Rs 25 lakh Kia Harrier competition coming to India?
Kia has gained quite a customer base in its short stint in the Indian market. It has shown how proper product planning can do wonders for a brand and has been expanding its roots to varied segments. So, what’s next for the Korean brand? Kia’s current focus is mainly on SUVs, and the brand would be planning its future line-up in this direction. The next for Kia could be the mid-size SUV segment. Kia will not need to develop an all-new car as it already has the Sportage in its global lineup. The Sportage could fit right in the mid-size segment and can take on the Tata Harrier. In today’s article, we will talk about this potential Rs 20 lakh Kia Tata Harrier rival.
Dimensions
Globally, Sportage was given a generation upgrade in 2021. With this upgrade, Kia introduced the short wheelbase and long wheelbase versions of the Sportage for varied markets. The short wheelbase variant measures 4,515mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm. On the other hand, the long wheelbase variant measures 4,660mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2,755mm. What about other dimensions? The Sportage is 1,865mm wide and 1,660mm tall. With these dimensions, Kia can strike the Tata Harrier.
Now, one thing to note here is that the Kia Sportage is the sister car to the Hyundai Tucson. The Tucson sits at a very high premium in the market and positions itself as a flagship Hyundai SUV. Now, if Kia decides to bring the Sportage long wheelbase variant, it would technically be priced way above the Harrier. For that, Kia could bring in the short wheelbase variant. This would allow the brand to position this SUV competitively against the Harrier.
One more interesting thing to be noted here is that Harrier is a 5-seater SUV. Hyundai brought in the Tucson long wheelbase variant and did plan to offer 7-seats in the cabin. However, this plan has been scrapped after finding that the space is cramped for fitting in a third-row. Kia could very well utilise this learning and restrict itself to the short wheelbase variant.
Kia Tata Harrier rival – Design
As mentioned above, Sportage got a generation change in 2021. With this change, Sportage now gets a radical design like other Kia cars. At the front, we have a huge grille with grey element at the top. The grille is cut off by a C-shaped LED DRL enclosing the headlamps. The side profile is more or less identical to the newly launched Hyundai Tucson. What about the rear? The rear gets inverted LED taillamps with a connecting strip in the middle.
Interior & features
The interiors of the Sportage are quite premium like other Kia Cars. Straight away, we see the floating instrument cluster and infotainment system. The Sportage sports a single-piece curved display which looks very premium and is bound to draw buyers. Below that, we have AC controls and a rotary-dial for gear selector. Other highlights include a three-spoke steering wheel and rectangular AC vents. What about features? The full list could be exhaustive, so some of the highlight features include dual-zone climate control, an outside mirror memory system, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system. All-in-all, the Sportage looks very premium when compared to anything in the market.
Kia Tata Harrier rival – Specifications
So, what engine options could it get? Globally, the Sportage comes with a sleeve of options. However, if launched in India, it is expected to sport the same engine options as Tucson. It could sport 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel engine. With these on offer, the Kia Sportage would definitely be a lucrative machine.
Will it come to India?
Nothing concrete has been said about bringing the Sportage to India. When Kia was setting up its base in India, it did let journalists experience the previous-generation Sportage. So, will it come to India? As Kia establishes itself, it will have to bring its global products to India. The Sportage could be an ideal choice, given Kia prices it aggressively against the competition.
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