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Tata Harrier Automatic vs Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos

20th August 2020, 13:49 by Aditya Nadkarni

Tata Harrier

What you'll like:

Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
Far improved over the 2019 work-in-progress Harrier beta
Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
The Harrier's 2.0L diesel now gets 30 BHP more & offers good performance
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 the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control…

What you won't:

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
Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability associated with Tata cars
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
No petrol option (almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
Although improved, the Harrier's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
Price has increased by ~1.5 lakhs ex-showroom since launch. Unwise for a slow-seller
Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble

What you'll like:

A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp
We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers
Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality
Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. They are BS6 compliant too
Both the automatics - Diesel AT & Petrol DCT - are simply fantastic!
Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well
Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone
Top safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.
Impressive kit (360 degree camera, HUD, front parking sensors, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more)

What you won't:

Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (especially on 17" wheel variants)
Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
Niggles are being reported by owners (details here)
Some misses (no paddle shifters or illuminated window buttons, thinner spare tyre on top trims, no dual-tone option on GTX+ / HTX+)
Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment.
Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread. We still haven’t gotten the hang of it!
Kia's after-sales service quality is an unknown. We await details in our ownership reports
Waiting periods are a couple of months long for some trims
You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500)

What you'll like:

Big size & lots of bling for the money! We find the Hector to be well-priced
A spacious cabin that can easily seat 5 adults. Massive 587 litre boot too
Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel is simply fantastic
Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort
Lots of kit (panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric seats & tailgate etc.)
‘Connected’ Tablet ICE with an embedded SIM & lovely sound quality
5-year / unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance
Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS & more

What you won't:

Awkward styling on the side & rear profiles. Looks weird from some angles
Sloppy high-speed handling, noticeable body roll & easy understeer
The petrol engine is “adequate” at best. Its guzzling Automatic variant is unimpressive
No Diesel AT (Creta, Seltos, XUV500, Hexa offer this combination, which we love)
Some annoyances like the ~6 meter turning radius, no auto-dimming IRVM, strange rpm meter…
Small after-sales network. Service quality & long-term reliability are big unknowns
Waiting period runs into a couple of months
Don’t get blinded by the British branding. This is a Chinese car

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
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

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
Turning radius of 5.65m is wide. Also, 17º approach angle is too low
Missing goodies (blanks on the steering, auto-dimming IRVM, auto wipers & headlamps, lumbar adjustment, reclinable rear seats)

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