Predator And Prey

Does the powerful Harrier have what it takes to hunt the sporty CX-5?

- Jeremy Chua

BIRDS of prey successfully capturing their elusive quarry are a sight to behold.

An owl silently slicing through the air as it nabs a field mouse, or an eagle grasping a poisonous and slippery sea snake in its talons, are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Scenes such as these run through my mind as we line up the new 2-litre Toyota Harrier Turbo alongside the latest 2.5-litre Mazda CX-5.

It’s hard not to think of the Harrier as a bird of prey in this story. Its front badge is that of a hawk in flight, perhaps streaking towards its prey.

But three years ago, I’d never have made such an analogy about the Harrier. That’s because the only model then, which was only available through parallel importers, has a rather weedy, naturally aspirated 2-litre engine that produces 151bhp.

Although it is comfortable and has adequate power for our roads, it is more like a dove than a hawk, because it isn’t quick enough to catch any of its rivals.

The Harrier Turbo sold by Borneo Motors, however, is no dove. Beneath its bonnet is a turbocharged 2-litre engine (a detuned version of the one in the Lexus NX) that churns out 227bhp. This SUV certainly has performance potential.

Those extra ponies are very welcome, especially if the Harrier intends to take on the Mazda CX-5.

The CX-5 may not be turbocharged, and “only” has 194bhp, but it is not to be underestimated. Because Mazda places a lot of emphasis on the driving experience, most of its models have well-sorted chassis and suspensions, and are relatively fun to drive.