Tata Harrier

Autocar India

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For your requirement, the Tata Harrier does make a strong case, especially coming from a diesel like the Captur. Its diesel engine offers strong torque, which makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless, and the overall ride and stability are very reassuring on long drives as well as broken roads. The spacious cabin and solid build further add to its appeal as a proper upgrade.The Hyundai Creta is easier to drive in the city, offers more features and a smoother overall ownership experience, but it does not feel as robust or as planted as the Harrier at highway speeds. The Mahindra XUV 3XO sits in a segment below, so while it is more compact and easier to manage in the city, it won’t give you the same sense of upgrade in space or road presence. The Tata Sierra has a smaller 1.5-litre diesel engine, which, just like the Creta, won't feel like an upgrade over your Captur.A very important alternative you should consider is the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or its sibling, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder in AWD form. These are very good all-around road cars, and the AWD system adds genuine capability for mild off-roading and slippery conditions by sending power to all four wheels when needed. This makes them more versatile than the Harrier or Creta for rough trails, even if they are not hardcore off-roaders.The trade-off, however, is performance. The petrol engines in these AWD versions are not very torquey, especially compared to the Harrier’s diesel, which means they don’t feel as effortless on highways or when fully loaded.

Tata Harrier

Hyundai Creta

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Sierra

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

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Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual. For your kind of usage, which is mostly highway driving, the diesel suits thanks to its strong low-end torque and effortless cruising ability, making long drives easier and more relaxed.If you are specifically looking at a petrol, then it is better to choose the XUV 7XO turbo petrol rather than the Tata Harrier petrol. The 7XO’s turbo petrol is a more proven engine, and the car itself is larger, more powerful and feels more effortless to drive.The only trade-off is that fuel efficiency will be lower compared to the Harrier’s smaller 1.5-litre petrol.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

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In terms of width and interior space for five occupants, the Tata Sierra is a good choice for your needs.Your key requirement is space for five, similar to the Seltos. The Sierra is only about 10mm wider than the Seltos, but crucially, it is 80mm longer and can comfortably seat five. It is also comparable to the Kia Seltos in terms of powertrains, ride and handling, features and safety.However, the Sierra is in high demand, and waiting periods could be similar to or even longer than those of the Seltos, depending on the variant. If that is a concern, then consider the Tata Harrier.On the test drive, seat three adults in the rear and do a 10km loop. Check shoulder room, noise levels and suspension comfort with the car fully loaded.

Tata Sierra

Tata Harrier

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

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Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO base variant. With your 500-800km/week usage, you will appreciate the better ride quality compared to the Thar Roxx.Your usage works out to roughly 2,000-3,200km per month, so stability, ride quality and interior comfort matter more. Coming from a Tata Harrier, the XUV 7XO will feel like a step up, thanks to its improved Da Vinci suspension. The base AX trim is well-equipped with features like the HD triple-screen setup, a six-speaker audio system and cruise control, which is more than what you get on the base Thar Roxx. In terms of powertrains too, the XUV 7XO’s petrol and diesel engines are more powerful than those in the Roxx.The one thing you give up is the rugged appeal of the Thar Roxx, but in terms of comfort and features, the XUV 7XO has a clear edge. Test drive both SUVs on the highway to compare ride quality. Also, ask the dealer to show you the base variants, as they can look and feel quite different from the top models.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

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It's a close one between the Tata Harrier and Mahindra XUV 7XO. Both SUVs have great road presence, strong diesel engines, and come packed with features. However, talking specifically about the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 T and Harrier Fearless X Plus, it's the Mahindra that gets our vote.It's significantly more affordable than the Harrier Fearless X Plus yet packs in almost all the features of interest. What also makes the case for the XUV stronger is its more refined diesel engine and the flexibility of its third row of seating. Further, like the Harrier, the XUV 7XO is built tough and feels solid.

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

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Within your price range, you are choosing between the Tata Harrier Adventure X+ and the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5, both with diesel-automatic powertrains. Between the two, the XUV 7XO would be our pick. Since you are comparing a five-seater with a seven-seater, the third row clearly isn’t a priority. However, the XUV 7XO still has the more spacious and comfortable cabin of the two. Its 2.2-litre diesel engine is also more powerful than the 2.0-litre unit in the Harrier. In terms of features, the Harrier offers ADAS in the Adventure X+ trim, which is only available on the AX7 Tech trim of the XUV 7XO. However, if this isn’t important to you, the XUV 7XO is still quite well equipped. Before you decide, make sure you test drive both these vehicles extensively.

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

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If your usage is mostly highway driving, the Tata Harrier is a very good choice. It offers a strong diesel engine, excellent high-speed stability and a comfortable ride, making it a capable long-distance SUV. On highways, it feels planted and confident, and overall, it is one of the better cars in this segment for covering distances comfortably.However, your concern about after-sales service is valid. Tata has improved over the years, but the experience can still be inconsistent depending on the dealership. Some owners have a smooth experience, while others do face issues with service quality and turnaround time. It is therefore important to check the reputation of your nearest service centre before making a decision.If you want something with a more consistent ownership experience, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel. It is also a strong highway car, offers good performance thanks to its refined diesel engine, and is a proven and solid product with a good track record.

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

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Between the two, we would suggest going for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Considering that 80% of your usage will be in Bangalore city, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT/CVT transmission is a very good combination. The gearbox is smooth and makes the car extremely easy to drive in heavy traffic conditions, which is important for everyday city commutes.The Seltos is also easier to drive and park in the city compared to the larger Tata Harrier. In addition, Kia generally has a more consistent ownership and service experience, which is something that becomes important when you are planning to keep the car for the long term. From a resale perspective as well, the Seltos tends to hold its value well.The Tata Harrier does offer a wider rear seat and a more spacious cabin, so if rear seat comfort for three adults on long trips is your absolute priority, it does have an advantage there. However, considering your usage is mostly in the city, the Seltos will be the easier and more practical car to live with.

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

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Given what you're looking for in your SUV, the Tata Sierra makes more sense than the Harrier for you. It will feel like a considerable upgrade from your Ford EcoSport Diesel MT, most notably in size and features. And yes, as you mentioned, its standout design is really one of its biggest selling points. The Harrier has a much stronger engine, though build quality isn't too far off, but the premium Tata Motors is asking over the Sierra, spec for spec, doesn't feel worth it when the latter is such a good package. The sunroof, unfortunately, has become an inescapable feature in modern cars, especially in these segments, and it's something that you'll just have to accept and not use if you want the rest of the features as well. Tata is known to update its models regularly and add new trim levels, and maybe it will introduce more variants that have the rest of the features minus the sunroof. All things considered, the Sierra represents far better value than the Harrier.

Tata Sierra

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

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The Tata Harrier Smart turbo-petrol MT (base) should be close to your Rs 15 lakh budget (on-road). It is a spacious 5-seater with a large boot, and its turbo-petrol has ample performance to effortlessly drive through the ghat sections with a full-load of passengers and luggage. Do keep in mind that the Harrier is a heavy car, and turbo-petrol engines are very sensitive to your driving style, so we'd advise you to keep your fuel efficiency expectations low.Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Seltos HTE(O) Turbo-petrol iMT. It is spacious, and performance is adequate, too. And being lighter, fuel efficiency is likely to be a bit better.

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier