Tata Harrier EV road test review

Having carved its place in India’s EV panorama, the Harrier EV is Tata’s boldest step but. Based mostly on the ICE Harrier’s confirmed method, the electrical mannequin is constructed with an all-new structure and brings all-wheel drive to the Harrier and Tata Motors. There’s imposing highway presence, house, expertise and a promise of robust efficiency, at a value that undercuts rivals. With a lot moving into its favour, we put it by our complete highway check to search out out simply how effectively all of it comes collectively.

Tata Harrier EV exterior design and engineering – 7/10

Acquainted appears to be like and a very re-engineered chassis to accommodate the EV powertrain.

In its electrical avatar, the Harrier stays a good-looking SUV with immense highway presence, staying away from the unconventional styling some EV rivals make use of. Consumers on the lookout for extra distinction is not going to like this, however for many who don’t thoughts the familiarity, there are many good bits to have a look at. Up entrance, there’s a brand new closed-off grille with strakes mimicking consumption slots, a revised bumper and a reprofiled air consumption space. 

Alongside the edges, aero-optimised 19-inch alloys and a discreet EV badge on the entrance door distinguish it. It even will get helpful aspect steps – useful whereas climbing into its cabin and to masks the battery beneath. On the rear, the giveaways are the Harrier EV badge and the absence of a tailpipe.

Whereas it shares its “prime hat” with the ICE model, the Harrier EV has a completely re-engineered ground, redesigned suspension parts and a contemporary E/E (Electrical/Digital) structure known as t.idal (Tata Clever Digital Architectural Layer).

Dimensionally, the EV is 2mm longer and 22mm taller than its ICE counterpart. Floor clearance improves to 163mm (laden), 13mm larger than the diesel. The wheelbase is unchanged, however monitor widths are up by 20mm (entrance: 1,636mm; rear: 1,650mm).

Tata additionally claims a 62 % enchancment in torsional stiffness, because of 57.5 % particular metal (high-strength and ultra-high-strength). No shock then that it secured a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash score. The draw back is weight – the EV ideas the scales between 2.1 tonnes and a couple of.3 tonnes, with dual-motor variants being 98kg heavier than their single-motor counterparts.

Tata Harrier EV inside house and luxury – 7/10

Spacious and a massively interesting inside, but it surely has some ergonomic flaws.

The cabin borrows closely from the ICE Harrier. Twin-tone upholstery enhances the sense of house, whereas shiny piano black trims lend richness – although they’re vulnerable to scratches and smudges. The steering wheel is chunky, with a gloss-black boss and an illuminated Tata emblem including aptitude.

The ten.25-inch digital driver’s show is user-friendly, with the neat trick of exhibiting your telephone’s maps in full display. Nonetheless, fonts and icons are very small to learn. The large speaking level is the brand new 14.5-inch floating touchscreen, which we’ll get to later.

Crowd favorite, a panoramic sunroof opens vast and does look neat; it has a retractable sunscreen too.

The climate-control panel sits in a gloss-black slab, utilizing backlit touch-sensitive areas, with temperature adjustment dealt with through toggles. The blower slider, nonetheless, is fiddly and requires you to take your eyes off the highway to function. Voice instructions (multilingual) supply a workaround, even letting you open/shut the panoramic sunroof – although endurance is required to “converse” with the automotive.

Different particulars embrace a premium-feeling rotary terrain-mode selector, although its placement makes the wi-fi charger awkward to entry. USB ports are tucked away inconveniently, and taller drivers will discover their left knee brushing the sprint.

Entrance seats are giant, supportive and electrically adjustable, with air flow (and reminiscence for the motive force). The driving place feels commanding, simply the best way SUV consumers prefer it. Match and end is sweet, with many premium touchpoints throughout the cabin that add to its enchantment.

Storage is beneficiant – bottle holders within the doorways, a big glove field, a cooled centre console field with USB-A/C ports, cup holders, and extra. Rear passengers are equally effectively catered to, with ample knee room and legroom, winged headrests, window shades, USB-C ports and a boss mode for the entrance passenger seat. Three adults can sit comfortably because of the flat ground, although the dearth of a center headrest is disappointing.

Resulting from rear motor and space-saver tyre beneath, boot ground is raised. Parcel tray could be eliminated to hold extra cargo.

Resulting from rear motor and space-saver tyre beneath, boot ground is raised. Parcel tray could be eliminated to hold extra cargo. Boot capability is 502 litres as much as the roof however is barely lower than the ICE Harrier’s (445 litres to the parcel tray), because of having to make provision for the rear motor and an area saver. There’s a frunk: 67 litres on RWD variations (35kg restrict) and 35 litres on AWD (17kg restrict).

A entrance loading space can accommodate as much as 67 litres of cargo weighing 35kg within the RWD variants and 35 litres with a most load of 17kg within the AWD model. 

Tata Harrier EV options and security – 9/10

Packs a number of intelligent and engaging options, which is able to enchantment to tech-savvy consumers.

