Tata Harrier vs Hyundai Creta vs Jeep Compass: Comparison Review

The Harrier’s pricing makes us wonder if it’s a better bet compared to the Creta; its capabilities begs the question if the Compass deserves a premium

Let’s begin this by addressing the elephant in the room. Yes, while the Harrier and the Creta seem pretty neck and neck in terms of pricing, the Compass is a whole lot more expensive. If you’ve been in the market for a five-seater SUV for the family, you didn’t really have anything that bridged the gap between the Hyundai and the Jeep. And now that you do, in the form of the Harrier, there are a few key questions that need to be answered:

• Does the Harrier prove to be better value compared to the Creta? Does it deliver an authentic SUV experience?
• Does the Compass manage to justify the Rs 4 lakh-5 lakh premium it’s so confidently asking for?

Make A Statement

….that’s why you’re buying an SUV in the first place right? A tall, upright, squared-off SUV stands out (quite literally) in a sea of low-slung sedans and hatchbacks. And, on the standing out front, all three manage to deliver, albeit in their own unique ways.

The Creta has aged gracefully over the years. With the facelift, Hyundai hasn’t fettled with the design too much either. Pick one in an eye-popping shade like orange or blue and it will command some extra attention too. In this company, however, it manages to look a bit meek. Especially because it isn’t as big on size as the other two.

Jeep’s Compass is bringing in the good old SUV flavour, blended with modern day elements. With the upright bonnet and the trademark seven-slat grille, the baby Jeep manages to cut quite a handsome figure. It’s got the stance and proportions we associate with an SUV spot on.

While the Creta tries to wow you with some sophistication, and the Compass grabs some attention for its unabashed boxy nature, the Harrier manages to outdo them both. It’s the biggest SUV in this comparison, and by a fair margin at that. Plus, it’s packing in a design that’s hard to dislike, with the slender daytime running lamps, connected tail lamps and meaty wheel arches.

The Harrier is a full 203mm longer than the Compass, and a whopping 328mm longer than the Creta. It trumps the duo on width too, measuring in a full 80mm more than the Jeep and 114mm more than the Hyundai. Wheelbase too, at 2741mm, is substantially larger than the other two.

In terms of equipment, there’s not a lot separating the three. For instance, all three pack in projector headlamps, and get LED elements in the tail lamps. All of them get alloy wheels too - the Harrier and the Creta pack a set of 17-inchers whereas the Compass in its new top-spec Limited Plus variant gets a lip-smacking set of 18-inch alloys.

Pick any and you’ll have a handsome SUV in your parking. If we had to pick one, we’d tilt in favour of the Harrier. It easily makes the most amount of heads turn on the move.

Big On The Inside?

Tata is playing the size card, and it’s reaping dividends on the inside too. The amount of space in the second row of the Harrier is, to put it mildly, mindblowing! If you’re looking for an SUV to be chauffeured around in, or to take your close pals for a mega road trip, the Harrier is the best pick here. Our friendly resident giant, Tushar, who’s all of 6.5ft tall, had a little room to spare sitting behind his own driving position. Even when yours truly hopped into the rear seats (mind you, even I am err… horizontally challenged), there was enough room between us that you could fit an adult human being. Yes, there’s a hump on the floor here, but it is narrow enough for the middle occupant to place their feet on either side.

On the other hand, Hyundai has very cleverly managed to carve out space from the limited dimensions of the Creta. It offers the second-best rear seat experience here. Sure, the cabin isn’t palatial, but it’s enough for four six-footers to be comfortable. Width is a bother, and three abreast in the rear bench will be pushing it. However, since the Creta has a flat floor, the middle occupant isn’t as inconvenienced as in the Jeep.

With the Compass, the bigger size on the outside doesn’t necessarily translate into a spacious cabin. At the rear, you’ll find the lack of width a bit surprising. The large floor hump (because 4x4!) eats into foot room further, making things a bit cosy for three occupants. As a four-seater, the Compass shines. You’d have no issues with four six-footers here either.

Here’s a quick look at the measurements:

At the front, the story isn’t drastically different. With the Harrier offering the most amount of width and the highest seating position, it feels like an SUV from a segment above. But it’s not all sunshine and roses for the Tata. Finding a driving position is an absolute task in the Harrier, and it can be trickier still for shorter drivers. The pedal box feels cramped, the dead pedal is awkwardly placed and taller occupants will have their knees brush against the dashboard. Over the week that we spent with the Harrier, we found ourselves fidgeting with the seat quite a few times. Our solution is to sit lower and a notch behind than usual.

On the flipside, the ergonomics on the Hyundai Creta are absolutely spot on. It’s easy to find a comfortable seating position, and that’s despite not having telescopic adjust for the steering wheel. There’s ample room for taller drivers too, and width isn’t an issue either. And while the Creta might feel SUVish when you compare it to something like an S-Cross; in this group, it’s the most car-like.

