The sleek fourth-generation Toyota Harrier has been unveiled in Japan.
The 4.74 metre Harrier fills the hole between the RAV4 (4.6m) and Kluger (4.95m), although the latter isn’t sold in Japan.
Sharing the RAV4’s 2690mm wheelbase and 1855mm width, the Harrier is based on the smaller crossover’s GA-K platform.
While the current RAV4 has a blocky body playing to Toyota’s off-road heritage, the Harrier has a smoother design.
Toyota says the Harrier has a “luxurious coupe form” which aims to “[satisfy] people’s hearts elegantly, rather than being practical”.
Inside, the Harrier eschews the RAV4’s pseudo-rugged looks for a more luxurious feel with plenty of leather-like surfaces and a fluid design.
Available features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a nine-speaker JBL audio system, and a digital rear view mirror.
The new Harrier is offered with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 126kW and 207Nm, as well as a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with either 160kW or 163kW. Both engines can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive.
If the Harrier name sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because the first three generations were Japanese domestic market versions of the Lexus RX.
The first-generation RX wasn’t sold in Australia through Lexus dealers, so a number ended up on local roads via specialist low-volume importers.
In 2008 the Harrier was retired from the Toyota brand when the third-generation RX was introduced, as Toyota decided to launch the Lexus marque in its homeland.
Toyota revived the Harrier nameplate in 2013, although instead of basing the Harrier on the RX, it is now based on the RAV4.
We’re waiting to hear back from Toyota Australia about the chances of the Harrier coming to our shores.
We’re not holding our breath, though. The last generation Harrier was primarily sold in Japan, as well as a few Asian markets, such as Singapore and Malaysia.
Would you like to see the Harrier come to Australia? Let us know in the comments section below.
