delighted to update you that I purchased a Harrier XZ+ (MT) in dual tone color (Red+Black) in July from Kropex, Bangalore and have driven around 2500km so far with the first service completed.

Wanted to pass down some of my experiences to future/prospective buyers of this amazing vehicle just as so many others have done before me.

Brief background on the purchase decision:

I have been in the market to purchase a car since last year but had to be delayed due to various reasons. I have been viewing reviews of many cars (in both sedan and SUV space), especially on team-bhp (to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude) and many other car review websites.

Zeroed in on Harrier because:

• Me and my family loved the looks and the spacious cabin
• Features on offer were really good at the price point
• The positive reviews of the fiat engine

Points that were ignored:

• The hydraulic power steering (will get to that later)
• Fear of Tata service centres
• Unreliability of Harrier itself (with so many horror stories in this forum as well)

Other cars that we considered:

• Compass: a tad expensive and didn't know about long-term vision of Jeep in India
• Hector: With the continuing struggles of MG in finding Indian partners, didn't know how long the brand would continue
• XUV: Loved the car but the long waiting period and look-wise didn't appeal to the family.
• Grand Vitara: Family didn't consider it a big upgrade in cabin space compared to the i20. Interiors were underwhelming
• Took test drives of these vehicles but in the weeks leading up to the final decision, it always veered back to Harrier

Purchase

• Paid a booking amount of Rs. 21k at Kropex Sarjapur who promptly confirmed that there was a car matching our requirements and could be delivered in time for my son's birthday which made us doubly delighted.
• Got a fair deal for my 12-year-old i20 from Kropex along with some discounts and we went ahead with the financial arrangement.
• Car delivered on the promised date and time and made sure that all registration formalities were completed before delivery.
• No complaints about the dealership or the SA. Can be considered a pleasant experience.

Driving experience thus far

Have driven 2500 kms so far - Around 1500 kms on the highway when I went from Bangalore to my hometown near Vijayawada and rest in Bangalore traffic.

Positives

1. Coming from a 2011 i20, the car does take some time to get used to. The size is immense and needs patience and practice
2. The 360 camera on the car is fantastic. Even in dim light it is pretty clear and has been a big help in tight parking spaces
3. The music system by JBL is pretty good and loved it during the long drive
4. The actual drive is also comfortable. Drove to and fro from Bangalore to Vijayawada and didn't feel really tired on either leg of the journey
5. Managed to get 14-15 kmpl on the highway (with econ mode) by driving between 80-90 kmph and steady driving
6. Getting an average of 9-11 kmpl in Bangalore traffic.
7. The backseat is also a comfortable place to be although everyone is fighting for the front seat because they are ventilated
8. Noise level is also controlled and seems to have progressively come down. Could also be because I have gotten used to the car and the gear shifts have become smoother
9. Handles bad roads really well. The suspension set-up although slightly stiff makes sure that there is enough confidence while going on bumpy village roads

Negatives

1. Hydraulic Steering - While it's not as bad as some reviews have suggested, the fact that it is hydraulic makes it very light at high speeds. Had to correct myself a few times in the beginning as I tended to oversteer. I believe if Tata can somehow change this into Electronic Power Steering, their sales numbers will be much higher than what it is right now. I learnt to drive on Maruti 800 in 2002 so I don't mind it so much. But people who have started learning on EPS cars, would not like the way the car handles.
2. The interiors could be better ( some cheap plastics have found their way into such a good cabin).
3. Service experience - Tata seems to have sold more cars than their service centres can handle. Had to wait for almost 3-4 days for an appointment slot to open up. Tata really needs to up its game in this department as I was really happy with Hyundai in this aspect. I could always drive into a Hyundai service station on the same day of the appointment call my issue would be addressed immediately and completely.
4. Had some issues in Android auto a couple of times but it seems to have sorted itself out and haven't had it since the service.

Overall, while there was initial hesitancy after reading and viewing various reviews regarding Harrier/Safari I am more than happy with my purchase. It handles well in city traffic with decent mileage and the highway experience is mind-blowing.

Cannot wait to go out onto the highway once again with family in tow.

A Proud Harrier Owner!

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