[Chetan_Rao]

Harrier.ev Quad Day - 2025 Harrier.ev at Buddh Int'l Circuit and Off-road

Tata recently launched the Harrier.ev in India. While we await a media drive to do a comprehensive review, Tata showcased the car's on & off-road capabilities at Harrier.ev Quad Day at the Buddh International Circuit. The car in focus was their Quad Wheel Drive (QWD), dual-motor version, with Tata keen to position the product as a go-anywhere lifestyle SUV, rather than a run-of-the-mill urban crawler & highway cruiser.


This report has been jointly compiled with friendly moderator ajmat. Thanks to him for his expert observations and photography.



The event was divided into multiple zones, each focusing on specific capabilities:

Precision Zone: Table Cloth Pull, Synchronised Driving, WhAP Tow
Performance Zone: Hot Lap, Speed Trap
Tech Zone: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Intelligent Speed Assist, Park Assist, Reverse Trace
Offroad Zone: Rock Bed Crawl, Axle Twister, Water Wading, See-Saw, Side Incline, Stair Climb and others.

Precision Zone

The event began with a demonstration of a tablecloth pulled clean off a set table. Neat.

https://youtu.be/MES8qNnFhiw

We were then treated to some synchronised driving to orchestral music.

https://youtu.be/hOh9MK8O4S0

https://youtu.be/e3tpNe8yVvQ

A demo of the Harrier.ev's towing capabilities, towing a 20+ ton Wheel Armored Platform (WhAP) tactical vehicle developed by Tata Advanced Systems.

https://youtu.be/JaFUQcm0cw0

Performance Zone

We were taken on a lap of the circuit as a passenger, while the crew demonstrated the car's acceleration (esp. in Boost Mode), top speed along the back straight and its handling capabilities in the twisty bits. For a heavy SUV, the car was reasonably well-behaved around corners, with body roll well-controlled and neutral handling. The steering appeared a bit too light and lacked feel, but we'll reserve judgment for the full review.

The Goodyear EV tyres and scorching mid-40°C ambient temperatures (the track surface would be much hotter) likely hindered grip and outright performance a fair bit. However, the car still managed to impress us with its overall composure and sheer straight-line grunt. The EV 'silence' while you're pushed back into your seat still takes some getting used to.

https://youtu.be/4rlfCjHCxjU

Tech Zone

We moved to the outer periphery of the circuit premises for a demo of the ADAS capabilities in the Harrier.ev.

First up, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Tata claims the Harrier.ev is equipped with AEB capable of detecting and reacting to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in its path. Even at very low speeds which is not possible in some of the other cars.

https://youtu.be/EYSaiX3VeOY

Harrier.ev is equipped with Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), capable of adapting vehicle speed to well-marked road signs, as well as map/navigation indicated speed limits.

https://youtu.be/zZYomq2Egr4

Auto Park Assist is THE party trick in a bag of tricks, with the Harrier.ev capable of parallel, perpendicular and angular parking through its e-Valet Auto Park Assist feature. One can pick from suggested detected parking spots, or mark one's own. It also works without the driver present in the car, so you can step outside and watch with the onlookers while the car parks itself. Like we said, neat party trick!

https://youtu.be/lDVkhq1oMKM

Another impressive feature of the Harrier.ev's repertoire; Reverse Trace. The car essentially remembers the last ~50 meters you drove, and if you find yourself stuck in a tight spot, it's capable of retracing the memorised path to get you out. Could come in very handy on road trips through unknown locales when Google Maps invariably leads you down one of those narrow, never-meant-for-cars 'shortcuts'.

https://youtu.be/ll-ojHPy8xc

[Chetan_Rao]

Offroad Zone

We finally made our way to the offroad zone, where Tata was keen to highlight the Harrier.ev's credentials off the beaten path, and its selection of SIX terrain modes.

