Tata Harrier Launch Tomorrow; Prices Expected To Start At Rs 14 lakh

Update: The Tata Harrier has been launched at a very competitive price of Rs 12.69 lakh, ex-showroom Mumbai! All the details here.

• At launch, only a 2.0-litre diesel engine and a manual will be offered
• The Harrier will be available in a total of four variants - XE, XM, XT and XZ
• Diesel-automatic is expected to be launched later this year
• A 7-seat version is in the works; can be expected towards the end of 2019

We’re sure you’ve been waiting anxiously for Tata to announce the prices of its much-awaited SUV, the Harrier. We share that excitement. In the Harrier, we believe Tata has got a potential game-changer. But, the caveat here of course is that Tata has to get the pricing absolutely spot on.

We say that because it’s got all the right ingredients to keep the price in check. For starters, it’s based on a localised version of Land Rover’s D8 platform, the same one that also underpins the Discovery Sport. All the expensive aluminium bits from the platform have been replaced by good-old steel.

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Then there’s the engine, the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel from FCA India. It’s key to note here that this engine is made at the same Ranjangaon facility shared with Jeep India. The 6-speed manual gearbox, too, is borrowed from FCA. With 140PS and 320Nm on tap, there’s ample performance to be had from the engine as well. While there’s no four-wheel drive here (read: lower development costs), the Harrier does get ESP-based ‘Terrain Response’ modes — normal, wet and rough road.

Tata’s saved up in key places just to ensure it can go all out in bits that matter, i.e. experience enhancers. On the top-spec XZ variant, for example, you get an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-speaker JBL audio setup, a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster and xenon projector headlamps. Then there’s the fact that it looks properly unique. With its slender daytime running lamps, wraparound tail lamps and massive size, it’s a modern day Tata that’s properly desirable.

At the sidelines of the media drive, Tata Motors confirmed that the indicated Rs 16 lakh to Rs 21 lakh is the on-road price. This includes registration charges and the mandatory three-year insurance package. A quick back-of-the-hand calculation gives a sticker price that’s roughly around the Rs 14 lakh mark for the base-spec XE variant, and about Rs 18 lakh for the top-spec XZ. Tata’s Harrier will square off against the likes of the Jeep Compass, the Mahindra XUV500 and the Hyundai Creta as well.

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