The newly launched Tata Harrier EV brings in a lot of first-time features - not just to the segment, but also to Tata’s vehicle line-up. But more importantly, it’s the first Tata vehicle in nearly 5 years to get an all-wheel drive (AWD) system. So, when the company invited us to test the Harrier EV’s off-road prowess, I was quite excited to see how capable the electric SUV is really.
But before we start, let me tell you, this is not our first drive review. The event was simply an opportunity to witness the off-roading capabilities of the Harrier EV and let me tell you I was quite surprised. You see, whenever brands invite us for an off-road experience, in most cases the off-road course is relatively simple, and not much of a challenge - neither for us nor the vehicle. However, the course Tata had designed for the Harrier EV was properly intense and challenging. Especially for an off-road novice like me.
Now, the Harrier EV we drive was the QWD option with the dual-motor setup - with a 156 bhp motor attached to the front axle and a 235 bhp motor to the rear axle. And the combined torque from the motors is a meaty 504 Nm. In addition to that, the SUV also comes with 6 different terrain modes and an off-road assist mode as well. It was during the first off-road obstacle that we got to test both.
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I started off easy with the rock bed; the rock crawl terrain mode was activated, and the off-road assist mode was switched on. Then all I needed to do was put the SUV on drive and just control the steering. The SUV automatically crawls on the rocky surface offering the right amount of power and torque needed, making it an effortless pursuit. I experienced the same level of ease while crossing an extremely slushy mud pit as well. The only difference, the terrain mode was set at mud and ruts.
The Harrier EV also surprised me on the axle twister, and obstacle designed to see the level of articulation you can achieve. The terrain mode was still set on rock crawl, but here I had to manually accelerate and steer the vehicle. Here the traction control system is what plays a big role, and it did it quite effortlessly. The system was able to perfectly gauge which wheel was in contact with the surface and which wheel was not and accordingly sent power to the former to cross the obstacle.
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I also got to gauge the SUV’s stability and control on the side incline and negative incline obstacles. In either case, the SUV was driven at a very steep angle, but it showed no signs of rollover or losing stability. But the real test of power and control was seen in the gradability tests where the Harrier EV was able to effortlessly climb at a 34-degree angle while descending at a 35-degree angle.
Now the Harrier EV comes with a 75 kWh battery pack underneath the body and despite that it has a ground clearance of 205 mm. While it might not seem very impressive, in applications it is quite useful. The SUV has an approach angle of 25.3 degrees, a departure angle of 26.4 degrees and a break-over angle of 16.6 degrees. What this means is that even with a wheelbase of 4607 mm, the Harrier EV can handle not just bumps and large speed breakers but huge camel humps that one might experience on off-road terrains.
The final test was the stair climb where I had driven the Harrier up a long flight of stairs, took a left-hand turn onto a platform and then another turn to come down a steep decline. These tests not only allow us to test the Harrier EV’s strong torque but also the traction control system's alertness, the turning radius, and the hill descent control system in action.
Now, in a nutshell, the short time I spent with the Harrier EV off-road has cleared one thing for me. The electric SUV is powerful and capable enough to handle going off-roading, well at least mild off-roading, after all, it is an all-wheel-drive system and not an outright 4x4. But the big question is - will old-school off-roaders like it? I don’t think they will. For them, the feel of a gas-guzzling off-road SUV with the mechanical 4x4 system will always be unmatched.
So, who is it for? Well, it is for those who mostly spend their week in the urban setting but like some light adventure on the weekends. Those who are interested in off-roading but lack the skillset to go all out, are looking for something that is not just capable of handling bad terrain, but also comfortable and convenient. All that said, I will only be able to give a proper opinion about the Harrier EV once I get to drive it, and our first drive review will go live in July 2025. So, keep watching this space.