Tata’s acti.ev+ platform varieties the spine of the Harrier EV’s linked tech and superior driver help programs (ADAS). On the centre of the cabin is a 14.5-inch Samsung Neo QLED touchscreen, which is crisp, responsive and simple to navigate. Its uncluttered interface, coupled with wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, makes smartphone integration seamless. The system additionally comes with Mappls (MapMyIndia) in-built navigation and Alexa voice assistant. Audio high quality is a step up from the ICE model, because of the 10-speaker JBL Black system with Dolby Atmos, which delivers an immersive sound expertise.

360-degree digital camera with a nifty clear bonnet view helps place smaller obstacles beneath the automotive. The decision and digital camera high quality are spectacular.

For comfort and security, the Harrier EV will get a 360-degree digital camera setup with a clear bonnet view to assist spot obstacles beneath – notably useful off-road. The aspect cameras relay a dwell feed on both the central display or the instrument cluster whenever you point out, successfully protecting blind spots. That mentioned, the instrument panel’s show high quality leaves room for enchancment. Including to the record of camera-based options is a digital inside rearview mirror, which might show entrance or rear feeds and even doubles up as a dashcam, recording and storing video footage.

The digital inside mirror may report entrance and rear footage – helpful in case of an untoward incident. Customers have the choice to show off display and use it like a daily mirror.

Among the many distinctive options is ‘Summon Mode’, which helps you to remotely transfer the SUV ahead or backwards from outdoors the automotive utilizing its round key. The system straightens the wheels mechanically and halts if it detects an obstruction, but it surely solely works on flat floor. Whereas intelligent in execution, the operation feels clunky – the important thing button requires agency stress, and the automotive tends to pause inconsistently moderately than transferring easily.

Apart from locking and unlocking the automobile, its round key fob doubles up as a distant management for the Summon Mode and Wherever Parking characteristic.

One other standout is ‘Wherever Parking’, the place the Harrier EV autonomously steers, brakes and shifts gears to fit itself into an area that you could outline through the touchscreen. On the driver-assist entrance, the Harrier EV packs a collection of Stage 2 ADAS options, together with autonomous emergency braking (with a low-speed engagement setting, too), cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping help, adaptive cruise management, high-beam help and blind-spot monitoring. These programs carry out fairly effectively in Indian circumstances, and shortcut buttons on the steering wheel make it straightforward to disable them if wanted.

Radar sensor is neatly built-in into the entrance bumper. ADAS options work fairly effectively and have been properly calibrated for our site visitors circumstances.

Different highlights embrace 19-inch alloy wheels, ventilated entrance seats, powered entrance seats with driver reminiscence, a number of drive and terrain modes, dual-zone local weather management, a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wi-fi charging, a powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and an digital parking brake with auto maintain.

Tata Harrier EV efficiency and refinement – 9/10

Efficiency is powerful, however acceleration doesn’t ‘really feel’ robust as a consequence of its heavy weight. 

The Harrier EV’s cabin is well-insulated, and passengers are properly remoted from ambient sounds. Even on the transfer, the cabin stays hushed, with barely any wind or tyre noise creeping inside. That mentioned, like different Tata choices, the air-con blower is loud even in its lowest setting.

The Harrier EV is accessible with two battery choices – 64.7kWh and 74.61kWh; each are lithium-ion batteries with Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) cell chemistry. In contrast to its ICE counterpart, which is front-wheel pushed, the Harrier EV is primarily rear-wheel pushed, powered by a everlasting magnet synchronous motor, which makes 238hp and 315Nm of torque. The larger-battery model additionally will get a dual-motor choice, which incorporates an induction motor producing 158hp and 164Nm driving the entrance wheels. Mixed, the 2 motors powering the Harrier EV QWD (Quad Wheel Drive), produce 313hp and 504Nm of torque.

Regardless of glorious energy and torque numbers, acceleration feels measured moderately than sudden and spiky. The Harrier EV received’t notably pin your passengers to the seat whenever you put your foot down. Nonetheless, make no mistake; efficiency is speedy, and it picks up tempo briskly. The ‘really feel of energy’ or the ‘sense of pace’ is masked as a consequence of its 2,335kg weight and delicate preliminary roll-on.

There are 4 drive modes – Enhance, Sport, Regular and Eco, with the Enhance unlocking the complete potential of the motors and Eco lowering motor torque within the curiosity of effectivity. In our efficiency checks, the Harrier EV sprinted from 0-100kph in 6.74 seconds in Enhance mode, and it hit a prime pace of 180kph. Rolling acceleration occasions are additionally faster than in different modes. Apparently, full-throttle efficiency in Sport and Regular is comparable, though the distinction between these modes is perceptible at part-throttle. Eco mode is considerably slower, clocking 10.22 seconds for the 0-100kph run, and rolling acceleration occasions from 20-80kph and 40-100kph on this mode are 1.6 seconds and a couple of.7 seconds slower, respectively, than Enhance mode.

