Review: 2021 Toyota Harrier 2.0 Luxury - Do you really miss the turbo?

When it was launched in Malaysia, the furore surrounding the XU80 Toyota Harrier 2.0 Luxury were mutterings of "NO TURBO, BLASPHEMY!" Not only did it eschew the turbo power unit, at RM 249,706 (valid until 30-June 2022) it is also more expensive than the XU60 model that it replaces - the Premium variant at least (RM 238,000, while the Luxury variant retailed at RM 259,900).

So, it's pretty fair to say that the current XU80 Toyota Harrier has its work cut out for itself. Down on grunt, and none the cheaper. Though it sits in the class of one (it has no natural rivals), SUVs like the Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1 and even the Lexus UX sits perilously close in the RM 250k bracket. 

To give it a fair shake, we spent some time in the XU80 Toyota Harrier 2.0 Luxury to see then, if the turbocharged 8AR-FTS engine is truly missed, or if Toyota made the right product call.

Exterior - Striking, with an air of elegance

No two ways about it, the XU80 Harrier is an exceedingly attractive car. This is no mean feat as its XU60 predecessor was already a handsome car. To our eyes, the XU80 Harrier strikes the perfect balance in terms of proportions. 

The front end looks wonderfully classy with hints of chrome blending in with the blacked-out grille  and swoopy headlights. Speaking of the grille, there is no longer the trademark Harrier motif sitting there, replaced by a regular Toyota badge instead. 

Even when viewed from the side, the Harrier is a winner, looking all slippery and shapely at the same time. Cherry on top? The signature additional kerb-view mirrors on the passenger wing mirror. A Harrier isn't a Harrier without this. 

With that said, the Harrier's derrière is the star of the show. The scalloping of the boot lid, combined with the slim tail lamps, results in a delightful shape. Drink it in from dead rear, or from the rear three-quarters, it's just absolutely stunning, especially at night. Our tester's Steel Blonde Metallic paintjob only served to highlight the Harrier's svelte curves.

Things we're not so fond of? For starters, the plastic cladding on the lower part of the Harrier, which spans the entire length of the car looks a little out of place in a car like this. It's a matter of personal taste, but we'd wager that the Harrier will look even better with that part colour-coded. 

Additionally, the 18-inch wheels look a tad undernourished compared with the rest of the car, but seeing that the power unit is a 2.0-litre, we can understand why. Then we get to the twin exhaust exits, which look really out of place, coming off rather cheap and not-very-premium, like the rest of the car. 

Interior - Premium, high-quality, luxurious

Stepping inside the XU80 Harrier, you're greeted by a interior that pleases the senses. The predominantly black interior might not be to everyone's taste, but there's no denying that the Harrier's cabin is upscale and sophisticated. 

Trim and material selection are of a high quality, nothing felt cheap or scratchy. Soft touch leather adorns the seats, dashboard, armrest, and door cards. Speaking of door cards, remember the missing Harrier bird motif outside? It's now engraved to the front door cards, brilliant!

Other goodies include dual-zone climate control, powered front seats, electric steering adjustment and a full suite of ADAS. As you can tell, Toyota pulled no punches when it came to equipping the Harrier. Generously-kitted is another word to describe it. 

More good news come in the form of a dual panoramic (electrochromic as well) glass roof, injecting a sense of airiness inside. Bad news is, only the sunshade can be opened, as the glass roof neither tilts nor slides. To us, that's alright, one less component that will fail over time.

If you were wondering what your RM 249k bought you, a majority would have gone to outfitting this excellent interior, one that has been given careful thought. But, are there things we disliked? Sure.

First, the floating infotainment stack. If there was one thing modern Toyotas need to improve on, it is this. Sure, it supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but the screen itself is small, has crusty buttons and just looks out of place in a car costing this much. At this level, details matter.

On the infotainment front, the six-speaker sound system didn't wow us. It will do the job and most will not complain, but if you're looking for a sound system that breaks every detail down, this isn't it. 

Also read: Not just Malaysia, even Singapore’s Toyota Harrier uses a cheaper infotainment, here’s why

Another slight disconnect in the cabin that we found to be jarring was the mismatched interior lighting. Where white lighting adorns the instrument panel, elsewhere you'll find light blue hues. Sure, it's a nitpick, but this being a RM 250k car, we ought to be nitpicking.

