When Tata decided to return to South Africa, part of that return included its premium SUV, the Harrier. Based on the Omega Arc platform and related to the Land Rover D8 platform, the Harrier is out to deliver Tata's interpretation of a premium SUV.
Related: Tata Harrier 2.0TD Fearless+(2025) Review
Curiously, the Harrier is diesel-powered, while much of its competition runs on small-displacement turbocharged engines and even hybrid power. So, with this in mind, how does the Harrier compare on running costs?
Looking at the figures
| Tata Harrier 2.0TD Pure+ | Jetour T1 1.5T Edge | BYD Sealion 5 Comfort | |
| Engine | 2.0-litre Turbodiesel 4-cylinder | 1.5-litre Turbo Petrol 4-cylinder | 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol hybrid |
| Power/Torque | 125kW / 350Nm | 125kW / 270 Nm | 156kW / 300Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed automatic | 7-speed dual clutch | CVT |
| Claimed Fuel Consumption | 6.6 L /100km | 7.6 L /100km | 1.4 L/100km with charged hybrid battery / 5.2 L /100km combined |
| Kerb Weight | 1745 kg | 1707 kg | 1675 kg |
| Driven wheels | Front | Front | Front |
| CO2 Emissions | 174 g/km | 172 g/km | 27 g/km with a charged hybrid battery |
| Service Plan | 5 year /75 000km | 7 year / 75 000km | 4-year/60 000km maintenance plan |
| Price | from R549 900 | from R514 900 | from R499 900 |
*Pricing stated here was correct when publishing and is subject to change without prior notice. Manufacturer figures were also claimed here.
Comparing the figures
Purchase Price
How much will it cost to buy? We'll calculate using our finance tool, setting the parameters to 72 months, a 10% deposit, no balloon/residual, and a 12% interest rate.
| Car | Purchase price | Monthly instalment |
| Tata Harrier 2.0TD Pure+ | from R549 900 | R9 676 p/m |
| Jetour T1 1.5T Edge | from R514 900 | R9 060 p/m |
| BYD Sealion 5 Comfort | from R499 900 | R8 796 p/m |
The BYD Sealion 5 is the cheapest car to buy here.
Fuel Consumption
| Car | Claimed fuel consumption |
| Tata Harrier 2.0TD Pure+ | 6.6 L/100km |
| Jetour T1 1.5T Edge | 7.6 L /100km |
| BYD Sealion 5 Comfort | 1.4 L /100km with charged hybrid battery / 5.2 L/100km combined |
Even with a depleted hybrid battery, the BYD Sealion 5 wins here.
Service Plan
| Car | Claimed fuel consumption |
| Tata Harrier 2.0TD Pure+ | 5 year /75 000km |
| Jetour T1 1.5T Edge | 7 year / 75 000km |
| BYD Sealion 5 Comfort | 4-year/60 000km maintenance plan |
Though the distance and time are shorter, the BYD Sealion 5 takes the win here for offering a maintenance plan rather than a service plan.
Who wins?
Across all three metrics, the BYD Sealion 5 trounces the competition. It's the cheapest to buy and run, making it an attractive option for those looking to buy an SUV at the half-million Rand price point. You can search for the latest used and new Tata Harrier, BYD Sealion 5 and Jetour T1 deals here and sell your car too.