Proper steering-mounted paddle will increase the depth of regenerative braking. There are 4 ranges – together with regen off.

It will get all-wheel discs; nonetheless, pedal really feel leaves loads to be desired. Brake really feel isn’t progressive, and it typically leaves you second-guessing its chew level. That mentioned, its braking efficiency is sweet, bringing this 2.3-tonne EV to a standstill from 80kph in 24.36 metres.

The automotive has 4 ranges of regenerative braking, together with the choice to maintain it off. The varied ranges could be toggled through the steering-mounted paddles. Nonetheless, it doesn’t get a single-pedal mode – the automotive is not going to come to a whole halt utilizing simply regen braking; as a substitute, it’s going to decelerate to a crawl after which hold rolling. On evaluating its deceleration from 80-20kph all through numerous ranges, we seen that the Harrier EV slows down over a shorter distance in comparison with rivals, implying stronger motor retardation. Whether or not this results in extra power recuperation than the competitors is one thing that’s troublesome to gauge. 

Tata Harrier EV vary – 7/10

Actual-world vary is respectable, as are its charging occasions.

Tata says the smaller battery delivers as much as 538km on a single cost, whereas the bigger pack is rated at 627km in single-motor type and 622km with twin motors. In our real-world checks, the larger battery AWD model delivered an effectivity of 5.45km/kWh within the metropolis and 5.24km/kWh on the freeway, extrapolating to 409km and 393km, respectively. Our checks have been performed with regen set to Stage 3 (most) within the metropolis, with a mean pace of 18.6kph, and Stage 1 (minimal) on the freeway, with a mean pace of 55kph.

The Harrier EV runs in rear-wheel-drive mode beneath gentle throttle inputs to maximise effectivity however engages the entrance motor beneath exhausting acceleration or throughout wheel slippage. As soon as the battery dips beneath 10 %, the system switches to ‘limp house’ mode, limiting acceleration, capping pace at 50kph and disabling air con to preserve cost.

The Harrier EV’s 377.6V structure helps 1.5C peak charging pace, which implies that its battery is able to charging from 20 % to 80 % in round 25 minutes, at a most charging pace of 107kW, utilizing a 120kW (or larger) DC quick charger. In our checks, on a 60kW DC quick charger, the Harrier EV charged from 47 % to one hundred pc in 65 minutes, though it’s price noting that the charging pace drops to half within the final 10 %. AC charging tops out at 7.2kW, so on a house wall charger of the identical capability, it will possibly recharge from 10 % to one hundred pc in round 10 hours. Tata offers a transportable (3.3kW) charging cable and offers consumers the choice to buy a 7.2kW AC wallbox charger at an extra price of Rs 49,000. 

Tata Harrier EV experience consolation and dealing with – 8/10

Floaty rear, however strikes a steadiness between consolation and dealing with.

The Harrier EV’s impartial entrance and impartial multi-link rear suspension with frequency-selective dampers leads to a cushty expertise within the metropolis. It takes on bumps and potholes competently whereas additionally exuding a sure diploma of toughness, which we’ve come to count on from the Harrier. At freeway speeds, too, the Harrier EV feels moderately assured, with minimal lateral actions, and even the entrance recovers effectively after hitting a rut. Nonetheless, rear-seat occupants will really feel a bit extra vertical motion, and undulations create a floaty experience. 

Spacious bench with ample assist. Winged headrest enhances consolation. Headrest for center passenger lacking.

So far as dealing with goes, the entrance finish continues to really feel sharp, and the steering feels well-connected to the entrance tyres. Tata boasts that the Harrier EV’s torsional stiffness is 62 % higher than rivals. It corners flatter and feels tighter than rivals. The heavy weight performs its function right here, guaranteeing the automotive feels planted to the highway. And whereas the Harrier’s mechanical grip was all the time good, the twin motors additional lend it all-wheel-drive functionality, infusing super confidence whereas cornering.

Terrain Response (off-road modes) is current, corresponding to Mud, Rock, Sand and Snow/Grass, which alter throttle response and traction management, amongst others, to boost the Harrier’s capacity in difficult conditions, and whereas it isn’t a hardcore off-roader, its functionality over trails is sweet. It’s solely the low clearance (notably the aspect steps) that poses a problem over obstacles.

Tata Harrier EV value and verdict – 8/10

Not a radical EV, however the electrical Harrier checks most packing containers and comes throughout as a well-rounded automotive.

The Tata Harrier EV checks most packing containers – fashion, expertise and luxury – and efficiency and charging capabilities are spectacular, too. As with the ICE variations, there’s an air of toughness in its construct as effectively. However, its appreciable weight blunts the sense of pace, some ergonomic points exist, and the brake pedal lacks a progressive really feel. Moreover, just a few of its options, though intelligent and useful, want higher calibration and extra polish. Lastly, its modest (laden) floor clearance limits off-road capacity.

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