Before the live demos, we got a glimpse of the Harrier.ev's build quality. That's a 1.5-ton shipping container on top of a sample chassis:


And that's another chassis frame hanging from a crane, while another complete Harrier.ev hangs from it below! Make what you will of it:


We started with a demo of the claimed 600 mm Water Wading capability:

https://youtu.be/omNLBhX4FtM

Rock Bed crawl. One arguably has a bit more peace of mind doing it in an EV, because the undercarriage is relatively well-protected and there's no oil sump to worry about, as one would with an ICE vehicle.

https://youtu.be/wHkO08cvYi0

Axle Twister to showcase the ability to handle uneven terrain. While independent suspension at both ends assists to some extent, the monocoque chassis has its limitations compared to a body-on-frame specimen capable of higher articulation.

https://youtu.be/2RDMT2Aks0s

Negative Incline to highlight negotiating a steep level difference, something one might encounter negotiating under-construction roads and such.

https://youtu.be/V1z3Q9Qgym0

Steep Incline & Decline to put the Harrier.ev's approach and departure angles to test, and also demonstrate the powertrain's capability from a standing start on a steep incline.

We were going up a 34° incline, and the instructor asked us to stop midway up and make a standing start. Unlike an ICE vehicle where maintaining momentum, revs and appropriate gearing is key, an AWD EV can make up for it with instant brute torque. You hear the motors whine as the torque is ready to be unleashed as soon as you step on the 'power' pedal.

We stop at the top, then take the equally steep 35° descent using Hill Descent Control, which has to work extra hard to offset the heavy car's tendency to slide.

https://youtu.be/rncQrjb2EDQ

We move through a steep Side Incline with the driver side up.

https://youtu.be/o2t6whsrClo

The See-Saw is next, a custom-built contraption you go up one end pointing to the sky, and the weight transfer mid-way plonks you down (a bit hard if you aren't careful). ajmat commented nobody's ever likely to try that in their own car, and I tend to agree!

Camel Hump follows immediately after, and we're interested to see if the 16.6° ramp breakover angle of the Harrier.ev would be sufficient. It gets through without humping the humps. Full marks.

https://youtu.be/3JZVqZCZRUE

Onto a slushy pit with Mud and Ruts, and it's interesting how an EV is a contrast to an ICE vehicle. While the EV has instant torque available, the extra weight and lower centre-of-gravity means it had a tendency to bog down relatively easier than an ICE counterpart. Momentum is key here if one doesn't want to get stuck spinning wheels and spraying muck everywhere and going nowhere.

https://youtu.be/Y-CuB1YSS2k

Finally, and arguably the trickiest bit of the offroad zone; Stairs. One goes up a steep set of stairs, a tight left turn onto a platform, and a steep inclined descent. You must pay full attention to the two instructors guiding you; first through the stair climb and manoeuvring on the platform, and the second guiding you through the descent where you're driving blind until you're actually halfway into the left turn on the descent. Quite a bit of bumper-rail intimacy was observed throughout the session; something ajmat at the wheel would not allow to happen to our test car. Full marks to him!

https://youtu.be/oZWI7lmO3_k

https://youtu.be/z-p2P8v7Uc8

[Chetan_Rao]

Assorted Bits & Bobs

The cutout view of the Harrier.ev chassis with the powertrain and suspension bits attached:


Front axle with the motor:


Rear axle:


Monocoque tub:


Front independent suspension:


Rear independent suspension:


The classy 'Pure Grey' colour option. A shade becoming popular with manufacturers, and we ain't complaining. It looks great on most cars:


EV badging on the front doors:


Hockey puck keyfob with a multitude of features:


Cool Land Rover-esque camera-based HD rearview mirror, that also doubles up as front & rear dashcam displays (top variant only). You could have the boot loaded to the roof and still have a clear view out back. ajmat opined this car is democratising luxury features to cars in multiple segments below. Win-win for customers:


Raised boot floor with a space saver spare underneath:


Said puny spare, a 155/90R18 specimen:


Generous and uniformly shaped frunk has a 17 kg weight limit, and the lid has a cool shoutout to women in the workforce:


Wouldn't be a real Tata without inconsistent panel gaps:


This is one car you won't be able to do a Dutch Reach in, for passenger and passerby safety, or even use two hands to push open the heavy-ish door without some hand & finger gymnastics. The door latch and grab handle combo is a finger-crushing ergonomic disaster:


