For years, the Tata Harrier and Safari have been synonymous with diesel power. Tata Motors’ decision to finally introduce a petrol engine into its flagship SUVs marks a significant shift in strategy—one aimed at buyers who value refinement, performance and urban drivability over sheer diesel torque.
We recently drove the Tata Harrier Petrol in Delhi-NCR under challenging conditions, with dense fog and AQI levels crossing 500. Expectations were modest going in, especially considering the Harrier’s size and weight. But the new petrol-powered Harrier turned out to be a pleasant and rather convincing surprise.
What’s New Under the Bonnet?
The biggest update is Tata’s all-new 1.5-litre Hyperion turbo-petrol engine, first seen in the Sierra and now tuned further for the Harrier and Safari.
Engine & Transmission Highlights
Engine: 1.5L, 4-cylinder turbo-petrol
Power: 170 PS
Torque: 280 Nm
Gearboxes: 6-speed manual | 6-speed AISIN torque-converter automatic
Cycle: Miller cycle
Compression ratio: 11.5:1 (among the highest in the segment)
Tata claims segment-best NVH levels, with the Safari Petrol measuring just 37.8 dB inside the cabin. In real-world driving, the Harrier Petrol feels impressively insulated, with engine noise well suppressed and vibrations almost absent.
Performance: Far Better Than Expected
There’s no getting around it—the Harrier Petrol does not feel underpowered. Acceleration is brisk, throttle response is strong and the engine pulls cleanly across the rev range. Tata claims a 0–100 km/h time of under 10 seconds, and it certainly feels quick enough to back that up.
The AISIN 6-speed automatic gearbox deserves special mention. Shifts are smooth and intuitive, almost DCT-like in everyday driving, making the Harrier Petrol an easy SUV to live with in traffic as well as on highways.
Fuel-efficiency figures weren’t disclosed during the drive, and the trip computer remained locked at 8 km/l. Real-world numbers will only be clear once customer deliveries begin.
Ride and Handling: Classic Harrier DNA
Built on the OMEGA Arc platform (derived from Land Rover’s D8 architecture), the Harrier Petrol retains the rock-solid ride quality it’s known for.
Excellent bump absorption
Confident over broken roads
Controlled body roll despite size and height
The only area that could use improvement is brake bite, especially given the increased performance potential of the petrol engine.
Design and Interior Updates
Visually, the Harrier Petrol remains unchanged—and that’s no bad thing. It still looks muscular and road-dominant. Tata has added a new Nitro Crimson colour, which looks particularly striking under artificial lighting.
Inside, there are meaningful upgrades:
New Oyster White & Titan Brown interior theme
New top-spec Fearless Ultra persona
14.5-inch Samsung QLED touchscreen with deep contrast
10-speaker JBL sound system with Dolby Atmos
Digital IRVM with integrated front and rear camera washers
Memory ORVMs with auto-dip in reverse
Digital IRVM also doubles as a dual-channel dashcam
Tata will also offer a Red Dark Edition, featuring:
Carbon Black exterior
19-inch dark alloy wheels
Carnelian Red interior upholstery
Standard Accomplished Ultra variants get 18-inch wheels.
What Hasn’t Changed (and Could Be Better)
While the Harrier Petrol brings more than just an engine swap, a few areas still need attention:
Unpainted body cladding on a flagship SUV feels inconsistent, especially when Sierra and Curvv get painted units.
No adjustable under-thigh support, despite being offered on smaller Tata models.
Minor quality niggles noticed on the test car, including dashboard rattles and panel-gap inconsistencies.
Shift-by-wire gear selector still needs refinement.
One rear seatbelt malfunctioned—something that should have been caught at quality checks.
Should You Buy the Tata Harrier Petrol?
The Tata Harrier Petrol expands the appeal of the Harrier in a big way. It’s now:
More refined
Faster and more engaging
Better equipped than before
For buyers who:
Drive mostly in cities
Prefer petrol smoothness
Want performance without diesel clatter
…the Harrier Petrol makes a compelling case against rivals like the Mahindra XUV700 Petrol and MG Hector Petrol.
Despite a few quality concerns, this petrol iteration feels like a major step forward, not just a stop-gap solution.
FAQs: Tata Harrier Petrol
Q. Is the Tata Harrier Petrol underpowered?
No. With 170 PS and 280 Nm, it feels strong and confident for its size.
Q. Which gearbox is better—manual or automatic?
The 6-speed AISIN automatic stands out for smoothness and ease of driving.
Q. Is fuel efficiency good?
Official ARAI figures are awaited. Real-world numbers will be clearer post-launch.
Q. Does the Harrier Petrol get new features?
Yes. It gets several upgrades, including a QLED touchscreen, Dolby Atmos audio and a Digital IRVM.
Q. Who should consider the Harrier Petrol over diesel?
Urban users, performance-focused buyers and those seeking refinement over diesel torque.
Final Verdict
The Tata Harrier Petrol is not just a new variant—it’s a reimagining of what the Harrier can be. Faster, smoother and more feature-rich, it broadens Tata’s flagship SUV appeal like never before. If you were waiting for a petrol Harrier worth buying, this is it.