The Jeep… well, it feels like a Jeep! You can see the edge of the bonnet, and you sit higher than your everyday hatchbacks/ pseudo-SUVs as well. But, much like the Harrier, the Compass’ pedal box too, feels cramped especially if you have big shoes. And while the dead pedal positioning is better than the Harrier, it still feels like it’s placed at an awkward angle. Getting used to this position, thankfully, is easy.

Bang For Your Buck

If there’s a thread stringing these three together, it’s that all of them come stuffed to the gills with features. Pick the top-spec versions of any of these, and you get features such as automatic climate control, steering-mounted audio control, a touchscreen infotainment system, a parking camera (with adaptive guidelines), keyless entry as well as push-button start/stop.

Of course, all these SUVs bring their own unique bits to the table as well. For instance, with the Tata you get a sweet-looking 7-inch TFT screen in the instrument cluster, as well as smaller niceties such as puddle lamps and auto-folding mirrors. It’s also worth mentioning that the Harrier packs in the largest touchscreen (8.8-inch) here, compared to the Creta (7-inch) and the Compass (8.4-inch). It also features a 9-speaker JBL sound system with a subwoofer, whereas the other two get 6-speaker setups. Misses? Well, we’d have loved to see some basics taken care of here: auto-dimming rear-view mirror, height-adjustable seat belts, auto up/down for all windows would’ve rounded off the Harrier’s in-cabin experience nicely.

The Compass also gets some exclusives in the form of a full panoramic sunroof, electric driver’s seat with memory and dual-zone climate control. But, that’s not what you’re really paying for. With the Jeep you get a super-soft dashboard, soft-touch material on the door pads and really good quality leather upholstery. At the same time, it’s hard to excuse the misses on the Compass too. Considering the asking price, omissions such as cruise control, ambient lighting and front parking sensors seem uncalled for.

Hyundai’s Creta is really well kitted out. In isolation, it might seem like the best-equipped in the group too. With the SX (O) variant, you get a host of goodies including an electric sunroof, wireless charging, a powered driver’s seat as well as wireless charging. Move up to the SX (O) Executive variant, and you’re treated to ventilated seats as well. Not to say there aren’t silly misses. We can’t fathom why the Creta does not get automatic headlamps or rain-sensing wipers.

But, a bigger sticking point for us is the variant-wise feature distribution. Yes, the Creta seems well-loaded, but that’s only if you look at the absolute top-spec trims: the SX (O) and SX (O) Executive. Compare that to the Compass and the Harrier, and you’d quickly note that even the base and mid-spec variants come decently equipped in them.

In My City…

Hang on. Let’s tackle the basics first. If you want a Tata Harrier, you have no other option other than a diesel engine paired with a manual gearbox. Both the Creta and the Compass offer petrol as well as diesel engines, as well as automatic gearboxes. Notably, where Hyundai offers a 6-speed torque converter with both fuel options, Jeep offers a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with the petrol motor only. Jeep’s expected to launch a diesel-auto Compass by mid-2019, whereas a Harrier automatic can be expected by Diwali 2019. With that out of the way, here’s a quick glance at the specifications:

If you’ll be using your new SUV mostly inside the city, it’s the Creta that will go the easiest on you. Say you’re upgrading from a hatchback, you’d get used to the dimensions of the Hyundai almost instantly. The controls, including the steering, clutch action as well as the gear throws take next to no effort. Even if you’re stuck in traffic that boils your blood, the Creta won’t add to the aggravation for sure. Another reason to pick the Creta for heavy city duties would be its efficiency. Unsurprisingly, it was the most efficient inside the city, returning nearly 14kmpl. Plus, the engine feels the most comfortable even if you’re in a gear higher than you’re supposed to be in. You can glide over speed breakers in third if you had to. And speaking of speed breakers, you wouldn’t feel them inside the cabin. The Creta’s suspension works in silence, and some negligible side-to-side rocking motion aside, there’s nothing that’d bother you.

The Harrier’s 2XL size makes it a bit of a handful inside the city. And you need to be super careful about blindspots too. While taking right-hand turns, especially at roundabouts or T-junctions, it’s easy to miss a two-wheeler (we nearly missed a Nano!) that’s blocked by the t-h-i-c-k A-pillar and the oversized wing mirrors. Here too, the clutch and the steering are pleasantly lightweight, making it easier to manoeuvre. However, we’d have liked more positive shifts from the gearbox; it feels a bit rubbery. When it comes to broken roads or potholes, the Harrier manages to cushion the cabin from the impact sufficiently. Yes, there’s some vertical movement before the cabin settles down. But inside the cabin, you’re more likely to hear the potholes than feel them.

Coming to the Compass, we feel that the clutch is almost unnecessarily hard. Couple that to the long-ish travel, and you’ve got a free calf workout every single time you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Steering, too, isn’t as easy as the other two. Plus, the Jeep demands you stay in the right gear at the right speed. If the speed falls under, the engine is quick to knock and protest vehemently. Yes, the Harrier has the same engine as the Compass, but it feels slightly better managed because of the driving modes. Finally, the Jeep’s ride has a stiff edge to it. That’s to say you will feel the sharp bumps inside the cabin. An easy workaround to this problem is to just speed up -- the bumps are flattened out much more effectively when you do that.