65W USB-C fast charging ports to keep the rear passengers happy:


Plus plenty of space. Look at the room 6' ajmat has behind a 6'4" driver's preferred driving position! Under-thigh support could've been better though:


While we'll need to do one of our trademark comprehensive reviews to bring you the full picture, here are a few observations from the time spent with the Harrier.ev at the event:

Things We Liked:

• Insane torque for a vehicle of this category. A 6.x second 0-100 dash is impressive!
• Democratises luxury segment features - Clear View Assist (with Transparent Mode to view underneath), Terrain Modes etc.
• Radar-based ADAS provides a superior experience to camera-based applications (ajmat drives a Honda and a BMW, for reference)
• Composed ride and neutral handling for a heavy SUV
• Capable off the road, not just a tarmac cruiser
• Intuitive, well laid out controls

Could Be Better:

• Goodyear EV tyres are a limitation on the powertrain. Better rubber is a must-have to enjoy everything this car has to offer
• Inconsistent panel gaps are an eyesore and a long-standing problem. Sort it out already Tata, pretty please?
• Piano black trim galore, esp. in high-touch spots. A nightmare to maintain.

Disclaimer: Tata Motors invited Team-BHP for this event. They covered all the travel expenses. Credit to Tata's event team and photographers for supplying some of the photo & video content used in this report.

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Thilak29]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Before the live demos, we got a glimpse of the Harrier.ev's build quality. That's a 1.5-ton shipping container on top of a sample chassis:

What are they proving? Structural strength?

That container falling from 10m height would generate an estimated Impact Force (if stopped in 0.1s) ≈ 210,000 N, but at static position only 14,715N.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

What are they proving? Structural strength?

They're leaning into their 'build quality' & 'structural safety' reputation, that they benefit from in a market full of sometimes not-the-best build quality products. A bit like Hyundai claiming the current-gen Creta can support two African elephants on its roof.

Crushing forces are rarely static in real world scenarios, you're right, so this doesn't necessarily prove much.

[supertinu]

Thanks for the detailed report. Great execution from Tata and certainly a competitive product coming after the launch of mahindra twins.

Absolutely love what Indian manufacturers are doing brand aside, rendering pretty much anything below 1cr look so ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Thilak29

What are they proving? Structural strength?

marketing

[ajmat]

Excellent report and well put together considering that we needed to battle and elbow around 120 "influencers" and 40 journalists. As mentioned, we need to spend more time with the Harrier for the details and dare I say devils!

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Assorted Bits & Bobs
[*]Democratises luxury segment features - Clear View Assist (with Transparent Mode to view underneath), Terrain Modes etc.
.[/i]

You nailed this spot on!!!

With its Discovery Sport underpinnings, you get

1. The same commanding driving position
   
2. You get the invisible bonnet, clear view mirror
   
3. The different terrain modes
   
4. The missing multi-link axle makes a comeback (it will be a different design though)
   
5. Almost the same axle articulation
   
6. The same potential reliability

Two things to choose between the two

1: Choice of engines - ICE vs Electric

2: Choice of Gaps - 4 mm panel gaps vs the Rs 50L price gap!

My additional observations were:

1. Yes, its an old design but it does not look unsightly compared to the Mahindra duo
2. The ergonomics were spot on
3. We did not see any Harriers dead in their tracks. (There were approx 90 cars transported for the event)

If it proves reliable, it would be a hit for people living in plantations etc.

[offroad]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

What are they proving? Structural strength?

That container falling from 10m height would generate an estimated Impact Force (if stopped in 0.1s) ≈ 210,000 N, but at static position only 14,715N.

For engineering department, Cars are tested by hanging them with cranes and adding weights to assess their structural strength and safety margins.*This process is important to ensure the car can withstand real-world stresses, such as impacts, and for validating design calculations.*Some exercises like hanging it from the Crane to understand how the car frame is taking loads. The weights are added to represent weight of passengers, cargo etc. This will help them understand at what point the structure will deform or reacts to applied weight.

