Tata Harrier
What you'll like:
• Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
• Well-priced for the package on offer
• Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
• Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
• 2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
• 205 mm of ground clearance + terrain response system. Latter will make monsoon driving safer
• Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
• Features such as Eco & Sport modes, xenon projectors, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control…
What you won't:
• Feels like a work-in-process
beta version. Several rough areas are yet to be sorted out
• Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability. Our test cars had many problems
• Nervous steering at 100+ km/h…too light, too sensitive. Needs tuning
• Service visit every 6 months / 7500 km (
12-months is the norm today)
• No automatic option in a market that loves ATs. No all-wheel drive for enthusiasts either
• Annoyances such as the massive ORVM blind spot, loud diesel >3000 rpm & some ergonomic flaws
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Missing kit (
auto-dimming IRVM, sunroof, usable center armrest & dead pedal, TPMS)
Review Link Hyundai Creta
What you’ll like:
• An all-rounded urban SUV. Perfect size for Indian cities...good looking too!
• Well packaged interiors offer sufficient legroom & headroom
• Goodies such as sunroof, electric driver's seat, smartkey cum fitness band, cruise control, Auto Link & wireless charging
• 1.6L petrol & diesel engines are top class. Refined 6-speed AT available with both
• Butter-smooth nature! NVH levels are
simply outstanding
• Balanced suspension offers comfortable ride quality with neutral handling
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, hill-start assist & more
• Hyundai's reliability, competent after-sales & 3 year unlimited km warranty
What you won’t:
• Premium pricing strategy! The pricey Creta has only gotten more expensive with time
• Many missing essentials (telescopic steering, auto-folding mirrors, auto-headlamps & wipers...)
• Weirdly, the ATs are still unavailable in the top SX(O) variant! You can't have an automatic with 6 airbags
• The Automatics need stronger brakes. Their stopping ability isn't confidence inspiring
• Rear seat is more suitable for 2 adults, not 3
• Variant planning has several errors (e.g. split seats & ISOFIX unavailable on the MTs)
• No AWD capability like the Duster, XUV500 & Hexa. Adventure tourers, look elsewhere
• Some competitors offer you 7 seats for the same money
Review Link The Petrol Automatic:
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Review Link The 2018 Facelift:
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Review Link Jeep Compass
What you'll like:
• Handsome Cherokee-inspired styling & loads of
character
• Solid build. Feels very robust, just as a Jeep should
• Powerful 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, fast on the open road
• 1.4L turbo-petrol makes 161 BHP! Offers fast performance.
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available (unlike some competitors)
• City-friendly: Compact size, higher seating, smooth gearshift, soft clutch & low NVH
• Topnotch safety: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• We think the Compass is well-priced for what it offers. The driving experience & overall package feel premium
What you won't:
• Small size for the price! A sentiment echoed by most people who saw it in person
• Suitable for 4 adults, not 5. Boot is small too
• Inexplicably, only the AWD Diesel gets 6 airbags! All other variants have 2
• Tiny dealership network. Plus, after-sales quality & long-term reliability are unknown factors
• AWD's premium is over 2 lakh rupees on-the-road. Includes 4 extra airbags, but is still too much
• Diesel Automatic is still sometime away
• Turning radius of 5.65m is more than the Safari Storme's. Also, 17º approach angle is too low
• Missing goodies (
blanks on the steering, auto-dimming IRVM, auto wipers & headlamps, lumbar adjustment, reclinable rear seats)
Review Link The Petrol Automatic:
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Review Link Mahindra XUV500
What you’ll like:
• A well-engineered, contemporary SUV with a
value-for-money price tag
• More mature styling. Front end no longer looks garish
• Acres of space on the 1st & 2nd seat rows
• Competent engine delivers fantastic urban driveability, as well as fast highway performance
• 6-speed AT is smooth & capable. Superbly mated to the mHawk diesel and petrol
• Turbo-petrol has good driveability & can be quick too
• Balanced ride & handling package
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP with rollover mitigation, ABS + EBD and all-wheel disc brakes
• Expansive feature list (sunroof, touchscreen ICE, powered driver's seat, cruise control etc.)
