New-gen Harrier midsize SUV gains lots of technology and a hybrid version. Priced at $160,888/COE for 2.0 Elegance, and $173,888 w/COE for the Hybrid

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Photos: Toyota

SINGAPORE

UPDATE Feb 2021: We’ve tested the 2021 Toyota Harrier Hybrid in Singapore – read our review here or watch the video below.

Toyota is starting 2021 with a bang, and after debuting the Yaris Cross small SUVn here recently, the brand is introducing its second new model in a month, with official distributor Borneo Motors unveiling the all-new Harrier at an online launch event today.

If you want to watch it all it’s on FB Live, click here.

Our first impressions are that the Harrier isn’t cheap, compared to other mainstream midsize SUVs, but it will offer a lot of technology, equipment, and style that could rival luxury cars of a similar size.

At launch, Borneo will offer two variants of the new Harrier, with the 2.0 Elegance model retailing for $160,888 inclusive of COE. This version, which uses a naturally-aspirated 170hp powerplant, replaces the previous model which had a 2.0-litre turbo engine with 227hp that was only available here exclusively through Borneo Motors.

The car has a 1,987cc inline four-cylinder ‘Dynamic Force’ engine (M20A-FKS) with 170hp, 203Nm of torque, and does 0-100km/h in 9.7 seconds, with a 190km/h top speed. It’s officially rated for 6.5L/100km fuel consumption, and with 147g/km of CO2, it’s rated VES B.

But the big news is the new Hybrid model. It’s powered by a 2,487cc inline four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine (A25A-FXS) with 176hp and 221Nm torque, and paired with a 118hp/202Nm electric motor, itself powered by a lithium ion battery pack. The total system power output is 215hp, which gives the car a 0-100km/h time of 8.1 seconds, with a 180km/h top speed.

The Harrier Hybrid is good for 4.7L/100km, has emissions of 106g/km of CO2, and is rated A2 for VES, which nets it a S$15,000 rebate.

This marks the first time that Borneo Motors is bringing in a hybrid version of the Harrier officially, and underlines Toyota’s push to expand its hybrid line-up locally in the wake of the new VES emissions regulations which kicked in on 1 January 2021.

The Hybrid will be available in two variants, Premium and Luxury, with the Premium version being less expensive though the price has not been revealed yet as the car is still undergoing homologation.

But a look a the variants and equipment list reveal that the Harrier has a generous list of standard equipment across the board – all three versions of the car have identical passive and active safety systems, and infotainment loadout.

Visually, it should be hard to miss the facelift model as its looks have been quite improved. We’ve detailed the new Harrier after its domestic market debut back in August 2020, but the latest version features sportier, more coupe-like styling, with its swooping roofline, slim headlights. It also has a full-width taillight bar, a design trend that’s in vogue lately having featured on cars ranging from the Porsche Panamera to the new Hyundai Avante.

The car runs on the TNGA GA-K platform, as shared with the Toyota Camry, RAV4, and Lexus ES. Toyota says the suspension setup is the same – a MacPherson front and double-wishbone rear, but it has been further optimised for improved ride quality and driver confidence. A new addition is Active Cornering Assist, which uses the brakes to reduce understeer in corners.

As mentioned, the car’s standard equipment level is high. All versions come with full LED lights (head, tail, fog, DRL), auto folding side mirrors, keyless entry and start, power-adjustable steering wheel, a 10.5-inch HUD, 7.0-inch info screen in the dual-binnacle instrument panel, drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), automatic climate control, rear aircon vents, and backrest-adjustable rear seats. Boot space is the same on all models, 396-litres, and all models have an electric tailgate with kick-to-open function.

For tech and infotainment, the Harrier has an 8.0-inch touchscreen high-mounted on the dashboard, and like all good systems it’s capable of Bluetooth connectivity, and syncing up with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and its sound is channeled through a six-speaker sound system. There’s also a wireless smartphone charger, four USB ports throughout the interior.

Besides the presence of the hybrid system, there are only minor differences between the gasoline Elegance version and the hybrid Premium version (the next step up).

There’s a lot of safety onboard the new Harrier, and notably all three trim levels have the same safety equipment level. The Elegance model lacks full leather seats (it has mixed leather/fabric), it only has electric adjustability for the driver’s seat, no memory function, and no seat ventilation, unlike the Premium/Luxury variants.

The Luxury variant has two notable additions to its loadout: The first is a digital rearview mirror that uses a camera to give a clear view of the road behind the car (like on the Land Rover Defender), and it has an electrochromic-dimming panoramic sunroof.

TSS, or Toyota Safety Sense, the brand’s suite of advanced driver safety features is onboard and likely the most feature-rich and advanced for any Toyota to date. It includes a autonomous forward collision mitigation/warning, dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, lane departure warning, and automatic adaptive high beam. But there’s also PKSB (Parking Support Brake), which stops you from hitting objects while parking.

For conventional safety, there are seven airbags, tyre pressure monitors, blind spot monitors, rear cross traffic alert, a reverse camera and parking sensors front and rear.

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Despite a COVID-disrupted 2020, Toyota ended last year top of the sales charts locally, and the brand is aiming to maintain its pole position by launching its big-hitters in the first month of 2021.

With the mainstream models now out in the market, Toyota’s remaining new launches for the year will cater towards enthusiasts, with the GR Yaris hot hatch set to arrive imminently, and the GR 86 coupe scheduled to launch in the second half of 2021.

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