2021 Toyota Harrier - What to expect?

After launching the highly-awaited Corolla Cross last month, UMW Toyota is back in the headlines and this time it is for the all-new Harrier. Yes, you got it right. The fourth-generation Toyota Harrier that made its global debut in Japan last year in June, is now ready to hit the local market. UMW Toyota recently dropped the first teaser of the upcoming model on its official website with the caption “coming soon April 2021” and opened registrations of interest for the new SUV.

But as always, this time also the automaker did not reveal any information about the upcoming model and left us with speculations and expectations. And, for that, we can take clues from the Singapore market, which is presently the only export market for the new Harrier coming out from Japan. So, here we have listed the expected specifications of the 2021 Toyota Harrier, have a look.

Redesigned exterior

Based on Toyota’s TNGA-K platform just like the RAV4, the latest Harrier is a completely new model. The coupe-like design of the luxury SUV features a completely new front and rear fascia with more sharp features such as a closed-off upper grille, a big lower grille, redesigned signature projector LED headlamps, and LED tail light strip. Toyota has also lowered the height of the SUV by 30 mm to compliment a sloping roof design. The Singapore-spec model comes with 18-inch wheels as standard, and a hands-free powered tailgate, the Malaysian model is likely to mirror these specifications.

Updated Interior with new features

Inside the new Toyota Harrier, we expect a sophisticated and elegant cabin with a multilayered dual-tone dashboard, chrome accents on the sleek air-condition vents, diamond-shaped centre console, and three-point control mounted steering wheel. The cabin would have tactile synthetic leather wrapping and bentwood-inspired wood tones and piping.

In terms of technology, the 2021 Toyota Harrier specs sheet should include a 12.3-inch TFT wide touch-display infotainment unit with a T-Connect SD navigation system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto support, SmartDeviceLink, 9-speaker JBL premium sound system, dual-zone auto climate control with rear air vents, keyless entry, push-button start, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and Nanoe air ioniser. It is also likely to get a panoramic sunroof with electro-chromatic glass, a 10.5-inch head-up display, a Qi wireless pad, and a digital rearview mirror.

New mechanical setup

Under the hood, the Malaysian-spec Toyota Harrier is expected to get two engine options - hybrid and petrol. The former is a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Dynamic Force four-popper mill that kicks out a maximum output of 170 hp at 6,600 rpm and a peak torque of 203 Nm from 4,400 to 4,900 rpm. The engine is paired with a Direct Shift-CVT sending power to the front wheels. On the performance front, it can hit the top speed of 190 kmph and takes 9.7 seconds to clock the 100 kmph mark. The fuel consumption is rated at 15.38 kmpl.

In contrast, the hybrid power plant uses a combination of a 2.5 litre Dynamic Force engine making 176 hp/221 Nm and an electric motor delivering 118 hp/202 Nm. The combined system output is rated at 215 hp. It is paired with an electric CVT, enabling the SUV to hit 100 kmph in 8.1 seconds before attaining the top speed of 180 kmph. The impressive fuel economy of the petrol-electric model is 21.28 kmpl.

More safety features

As for safety, we expect that all the trims of the upcoming Harrier would have seven airbags and traction control as standard, alongside the complete pack of Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite. Included in this pack are autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane centring assist, adaptive high beam, and adaptive cruise control.

Higher Price

Although Toyota has not dropped any hint about the 2021 Toyota Harrier price, we expect the updated model to be priced a bit higher than the predecessor on account of the several significant changes. 

Exceeding Toyota’s sales forecasting, the fourth-generation Harrier is currently Japan’s second most popular car with a waiting period of 9 months, we assume that it will also break all its previous sales records in the local market.

Also read: Toyota Corolla Cross vs Proton X70 - Which one is better?