What you won’t:
• Absolutely no luggage capacity with all the seats in place
• Cramped 3rd seat row is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
• Interior quality, although better, still has a lot of scope for improvement
• Clutch is lighter now, but has a long travel range & high resting point. Gets cumbersome in traffic
• Niggles & issues, as reported by existing XUV500 owners
• Mahindra's inconsistent sales & service experiences
Review Link The 2015 Facelift:
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Review Link The Diesel Automatic:
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Review Link The Petrol Automatic:
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Review Link Renault Duster
What you’ll like:
• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction
• AMT variant is a convenient city commuter. Also the cheapest diesel AT in the segment
• A competent softroader. AWD system can take you places no 2WD can. 210 mm GC (
FWD = 205 mm)
• 109 BHP turbo-diesel is fast as well as fuel efficient. 84 BHP diesel offers excellent driveability
• Outstanding ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Balanced handling & dynamics. Stable at high speeds too
• Safety kit: Dual Airbags, ESP, ASR, ABS, EBD, BA, Hill Hold & Understeer Control
• Practical boot (475 - 1,064 liters of cargo capacity)
What you won’t:
• AMT is jerky and suffers from slow gearshifts. Creta AT, in comparison, is butter smooth
• Higher variants are too expensive for what is a dated model. Felt old at launch, feels even older today
• Interiors look cheap in many areas. Cost-cutting is very obvious
• Mediocre rear seat legroom. More like C1 segment sedans than C2
• Poor NVH insulation. Engine, road & wind noise are prominent inside the cabin
• No 3rd row of seats. You can buy 7-seater SUVs at the same $$$
• AMT unavailable with the AWD; Scorpio & XUV500 both offer 4x4 / AWD ATs
• Renault's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss
Review Link The AWD variant:
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Review Link The 2016 Facelift & Automatic:
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Review Link Tata Hexa
What you'll like:
• Smart styling & substantial presence. Solid build & paint quality too
• Spacious, high quality and comfortable interiors. Even 3rd row is rather useable
• 6-speed AT is smooth & competent. Perfectly mated to the 2.2L diesel
• Excellent ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Features such as selectable driving modes, auto headlamps & wipers, ORVM demister...
• Awesome 10-speaker JBL audio system. Sound quality is fantastic!
• Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, TC, ABS, EBD, hill hold / descent control etc.
• AWD with electronic wizardry & 200 mm of ground clearance
What you won't:
• Automatic variant unavailable with AWD, ESP & super drive modes
• Missing essentials (
steering reach adjustment, smartkey entry & go, auto-dimming IRVM...)
• Access to the 3rd row is flawed in the captain seat (6-seater) version
• Heavy steering (low speeds), long travel MT shifter, big size & wide turning radius are annoying in the city
• Fat 2,280 kg kerb weight blunts performance & efficiency. Competition is 400 kilos lighter!
• Concerns over niggling issues & long-term reliability
• Tata's after-sales service remains a hit or miss
Review Link Mahindra Scorpio
What you'll like:
• Popular SUV package, improved over the years
• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction
• Aggressive front-end styling. Has good street presence
• mHawk turbo diesel is a jewel of an engine. 140 BHP tune even more so
• Finally gets a 6th gear, although only on the higher variants
• 2014 chassis update did improve its road manners
• The Scorpio enjoys strong resale value in the used car market
• Features: 6" touchscreen, reversing camera, auto-headlamps & wipers, cruise control…
What you won't:
• 16-year old body shell shows its age. The Scorpio feels outdated in many areas
• Ride quality is far from plush. Still gets bouncy, bumpy & shaky
• Surprisingly limited 2nd-row legroom in an SUV of this size
• Fit & finish leave a lot to be desired. Rough edges are plentiful
• 4x4 on the top S11 variant only (was earlier available in the cheaper S4 too)
• Higher trims are overpriced & dangerously close to the superior XUV500
• Niggles & issues, as reported by existing Scorpio owners
• Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. It remains a gamble
Review Link The 2018 Facelift:
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Link to ReviewWouldn't buy or recommend the Tata Harrier in its current form. It's too unfinished, has too many rough edges and is very problematic. Can revisit after a year or two.
