Tata Motors is continuing its aggressive expansion in the passenger vehicle lineup. Following the recent debut of the Sierra SUV, the company is now preparing to introduce another key model without pause—the petrol-powered version of the Tata Harrier. Shortly after its launch, a petrol variant of the Tata Safari is also expected. Until now, both these premium SUVs have been sold exclusively with diesel engines in the Indian market.

Interestingly, Tata Motors has already begun dispatching the petrol Harrier to dealerships ahead of its official launch. This upcoming variant will be equipped with the all-new Hyperion petrol engine. It features a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, direct-injection unit capable of generating 170 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. Tata Motors reportedly spent over five years developing this engine, and it will power several future mass-market SUVs from the brand.

The new turbo-petrol Harrier is expected to offer both manual and automatic gearbox options. The test vehicles seen so far have been paired with an automatic transmission. However, since Tata did not offer a manual option with the same engine in the recently launched Sierra, it remains uncertain whether manual variants will be available for the Harrier and Safari petrol versions.

For comparison, the current 2.0-litre diesel engine in the Harrier and Safari delivers 167 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. While the new petrol engine produces slightly higher horsepower, it falls short in torque output. The diesel versions are currently available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Introducing a petrol engine could potentially reduce the starting prices of these SUVs. At present, the Safari begins at ?14.66 lakh (ex-showroom), while the Harrier starts at ?14 lakh (ex-showroom).

Most competitors in this segment already offer both petrol and diesel variants. With the launch of the turbo-petrol engine, Tata Motors aims to strengthen its foothold in the midsize SUV category. In India, the Harrier goes up against the MG Hector and Jeep Compass, whereas the three-row Safari rivals the Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar, and Jeep Meridian. By adding the petrol option, Tata is seeking to secure a stronger position among its rivals.