The Toyota Harrier – which isn’t officially sold here but popular nonetheless – has been given a facelift, and the refreshed SUV is now on sale in Japan. The latest-generation Harrier is still looking good, and Toyota has incorporated minor revisions as a result.
The face, which retains the a trademark “covered” grille, is now more aggressive. The lower grille is now wider at the bottom, and there are LED fog lamps on the outer edges. Those were originally placed at the corners of the bumper; now, vertical strip LED daytime running lights take their place. Speaking of lights, the new triple-bulb LED headlamps look sharp. The centre portion of the front lip has been painted black.
At the rear end, the previously clear lens LED tail lights now have a distinct red track even when the lights are on. Little red strips connect the lights to the Toyota emblem. The Harrier also gets new design alloy wheels, with top cars receiving turbine-style items.
Under the hood, the big news is the arrival of a 2.0 litre turbo engine. The motor in question is the 8AR-FTS, which made its debut in the Lexus NX in 2014 and now powers most of the Lexus range. The twin-scroll turbo VVT-iW unit does 231 PS and 350 Nm of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm here.
It’s mated to a six-speed torque converter automatic with manual mode. Fuel consumption is 13 km/l for the 2WD and 12.8 km/l for the 4WD, in Japan’s JC08 mode. The turbo variant gets front and rear “performance dampers” to increase rigidity and reduce roll.
The other two powertrains are a 3ZR-FAE 2.0 litre naturally aspirated Valvematic Dual VVT-i engine with 151 PS/193 Nm mated to a CVT automatic with manual mode (2WD 15.2 km/l, 4WD 16.0 km/l); and a hybrid with a 152 PS/206 Nm 2.5 litre engine paired to two electric motors (front 143 PS/270 Nm, rear 68 PS/139 Nm), capable of 21.4 km/l.
Equipment highlights include a powered rear hatch with memory, illuminated entry system, puddle lamps with the Harrier logo, ventilated/heated seats, 360-degree cameras, front/rear sonar, sequential LED signal lamps (moves like a wave, as seen on Lexus models) and the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of active safety systems.
What’s a new Toyota without optional styling packages? One can order a JDM Harrier with factory fitted bodykits (three options) or Modellista (two options) and TRD (also two choices) packages.
Just another facelift? Yes, but this Harrier facelift also marks the first time the SUV is headed out of Japan. Yes, the Harrier is going international, and will be officially sold in Singapore by Toyota distributor Borneo Motors for the first time. Like in Malaysia, the Harrier is no stranger to the city state, but it has always been offered by parallel importers.
Borneo Motors have announced that the Harrier will launch in SG next month. The SUV “ushers in a new generation of Harriers that are made for Singapore” and it will come with the 2.0 turbo engine. No more “Japanese radio”, because the official Harrier is “designed and certified for Singapore by Toyota, and has every feature and function in English, from the multi-information display to driving controls.”
Now, if the Harrier has been adapted for Singapore, that same configuration would be a perfect fit for Malaysia as well. UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) surely has had a look at this; and for all we know, have something up their sleeves.
Both UMWT and its Singaporean counterpart have lost enough JDM Toyota sales to the grey importers already, so it’s logical to start offering these in-demand models. Our local distributor have set a precedent with the Alphard and Vellfire luxury MPVs, and didn’t have trouble selling whatever they’ve been allocated – the Harrier might just be next.
GALLERY: 2017 Toyota Harrier facelift
GALLERY: Toyota Harrier pre-facelift
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Oh yes the Harrier…the suv that glamorised the segment…thanks to this particular vehicle and its cousin the Lexus RX..the first luxury suv to enter the market and took the world by storm…bravo lexus bravo…bmw and merc didnt get a chance…the X5 and M class came in later but still did not perform and sell as well as the RX…and thanks to the RX now every car manufacturer wants to join the bandwagon…
…Need to resist from labeling you blatant fanboyism…with very little substance….
This harrier will give CRV some lessons
Singaporeans are so lucky. Everything they get is CBU. And they get it so fast. Even their Camry is CBU. Their BMW also CBU.
We Malaysians, always get CKD Made in Malaysia.
Many 98′ Toyota Harriers strong & still running around. 20 years on..
Proton fanboys say this car will be wiped out with Geely SUV aka Proton SUV. Thank you tongsan for helping us!
Nonsense. The old junk first gen harrier/ lexus always kwaitai at roadside causing jams. Its 4 speeder is prone to gearbox failure and cost a bomb to overhaul/ repair. That is why so many units selling around 15k (super poor RV) also nobody wants to buy as replacing a 2nd hand gearbox will easily cost you more than 20k.
The latest model is really a laughing stock. Severely underpowered puny 2.0L engine struggles to even overtake a kancil. And yet many sochai are willing to pay 200k for a lousy recond junk and still can feel proud to own it. smh
Yes please. Tired of recon cars.
Nah, recond quality anytime better. Umw? Cut all shits off and give you non jdm quality junk with the same outlook like they did to camry.
No need from UMW… I still like “Toyopet” sticker on my rear window.
popular 1st world toyota.
Toyota Malaysia should bring in this model to fight sales with Honda CRV.
Fight sales against CRV? You familiar with UMW pricing is it? If UMW bring this in, it will DOA because of the price.
160k 2.0Turbo please
wrong segment bro… rav4 goes head to head with crv…
Turbo
Awd
Panoramic roof plz
with either brown or maroon interior
You apek just drive cheap Innova enough. I bring it will charge Lexus price, you cannot pay.
CBU unit from japan ? will cost at least 200K .
CBU is just about assembled in Japan, which all the tech and specs are modified as umw requested. Not compareable to jdm harrier.
Base price in Japan is RM120k, 100% tax & duty plus AP would bring it cost at least RM260k.
looking at the price of previa and alphard, highly unlikely UMW will bring this at a sub 300k price.
Oh yes please bring it in UMWT! I am getting one for sure
Most likely they won’t. They would want to push their CKD Fortuner and CBU Lexus RX200t instead.
Turbo? You must be kidding. This will be a NA engine with a 4 speed auto or 7 speed rubber band CVT.
this is only crv, cx5 rival…not true harrier/rx300
Outdated design and poor driving dynamics. Don’t bother.
It’s either going the Alphard/vellfire way or the Previa way.
Wow…Hyundai or Kia???
Does this have 7 seats? If not, better dun come here. Apparently thats a very important criteria nowadays.
ini crv rival…not rx300
Consider a used Santa Fe. Better value for money and higher specs
Even though I don’t have money to buy one latest Singer pore harrier,I appreciate the smartness, elegant look .I would wish to have one but for now I can only afford a smile to latest facelift of singerpore Harrier.thank for good work.