My 1st choice would be the Jeep Compass. It's the best to drive, has a lovely engine, is the best handler of the group and comes with a decent AWD. The enthusiast's choice, without a doubt.
If I wanted something at a lower price point, I'd get the Hyundai Creta, enjoy its refinement and cruise around town comfortably.
The Compass & Creta are both faster than the Harrier & will outhandle it. The Harrier's steering above 100 kmph is simply dangerous!
Jeep Compass it is for me. Even if it means compromising on the features and going for the Sport Plus variant. The basic features and the 170 Bhp diesel is good enough for me.
The Creta would be my preference after the Jeep. The 1.6 diesel is a great engine and the equipment level is good as well. Add to this, the Hyundai brand peace of mind.
The only other product which I would consider from the above list would be the XUV 500. Even though it is an old product, it is well established and has most of its niggles sorted out. In this case, the age is a plus point as is the case with many Tatas and Mahindras.
Hexa would be my preference after the above three products.
The Harrier is yet to establish itself, whereas the others are old or crude or both.
P.S.- If I were shopping in this segment, I would wait for the MG Hector and also have a look at the Tucson(with discounts) as well.
Next year may see the debut of an all new XUV followed by its Ford equivalent.
The sole vote for XUV5oo of as of now belongs to me.
Booked a W7 MT recently, expecting delivery in a day or two.
Voted for the Jeep Compass. It looks good, drives well, is small enough for everyday use and comes with AWD. Loaded with safety features as well. In fact, the Compass is one car that I would love to buy some day. The Jeep brand appeals to me more than any of the others mentioned here.
Multiple options for a variety of customers. Japanese and European manufacturers should take note, that none of them have any players in this field.
All pseudo/actual SUV's have their job cut and all of them have takers.
I love the Jeep Compass and that the trailhawk variant would be out, this would be almost right there if its the same variant which is sold abroad [approach angle of 30.3°] comes here. Space is at premium, else all things are positive, save for space and thin dealership network and not a history of stellar reliability.
Would love the next gen Storme, the only change I would like is a more modern HU with Android Auto for G-Maps, differential lockers. A bit better fit, finish & QC control would be great.
Vote would be for Compass as well as others. If I was to be chauffeured, I would get the Hexa or Crysta.
In this segment, it makes a lot of sense to wait and watch. If Tata gives us a Harrier V2 with the niggles fixed soon, it will make it hard to justify the price difference to upgrade to the Compass. If the quality issues remain, then it will flop.
It really is in Tata's court now.
Voted for Hexa, but my choice will be only the XTA variant. But, my vote would have been for the Compass if it came with a 4x4 AT at prices below 25L on road.
Voted for the Harrier.
XUV and Hexa are 7 seaters, different market segment.
The other nice contender is the Compass, but that's 3.5-4.0 lakhs more expensive ex-showroom. Include RTO charges, and the delta is bigger.
This isn't a small difference, and for a new entrant to this segment, this is a big deal.
Usually folks are acutely aware and sensitive about pricing, not sure the voters here have considered this while voting.
cheers
lazy
Voted for the Harrier, the looks, the engine and the interiors quality, almost all of them are class leading or close but its priced a class lower. A veritable bargain if you ask me.
Voted for the Jeep Compass. It's not the best option but from the list, it is the only one I would put my money on.
The Harrier is second but the biggest problem is the niggles and reliability. It's very easy to get carried away by the size, looks and price but at the end of the day it is not one which I can comfortably put 20 big ones towards and then suffer the niggles and reliability.
This has generally been the trend for HExa as well. It got in the votes in several categories but never the actual $ when it came to sales.