So, yes. It’s the Hyundai that’s the best city companion. Between the other two, we’d tilt in favour of the Tata for the lighter controls. As far as the Jeep is concerned, it feels like an absolute rockstar on the highway. And that brings us to our next point.

Crossing States

Let’s be clear about this: If your SUV is going to be a secondary vehicle, primarily for road trips, and you’ve already got a small hatchback for the city runs, the Compass delights! If we were to pick an SUV to head out for a long road trip, we’d run for the keys of the Compass. It feels at absolute ease on the highway: the suspension ensures the Compass rides flat, and the clutch isn’t a bother anymore. Yes, we do miss cruise control sorely, but boy does the Compass have the legs. Despite having 4x4, it’s lighter than the Harrier. To top things off, the Jeep makes the extra 33 horsepower count. It’s the quickest to sprint to 100kmph from a dead start too.

With the Harrier, it’s all about playing bully on the highway. Thanks to its sheer presence, we found a whole lot of motorists simply giving way. Much like the Compass, the Harrier too doesn’t mind clinging on to triple-digit speeds at a stretch. In fact, in-gear acceleration is the strongest among the trio. With that said, we have to point out that we could’ve gotten a better 0-100kmph timing. The clutch on our test car (which felt like it had been abused!) wasn’t in the best health, and was slipping a fair bit. That apart, if we had to pick a bugbear, we’d say the steering felt a bit light and vague at triple-digit speeds. Also, the ride can get slightly bouncy over successive undulations, especially for rear-seat occupants.

Hyundai’s Creta can do road trips all day long too. Just not at speeds or with the composure of the other two. We’ve got no issues with the weight of the steering even; it feels adequate to inspire confidence. But when you’re into triple-digits, the ride simply doesn’t feel as planted as the Jeep or the Tata. On a related note, we’d have loved to see more initial bite and feedback from the brake pedal. It’s the quickest to come to a dead halt among the trio, but the pedal feel takes some getting used to. What you’d happily get used to, however, is the efficiency. Here too, with nearly 22kmpl, the Hyundai edges past the other two by a significant margin.

Matters Of Safety

All three SUVs offer dual airbags and ABS with EBD as standard kit. But it’s the Compass that’s really packing in the best equipment. Traction control, electronic stability control, hill start assist and ISOFIX are offered right from the base variant. Weirdly, the child seat mounts are offered only on the XZ variant of the Harrier. Weirder still, it’s only the automatic variants of the Creta that get the mounts. And, as if on cue, Jeep offers 6 airbags only with the 4x4 version. The top-spec version of Harrier and the Creta get a total of 6 airbags as well.

Which One Should You Buy?

We know this sounds horribly cliched, but it does depend quite a lot on your intended usage. Let’s go through what’s good and what’s not about each SUV to help you pick the right car right now.

Hyundai Creta

Pick the Creta if you need an SUV primarily for city use. Also, if you have a small family or only 2-3 people will be using the car, for the most part, the Hyundai makes a whole lot of sense. Its easy to drive nature, well-built interior and gizmos make it a strong package. Look at the other two if you’re looking at buying an SUV that looks and feels big, or if you have heavy highway usage. Also, we’ve got to say that the Creta’s pricing could’ve been a lot more competitive and that lower variants could’ve been better equipped.

Jeep Compass

Pick the Compass if 4x4 is an absolute must-have for you. Similarly, if highway usage outweighs city usage, it’s the Jeep that feels best-suited for that job. Let’s split the answer to the question we asked at the start - ‘Does the Compass manage to justify the Rs 4 lakh-Rs 5 lakh premium it’s so confidently asking for?’ - in two parts. Yes, the Compass feels like a better-put together, premium product. You’re paying for the quality and the snob value of the Jeep badge. But we can’t bring ourselves to justify that much of a premium. Assume the Harrier had a panoramic sunroof, and 4x4, it’d still (hypothetically) be nearly Rs 2.5 lakh cheaper than the Compass.

Tata Harrier

There are loads of reasons to love the Harrier. But our favourite is the value it brings to the table. It definitely is more value for money compared to the Creta, and delivers a proper SUV-like experience as well. It’s got the design to impress, and save for some minor (and silly) misses it’s well-equipped too. It’s definitely the one to pick if you want the big SUV experience, or if you want to be chauffeured around to work. Yes, it’s not the easiest to drive inside the city (and that's largely down to its big size), but we reckon one can get used to it over time. It’s the one that currently offers the best blend between city and highway drivability.

Summing up, all three SUVs clearly have their forte. But if an SUV that does a little bit of everything is what you wish for, make a dash for the Tata showroom. It’s the Harrier that offers a healthy balance, and convincingly so.

Also Read

• Tata Harrier vs Mahindra XUV500: Which SUV Offers More Space?
• Tata Harrier and Buzzard 7-Seater SUV To Get 4x4 Variants