This is an age old practice. Here is a pic from 1900 on how Audi tested its cars. Bottom line, this info may be really useful for car companies, but at the end it does not solve any real world scenarios. Its a publicity stunt.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1406...0228739325010/.

[Matrix_Maya]

Tata is going all the way possible to make harrier EV interesting. So far this is the only EV in the market which i would like to buy !

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

What are they proving? Structural strength?

Love the numbers you added for perspective, but this is plain old marketing. It's just making a statement and that picture does pack a punch. If Hyundai gets Shah Rukh Khan to stand next to their Santro, it doesn't mean buying one will make you live like a "badshah". Here, at least, it is a Tata which has a consistent track record of safe & solid cars.

Originally Posted by ajmat

120 "influencers"

Careful, bro . "Online Reviewers" were similarly referred to by the traditional media, when Team-BHP was new. Then, we garnered a monthly readership number greater than all their car magazines, combined.

[lemedico]

Originally Posted by ajmat

1. Yes, its an old design but it does not look unsightly compared to the Mahindra duo
2. The ergonomics were spot on
3. We did not see any Harriers dead in their tracks. (There were approx 90 cars transported for the event)

If it proves reliable, it would be a hit for people living in plantations etc.

Speaking of ergonomics, is the left knee stil fouling with the central tunnel? Big problem in the ICE Harriers gen 1 and 2

[pranavshet]

The big problem with EV : Will it hold to some value say 3-4 years down the line or will it be a distress sale if the owner wants to move to some other vehicle. Thats a huge maths as far as middle class people go.

[WhiteKnight]

Thank you for the report. On the positive side, here is a car that looks like one and not out of some '80s sci-fi cartoon. Add to that is the good interiors space and seating.

I still think there is a mis-alignment in terms of expectation from target market vs what companies think they should build. Everyone is showcasing the higher power output and 0-100 timings, where as every owner is writing blogs and forum posts about how/how many time and where did the person stopped for charging during a drive.

A great attempt by TATA, but I feel their off-road attempt was just too much marketing, as many pointed out. For example, the articulation test- being a monocoque, they and we should know that there won't be much wheel articulation, and that is fine.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Offroad Zone

Rock Bed crawl. One arguably has a bit more peace of mind doing it in an EV, because the undercarriage is relatively well-protected and there's no oil sump to worry about, as one would with an ICE vehicle.

You are 100% correct, provided the battery is not mounted underneath and is well protected. Else, it is a disaster waiting to happen.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Onto a slushy pit with Mud and Ruts, and it's interesting how an EV is a contrast to an ICE vehicle. While the EV has instant torque available, the extra weight and lower centre-of-gravity means it had a tendency to bog down relatively easier than an ICE counterpart. Momentum is key here if one doesn't want to get stuck spinning wheels and spraying muck everywhere and going nowhere.

https://Youtu.be/Y-CuB1YSS2k

More of how the traction is managed than anything to do with ICE vs EV. In the video, it doesn't seem to sink. It looks more of a hard surface with some slush on top. I could be wrong, as I was not at the venue personally.

Of course, it is heavier than regular Harrier, but not the heaviest of 4x4 either.

Simply put, It seem the track is benign and the vehicle is struggling.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Finally, and arguably the trickiest bit of the offroad zone; Stairs. One goes up a steep set of stairs, a tight left turn onto a platform, and a steep inclined descent.
https://Youtu.be/oZWI7lmO3_k

The most popular video I've seen everywhere is the one where the car slides off the ramp!

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Assorted Bits & Bobs

The cutout view of the Harrier.ev chassis with the powertrain and suspension bits attached:
Attachment 2768349

Now, this being an EV, I've only one question

Where is the battery?

[GoBabyGo]

Hi, Did Tata Motors disclose any technical details regarding the battery used in the Harrier EV, such as the type, battery chemistry, supplier, pack size, thermal management system, or expected degradation profile or was the event focused solely on the driving experience?

I hope the Team-BHP team or any attending journalist inquired about these aspects. If so, what was Tata's response regarding the battery specifications, warranty terms, and overall approach to battery durability and safety?