Tata CURVV vs Tata Harrier Comparison – What All’s Different?

The Tata CURVV has finally been revealed in India ahead of the launch on August 7. This gives us an opportunity to compare it with the Harrier.

After the official unveiling of the Tata CURVV, I am comparing it to the Harrier SUV in terms of specs, features and design. CURVV will be launched in an electric avatar first, followed by petrol and diesel. There are distinct differences in the ICE and electric avatars of the CURVV from the outside. In our market, it will be positioned between the Nexon and Harrier. Since the price overlap with be quite significant, it is obvious that a lot of potential buyers will face some confusion. On the other hand, the Harrier has been an established product for a long time. Let us see how well these two go up against each other.

Tata CURVV vs Tata Harrier Comparison – Specs

We are not clear about the specifications of the Tata CURVV just yet. The Indian auto giant will reveal those details at the launch on August 7. However, the coupe SUV is likely to carry a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine (just like the Nexon) to produce 125 hp of peak power. Apart from that, the CURVV will also share the diesel mill with the Nexon. Complimenting these engines will be manual and automatic transmissions. In this way, the preferences of just about every potential car buyer will be taken care of. Interestingly, the CURVV will be one of few cars which will be offered in petrol, diesel and electric guise. Perhaps the electric powertrain will come from the Nexon as well.

On the other hand, the Tata Harrier boasts a sole Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre turbo diesel mill which generates a familiar 170 PS and 350 Nm of peak power and torque. There are options of choosing between either a 6-speed manual or an automatic transmission. Interestingly, the electric version of the Harrier is also on the way in the coming months. That will diversify the portfolio even further. The prices range from Rs 15.49 lakh to Rs 26.44 lakh, ex-showroom. In terms of the specifications, both these will be capable but the CURVV will have an advantage since there will be multiple powertrain alternatives to ensure that the needs of all kinds of buyers are met.

Tata CURVV vs Tata Harrier Comparison – Design

Tata CURVV

Let us commence the design comparison with the Tata CURVV since it is the newer of the two. The aim of this vehicle is to offer something truly unique to the customers. There is not a single coupe SUV in the mass market segment in India. Until now, we have only seen this body type on some of the most premium luxury SUVs. But the Indian auto giant wants to popularize this silhouette. Hence, the most noticeable aspect of the CURVV is its sloping roofline which culminates in the boot compartment. At the rear, the SUV offers connected LED taillamps via an LED strip which runs the width of the SUV. Apart from that, it gets a shark fin antenna and a distinct roof-mounted spoiler. The upright stance and rugged bumper elevate the sportiness.

On the sides, the CURVV gets large stylish alloy wheels, flush-fitting door handles, unique side pillars and chunky wheel arches with black cladding. This black section also extends to the door panels. Note that the alloy wheel designs for the ICE and EV are different. In the electric version, the alloy wheels are aerodynamically designed to boost efficiency. Finally, even the front fascia of the two models are unique in establishing their identities. Both these iterations get a sleek LED light bar which covers the width of the SUV and gets neatly integrated into the LED DRLs on either side. The main headlamp cluster is positioned on the extreme edges of the bumper in a stacked configuration. The piano black finish on the grille bears slight differences in the ICE and EV versions. In any case, the CURVV will offer a compelling road presence which will definitely make heads turn.

Tata Harrier

Remember that the Tata Harrier had also been updated a few months ago. Therefore, it comes with the modern design elements. In all fairness, there are certain similarities in terms of the overall pattern. At the front, the Harrier offers an LED light bar which is a full-width unit ending in the LED DRLs on either side. In the middle, it gets a striking grille section with horizontal elements on it. The bumper is split into two sections via a horizontal line. The stacked LED headlamps on the extreme edges of the bumper elevate the premium quotient of the SUV. I particularly like the lower section of the SUV with interesting inserts.

One also gets a rugged skid plate underneath the bumper. On the sides, the large SUV possesses prominent wheel arches with tough alloy wheels. To achieve the floating roof effect, the side pillars and roof are finished in black colour. This also enables a dual-tone appearance which makes the SUV look porty. The black cladding even covers the side body panels. Finally, the tail end looks busy and striking with connected LED taillamps via an LED light bar. This is a common design theme which we see in many modern cars. In addition, there is a shark fin antenna, a solid skid plate underneath the bumper and reflector lights on the extreme edges of the bumper. All in all, the Harrier does come with a rather imposing road presence.

Features

Again, since the official launch of the Tata CURVV is yet to take place, we shall get to know the exact details of the features then. But over the last few weeks, the spy images and news reports have indicated a few key highlights. On the other hand, the Harrier offers almost all major amenities one could expect from a product in this price range. Its top functionalities include:

• Free-standing 12.3-inch Infotainment Screen
• 10.25-inch Digital Instrument Cluster
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone Connectivity
• Wireless Charging
• Ambient Lighting
• Two-Spoke Steering Wheel with Illuminated Tata Logo
• Dual-Zone Climate Control
• 360-Degree Camera
• ADAS
• 7 Airbags
• 10-Speaker JBL Sound System
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Touch-Sensitive HVAC Controls
• 5-star Global NCAP Safety Rating

On the other hand, the few elements will are almost confirmed on the Tata CURVV are:

• 12.3-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display
• Digital Instrument Cluster
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Automatic AC
• Textured Dashboard
• Premium Audio System
• Two-Spoke Steering Wheel with Illumination

Our View

I feel the main verdict will depend largely on the price of the Tata CURVV. While the Harrier will definitely be the more expensive of the two since it is much larger, the CURVV will be the one which will offer various powertrain options to the buyers. Also, its lower price tag will be a major pull for a whole bunch of potential buyers. On the other hand, people looking for an imposing SUV with acres of space inside the cabin will still prefer the Harrier. Let us wait for the price announcements and other details at the launch to make a decision.