Rugged style, silent strength

IT DOES THINGS in style, and silence. Tata's Harrier EV is a true off-roader with the rugged appeal of its ICE predecessor, and is also a mile muncher, as we discovered driving it on highways. But how good is it as a daily-use EV?

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

First, some facts

The Harrier EV, priced from ₹21.49 lakh to ₹30.23 lakh, has attracted more than 10,000 bookings. This is a remarkable leap forward compared to Harrier ICE sales (less than 2,000 units per month). A company executive told FE that people have been waiting for a long-range, full-size electric SUV, and they saw the Harrier EV as the right fit.

So, what is it?

Available in two battery pack options—65 and 75-kWh—the Harrier EV shares body style with the Harrier ICE (only in diesel), but it is as similar as chalk and cheese.

Prices of 65-kWh variants are ₹21.49-24.48 lakh, and of 75-kWh variants are ₹24.99-30.23 lakh. We drove the latter.

How's the design?

It looks similar to the Harrier ICE, but there are clever EV-specific design inputs—such as a closed front grille, different LED DRLs, new alloy wheels, and a frunk (front trunk, in place of the engine).