The salary you need to afford the new Tata Harrier in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R60,000 per month to afford the new Tata Harrier on a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

Tata has officially relaunched in South Africa with a selection of four new passenger cars, one of which is the Harrier.

A midsize SUV, the Harrier is positioned as the flagship of Tata’s new catalogue with three specifications that range from R549,900 to R699,900 in price.

All three versions are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 125kW and 350Nm.

This is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox, leading to an average fuel consumption of 6.6l/100km.

Looking at its features list, the base “Pure+” model is fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, roof rails, keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, fabric seats, automatic climate control with rear vents, a 45W USB Type C charging port, six speakers, voice assist, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It also comes with electronic stability control, ABS, hill assist, ISOFX child seat mounts, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, traction control, tyre pressure monitoring, and six airbags.

Customers who upgrade to the mid-range “Adventure+” can expect larger 18-inch alloys, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an electric park brake, front parking sensors, an air purification system, a front armrest with a cooled storage area, a rear armrest, a wireless charger, ambient lighting, leatherette upholstery, and a panoramic sunroof.

This version also features Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) with a 360-degree camera, lane-keep assist, blind spot detection, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring.

Taking things one step further is the range-topping “Fearless+”, which comes with a two-tone roof, a six-way electronically adjustable driver’s chair with memory settings, a four-way electric front passenger chair, a nine-speaker JBL stereo with a subwoofer, ventilated front seats, a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, Alexa Car2Home support, hill descent control, and a hands-free tailgate.

Each purchase includes a 5-year/125,000km warranty and a 5-year/75,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

We can use the following formula to work out the monthly payments on the new Tata:

• Car price – R549,900/R699,900
• Payment term – 60 terms (5 years)
• Interest – 10.50%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R11,914 per month for the Pure+, and up to R15,138.53 per month for the Fearless+

Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.

This means you’ll need to earn anywhere from R59,570 per month to R75,693 per month to afford the new Harrier on a finance plan.

Note that this figure does not account for insurance, fuel, and maintenance, which must all be factored into your budget.