Tata Motors just unveiled its flagship EV, the Harrier EV. The car isn’t just a reskinned ICE Harrier; it’s a notable upgrade over it and offers several features that don’t come with the diesel Harrier. It’s also one of the only “real” SUVs available in the segment!
Tata’s Only AWD Vehicle
Tata Motors has gotten a lot of flak for not producing any proper all-wheel drive SUVs ever since they discontinued the older Safari and replaced it with the new monocoque front-wheel drive Safari. Well, that’s changed now. The Harrier EV is still based on a monocoque platform, but it now comes with an all-wheel drive system powered by dual motors, one on each axle. Tata calls this their “quad-wheel drive” or QWD system. The name implies all four wheels are powered independently; however, that isn’t the case.
What Is Tata’s “QWD” System?
The Harrier.EV is based on Tata’s Acti.ev platform. Tata’s new AWD system is entirely electric and far more precise than conventional AWD systems that use mechanical parts and linkages like transfer cases and differentials to power all wheels. The Harrier.EV has two motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle. Each motor powers two wheels on its respective axle. This allows independent torque distribution amongst the front and rear wheels.
A key advantage electric AWD systems have is their lightning-fast response times. These systems are much smarter and quicker than traditional AWD systems, able to adapt power and torque to each wheel instantly.
Off-Road Specific Features
Tata’s Off-Road Assist includes:
- Low-Speed Cruise Control (5 km/h crawl)
- Hill Descent & Hill Hold Control
- 6 Drive Modes with the option to make custom modes for yourself
- All-Wheel Disc Brakes with Wiping Function
- 540° Camera with Transparent Terrain View
Dynamics & Performance
The Harrier.EV comes with a new multi-link rear suspension setup that isn’t quite the best for off-roading, but promises to make those seated comfortable off the road and deliver on the road. This isn’t a hardcore off-roader like the Scorpio-N, Thar or the Jimny, but it will handle any scenario you might encounter without too much trouble. It gets FSD or frequency-selective dampers, also called adaptive suspension, meaning the car can adapt the stiffness of the suspension based on various factors and know when to become stiff versus soft.
The Harrier.EV comes with some serious performance, about 313 BHP & 504 Nm of torque. On paper, both motors are capable of a blistering 396 BHP, but the battery can’t keep up with that; hence, real-world power output is limited to a still very respectable and class-leading 313 BHP.
Pricing & Variants
Pricing for the Harrier.EV starts at Rs. 21.49 Lakh. There are two battery packs on offer: 65 kWh and 75 kWh, with a maximum range of up to 627 km. Lower variants come with a 65 kWh battery, which powers a single electric motor. It delivers 235 BHP to the rear wheels. Higher variants get a 75 kWh battery pack and dual electric motors generating 313 BHP and 504 Nm of torque. The Harrier.ev can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.
Tata claims the 75 kWh battery pack has a range of 627 km (MIDC cycle), which translates to a real-world range of 480-505 km for the 75 kWh RWD version. Tata provides a 7.2 kW AC charger, capable of charging the car from 10-100% in 10.7 hours. The SUV can be charged from 20-80% in 25 minutes using a 120 kW DC fast charger.