In this aspect, Mazda still leads the way, with consistent lighting temperature and colour for the entire fascia. Nonetheless, it will not be an exaggeration to call the XU80 Harrier's interior premium. It feels every inch its asking price. 

Driving experience - TNGA dynamics = superb road manners

The XU80 Harrier being a TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture)-underpinned model, we expect it to be sparkling to drive (yes I know, odd considering this is an SUV). Let's start with the driving position. Apart from the slightly offset (to the left) steering, it's examplary, with a wide range of adjustment for drivers of many sizes. 

The steering itself is perfectly weighted, offering an organic rate of response and weight at any speed. Combined with the smooth and responsive Direct Shift CVT, the Harrier nails the fundamentals with aplomb. 

The floor-hinged throttle pedal's resistance feels wonderfully hefty and tactile, which helps the driver meter out precise throttle inputs. It helps too that the 2.0-litre, Dynamic Force 4-cylinder (173 PS, 203 Nm) has a pleasing induction note as you put your foot down. 

Then, you start to get a feel of the Harrier's handling and load the chassis laterally. Oh my goodness, how can an SUV be so dynamically polished? Up the pace, still the car pivots beautifully through curves. A car this tall has no right to be this nimble. 

The Harrier's front MacPherson Strut and rear trailing wishbone set up really delivers on the dynamic promise. It stays resolutely planted, yet delivers fluid feedback of what it's doing at the same time. TNGA's magic strikes again. 

Trouble is, you won't be going anywhere in a hurry with the M20A-FKS engine. Sure, it's smooth as silk in its power delivery, but it comes off a little underwhelming for outright grunt (reflected by its 11.3 second 0-100 kmh sprint time in out tests). In a car weighing 1,610 kg, progress can be best described as 'leisurely'. 

That's a shame, as the chassis can clearly handle more grunt. As such, the M20-FKS engine does its best work from 80-120 kmh. It can go faster, but you'd be pushing it out of its comfort zone. What the XU80 Harrier really needs is the 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine (207 PS, 243 Nm) and 8-speed automatic from the Toyota RAV4. 

Also read: No more 231 PS turbocharged engine for all-new 2021 Toyota Harrier, this is why

Ride comfort - Plush, supple and serene

Not only does it handle well, the XU80 Harrier is also ace when it comes to delivering a supple ride. It soaks up every road imperfection with sheer composure, with only really big ruts jolting it occasionally. This really is having your cake and eating it.

I'd happily drive in a relaxed manner in this car, all the time. It really cossets you, even if we've already established that it is rather slow. The front seats are superbly sculpted to hug occupants, with bolstering in all the right places. The party piece is that they are heated (meh) and ventilated (lovely, given our weather). 

The rear seats can be adjusted for recline as well, and it's comfortable at the back too, with plenty of head (one tennis ball) and legroom (two tennis balls). Long distance trips? Easy peasy. Just remember, leisurely pace.

Fly in the ointment? There was a rather noticeable wind buffeting noise coming from the front window area. It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it does shatter the Harrier's imperious refinement overall. And it is refined, registering 64 dB at 110 kmh, which is quieter than a Mercedes-Benz E300 AMG Line (68 dB at the same speed).

Fuel consumption 

Covering a distance of 99.2 km, the Harrier consumed 8.3 litres of fuel, which translates to a fuel consumption figure of 8.3-litre/100km. This is quite close to the onboard computer's calculation of 8.5-litre/100km. 

Conclusion

So, does the XU80 Toyota Harrier miss having a turbocharged engine? Well, yes, this all-new model deserves more grunt to complement its prodigiously talented chassis. Right now, the way it is, the XU80 Harrier is a lovely car, but missing the final jigsaw to really complete it.

On the other hand, people looking to buy one of these don't seem to care that it is down on grunt. Evidence? The 2021 stocks (300 units, mind) of XU80 Toyota Harriers is sold out. This just goes to show that, turbo or not, the Harrier is a highly-regarded product. Buyers value the qualities that we've detailed above.

Also read: Toyota Harrier will fail in Malaysia? It just hit its 2021 sales target in 1 week

End of the day, the XU80 Toyota Harrier is still an easy recommend. It brings Lexus levels of refinement and polish to the table, and is brilliant at most things it sets out to do. Never mind the turbo engine, just give us the 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine and 8-speed automatic in the Toyota RAV4, and this Harrier will be one of the most complete luxury SUVs anywhere.