My husband told me that he had a test drive of Toyota's new Harrier, so he wrote down his impressions. Please have a look if you like.

New Harrier Gasoline 2WD Z Grade

The other day, my friend bought a new Toyota Harrier, so I took a test drive. As usual, I would like to focus on the driving rather than the introduction and usability of the interior and exterior.

The test drive this time is the new Harrier gasoline engine model, 2WD Z grade.

It is very popular and it seems that it will take time to deliver the car even if you order due to the shortage of semiconductors, but this friend said that he found an individual that has not been registered as a new car at a used car shop in the city, so he bought it.

First, from the exterior,The rear is similar to the current Cayenne, a popular style in North America with a tail lampIt is.

The front is an X-shaped front mask, which gives a tight impression. Personally my favorite design. The width of the car is 1850mm, so it seems to be very easy to use, and it seems that you do not have to worry so much even on narrow roads.

The engine is a 2-liter, in-line 4-cylinder NA engine with 171ps / 6600rpm and torque of 21.1kg / 4800rpm. At first, when I heard this much, I sat in the driver's seat thinking that it was an NA engine that is not a downsizing turbo nowadays, and that it would be squishy from below with this spec.

Impression of engine and transmission

When you start running, there is an atmosphere that is not like a Toyota car. Because, I try to hear the engine sound firmly in the car. This is not just a lack of sound insulation or that kind of sound. I even feel sporty with the "boom" sound I'm trying to hear.

From the image of Toyota cars and Harriers,The impression was that it was a quieter car that didn't give the driver any extra information, but this Harrier is completely different.

Moreover, since it started, it's not too heavy. The transmission control is trying to use it firmly above 3000 rpm, and it tries to drive the car properly in the torque band of the engine.

A state in which the passenger seat is set in a comfortable seat position and the passenger seat is seated in the back seat. Height 177 cm.

The impression that many of the ATs of domestic cars that I have experienced so far are too eco-conscious and try to run without turning the engine anyway, and even on slopes, they try to keep it around 2,000 rpm anyway. was. Especially CVT is slow to respond even if you step on it solidly, "This engine should run up to 6000 rpm, but in fact, it's difficult to run by turning it, so it doesn't make sense.There were many domestic cars that I thought.

But this Harrier is different.

The engine is running properly and the transmission is trying to draw out its power. Also, only the engine speed goes up and the speed does not come, there is no feeling of free running,The coordination between the transmission and the engine is doing a very good jobI felt as if I had been there.

According to what I heard after the test drive, the engine is an ultra-high efficiency engine with a maximum thermal efficiency of 40%, and the transmission uses a relatively new Direct Shift-CVT. No wonder, the run should be very good.

But is it fast? It's not fast, but you shouldn't feel so dissatisfied in many situations. If you step on it, you can run the engine firmly, so I think it is necessary and sufficient for everyday use.

To fathers who forgot to run

The body is very solid as I gradually increase the speed,The suspension is a little soft and unreliable, the rear bounces a little, and it flutters a little to the left and right at low speed,I felt that.

However, when the curve approaches and the steering is turned, it sticks firmly, unlike the fluffy impression that I felt a little in the low speed range. The expression "stiff suspension" would be appropriate.The roll stops at a certain position and finishes cornering lightly with a stable posture.

This is a very highly rated point personally, and the owner who is on board said, "This is surprisingly sporty!"That's right. At first, I was surprised at how sporty it was."

Of course, the limit of tires does not seem to be high, and it is not a car that talks about cornering speed, but I think that if a father who leaves his family and sometimes goes for a drive alone can comfortably fly on mountain roads, he can enjoy it with confidence.

By the way, the ride quality in the low speed range seems to be a little better if you ride with 5 people and carry luggage.

Balance with high quality

There is no problem with straight-line stability when speeding up.There is a sense of stability, but the wind noise was a little worrisome.Perhaps because of that, I feel a little speed. Considering the high quality of the interior and exterior texture, I would like you to manage the sound in this area a little more.

I was a little worried about the imbalance between the high-quality feel that I felt visually and the low-quality feeling that I felt from hearing.

If you switch to sports mode and run further, it will try to maintain the engine rotation from a higher point of view. This is the real way to use the engine.

There are few domestic cars that have an AT that can run by fully using the engine power of the car, but at least this Harrier can run using 171ps firmly, so driving is fun. The winding that runs through the engine makes the driver smile.

Next, set the shift to manual mode and try the operation.

There is no particular problem with downshifting,The shift-up control has a considerable shift shock.In a manual car, it feels like you have shifted up without loosening the accelerator, and every time the gear goes up, the occupant's head shakes backwards, so this car is AT in sports mode rather than running in manual mode. It seems better to leave control to.

Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions of Japan)

It was a domestic car for the first time in a long time, but riding this Harrier, I felt that many of the negative parts of the domestic car (excluding sports cars) that I had been thinking about have been improved.In particular, the evolution of AT (CVT) control is amazing.If this is the case, I have no complaints about the car I use every day. It was so well made that I rode it without knowing it as a CVT at first, but I didn't know until I heard it later.

Optional dimming panoramic roof

Transparency switches instantly with the touch of a button

Besides, the bravery of the engine and the good handling are quite different from my image of the Harrier. I thought that this car, at least this gasoline model, is more suitable for those who want to run sporty occasionally rather than riding comfortably.

Also, if you start with this texture and high quality and start at 4 million yen, it is a great deal. Cars in the same price range as European cars have more inorganic interiors and exteriors. Instead, I get the impression that they are spending more on the quality of the suspension and drive train.

Therefore, I think that the texture of driving is still better for European cars,This is definitely better for those who place importance on the quality of the interior and exterior and packaging.Id.

Also, according to the owner, the resale is very good. It's a car that costs more than 4 million yen, but considering resale, it's definitely cheaper than a European car of the same class. I think that is one of the attractions of this car.