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If you think a sedan is too small and a sport utility vehicle is too big, you may find a car that’s just right for you in the form of the Toyota Harrier. This model combines the performance and elegance (the harrier is a bird of prey characterized by long wings and a slender body) of a luxury sedan with the off-road capability and sporty functionality of an SUV. As such it is categorized as a crossover sport utility vehicle. The Harrier was introduced in December 1997 and has been released in two generations. It is interesting to note that the Harrier’s elegant good looks came from the sixth-generation Camry platform it sits on. North Americans may know this crossover model as the luxury utility vehicle Lexus RX; Mercedes-Benz and BMW may know the Harrier as a fierce competitor to their ML class and X5, respectively. The Harrier’s elevated platform allows for problem-free off-road cruising with its ground clearance of 185mm. The elevated driving position makes it easier to maneuver and curbs and potholes pose no problem at all. The Harrier also shows that having all-terrain adventures doesn’t mean doing away with style and comfort; the sleek design and grand cabin are features not ordinarily found in SUVs, but then again, the Harrier is no ordinary sport utility vehicle. The interiors have been designed in such a way that you could walk between the front seats to gain access to the rear seats. Another fascinating point of interest in the Harrier’s features is its transversely-mounted engine, which can either be a 2.2-liter 140 PS four-cylinder twin-cam unit with a balance shaft, or a 3.0-liter 220 PS V6 DOHN 24-valve engine. The 2.2 was replaced with a slightly larger 2.4-liter 160 PS 2AZ-FE engine in the November 2000 release. Buyers of the Toyota Harrier can choose from between two drivetrain configurations: front-engine, front-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive. The Harrier has 4-speed automatic transmission with steermatic shift buttons on the wheel. Generation Two of the Harrier was released almost six years later, in February 2003. Improvements were made to the vehicle’s handling and safety features, and engine choices were upgraded. One was the 1MZ-FE 3.0-liter V6 engine, which had 5-speed automatic transmission. Another engine option was the 2AZ-FE, 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 4-speed automatic and front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options. In January 2006, the 3.0-liter engine was replaced with a 2GR-FE 3.5-liter unit. The third generation of the Harrier is not really a Toyota Harrier update because the Lexus brand had already been launched in Japan, and the Harrier now takes its place in the automotive industry as the Lexus RX, launched in 2009. In 2005, Toyota developed the Harrier Hybrid to join its lineup of eco-friendly cars. The Harrier has been reviewed to be a comfortable ride overall and is perfect for daily driving. It’s like an elevated Camry with all that comfort and style, plus with the added luggage space. And, being a Toyota, it’s sure to be fuel efficient, affordable, easy to maintain, and reliable at all times. If you’re looking for a car with the sporty quality of an SUV yet with the handsomeness of a luxury sedan, the Toyota Harrier is definitely the car to consider.
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