The Harrier created a lot of hype and rightly so. It looks futuristic, has a solid road presence and is robustly built too.
BHPian Omkar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
When Tata launched the Harrier in 2019, a lot of things changed for the Indian manufacturer. The perspective of customers changed towards Tata and a lot of car buyers started to seriously consider this SUV from Tata. The Harrier created a lot of hype and rightly so. It looks futuristic, has a solid road presence and is robustly built too. The Harrier has again been the talk of the town ever since the launch of the facelift and has scored a 5-star safety rating at the GNCAP. Like the new car market, the Harrier is also popular in the used car market. Powering the Harrier is a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine that is offered with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Note that the first batch of the Harrier was offered in a lower state of tune and made 138 BHP. 2020 cars were offered in a higher state of tune and made 168 BHP. So, if you’re in the market for a Tata Harrier, make sure you check how many horses that particular car makes.
Used Tata Harrier Pros:
- A competent used car that makes more sense than some of the new cars in the segment
- With so many special edition cars, you might end up with something special
- Stunning looks & strong road presence. Robust build too
- Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
- 138 / 168 BHP, 2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
- Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
- 205 mm of ground clearance + terrain response system. Latter will make monsoon driving safer
- Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
- Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
- Features such as panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, xenon projectors, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control..
Used Tata Harrier Cons:
- First batch cars were riddled with issues. Even new cars have niggles. Concerns over long-term reliability associated with Tata cars
- No petrol option. No AWD for enthusiasts either
- The 168BHP cars are priced on the higher side (138 BHP cars are more affordable)
- Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
- Harrier AT’s focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
- 6-speed MT is cumbersome in the city. Go for the AT only.
- Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (12-months is the norm today)
- Diesel engine does get loud at 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
- Although improved, the Harrier’s steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
- Early cars had some ergonomic flaws and the ORVM created a massive blind spot
- Tata’s after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
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Things to watch out for in a used Tata Harrier:
Mod Potential:
We don’t recommend modifying the Harrier. 168 BHP is more than enough for the Harrier, but if you are looking for more performance from the 2.0-litre diesel engine, there are a few remaps available in the market. Just a word of caution though, be careful who you get your car tuned from. BHPian bil.007 had a terrible experience tuning his Tata Harrier.
Availability:
Good for a car that was launched in 2019. Tata announced in May 2023 that they sold 1 lakh Harriers since launch. A good amount of them have found their way to the used car market. Check out some examples on sale here. We strongly recommend going for the newest model you can find, and preferably one still under warranty. If extended warranty is an option on your purchase, go for it!
Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:
Wouldn’t buy a pre-owned Harrier & voted no. The cars have way too many niggles & issues. They just feel extremely unsorted. What’s worse is that, if a 1 – 2 year old model has so many problems, how is it going to age? The problems will increase multi-fold as the car crosses 7 – 10 years.
Here’s what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:
I’d sooner buy a used / new Creta or Seltos or even an XUV 7OO than put my money on a Harrier – whether new or used. At this point in time, the only Tata car I’d be willing to wager on is a Nexon EV. Its a fairly compelling proposition – for everything else I’d first look to alternatives.
Just too many question marks / niggles and not that many things going for it either. Limited choice of fuel, no AWD etc. If I’m buying a non AWD car I’d rather buy one of the Korean twins or heck, even the Elevate. Wide range of engine options with automatic trannies and just more predictable ownership.
Here’s what BHPian Kosfactor had to say on the matter:
Mk1 Harrier is a time machine, I have not seen a vehicle that ages this quick nor have I seen a vehicle that has rolled out of a factory floor with this many things not done properly – and I have been a Tata owner before, It has not been this bad.
Mk1 new Safari is also in this category, ages quickly.
But the practical me thinks that – For someone who needs a highway car with moderate use, I think its not a bad idea to pick up a used one with AT , Harrier V2 in other words is a good deal for such use case. You do get a more premium Duster for the money, large boot spacious interiors etc.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
