Harris Bus and Coach is working hard to build a presence in the UK alongside its established position in Ireland. With headquarters in Dublin under the multi-brand Harris Group, its line-up so far consists of diesel coaches and battery-electric buses from Higer. Further models are promised in due course to embed the Chinese integral products here.

Central to Harris Bus and Coach UK is Worksop, where it has a showroom and offices alongside a parts holding and aftersales expertise. Traction has come soonest with coaches, where there are three products: the V-10, V-12 and V-14. Each name corresponds with vehicle length; all are Cummins powered. The first examples have been sold, with deliveries scheduled for this month.

Those opening coaches are from a stock order. Examples of each type are on UK soil, and imminent at the time of writing were a trio of demonstrators. The approach to compliance with PSVAR and the PSV Accessible Information Regulations (AIR) has developed, and evolutionary changes are expected on future batches to reflect Higer’s keenness to expand its standalone brand in the UK.

Also subject to ongoing work by the supplier is establishment of a dealer network leaning on Harris’s reach with the Maxus light commercial brand. Strategic members will sell and support Higer products, with others majoring on aftersales.

Optional repair and maintenance packages are under development. Head of Aftersales Wayne Ulph explains that a three-tier approach is expected, with the highest due to extend to wear-and-tear items excluding tyres.

To that is added a five-year or 500,000km warranty on coaches, something that is proving popular with potential buyers. Other partners on sales and support include Jones Bus and Coach Sales in North Wales as part of a blended approach that also gives scope to buy direct from Harris Bus and Coach UK.

While all that is in hand, marketing initiatives have seen Higer vehicles gain exposure to operators. The V-14 tri-axle model is top of the coach tree, and routeone was recently able to put one to flagship Touring Plus specification through its paces. Touring Plus sits alongside a standard offering.

Higer V-14 follows many norms…

The V-14 shares many building blocks with other large tri-axle tourers. At 3.85m tall it is a super-high coach. That influences both the amount of underfloor luggage space, and the climb to the passenger area.

The gangway unusually sits at three levels. To behind the continental door, toilet and servery, it is sunken. It then rises by one step to a flat area where wheelchair users board and are secured on accessible variants. Another step is required to reach the back seats. As a result, luggage racks end above the penultimate row, and travellers in the rear five lack overhead storage or passenger service units.

Complementing the large chequer plate-finished underfloor area are lockers over each axle, of which those above the rear bogie are full-width. Although the main bay doors have handles, they are powered.

At the rear is an 11.8-litre Cummins X12 engine developing 490bhp and 2,400Nm of torque. It is from the manufacturer’s operation in China and coupled to a ZF EcoLife six-speed automatic gearbox, which is common with the V-10 and V-12.

On rear nearside is the exhaust aftertreatment unit, while on the offside is the radiator. It has eight electrically-powered fans. That allows precise control of coolant temperature and gives better efficiency than a hydraulic installation. Ad-Blue goes in adjacent to the exhaust; twin diesel fillers are above the front axle.

…but avoids several others

Shared across the coach trio is a distinctive headlight arrangement. That Transformers-esque approach continues on the V-14 with access to the lower dash; all panels are hinged and come away easily, giving easy access to the spare wheel. Lights are LED and hence bulb replacement will not be needed, but if it were, it would be simple.

Fitted is a camera monitoring system (CMS) in place of rear-view mirrors. The coach also has external CCTV. That can be upgraded to a digital package allowing remote real-time monitoring. In addition, all Harris Bus and Coach vehicles have a year’s free Geotab telematics package that can be extended as required.

Most arrivals from the Higer coach range will be stock vehicles. To allow them to enter either the UK or Irish markets, all comply with the EU General Safety Regulation 2. Those models will be PSVAR ready. For the V-14, that includes a door above the tag axle along with pre-wiring for destination displays and for a hearing loop to enable AIR compliance.

PLS is the chosen partner for passenger lifts and Hanover for destination equipment. Those will be fitted here where PSVAR compliance is required. The test coach, as PSVAR ready, has two seat pairs on tracking and wheelchair user restraints already present. Built-to-order models can delete PSVAR preparation.

Noticeable on the V-14 is the climb to the cabin. Four steps take passenger from ground level to the platform, and two more to the aisle. The latter are steep. A courier seat is fitted, but its base is not locked when stowed, and it can lower if the integrated grab handle is pulled hard.

The Touring Plus coach has 59 Vega 440 seats, although the standard V-14 comes with 61. They are covered in a black synthetic leather with diamond stitching and a deep red trim for the side flaps. USB and 240-volt charging sockets are within the lower frame. Drop-down tables, footrests, three-point belts, recline, and lateral adjustment and armrests for aisle positions are included.

Other elements extend to perimeter radiators coupled to Spheros air-conditioning along with wood-effect flooring and twin fixed monitors as part of the entertainment system.

V-14 cab area is a strong point for Higer

Where the V-14 somewhat departs from diesel coach convention is its cab. Displays and many body controls are built around a twin-tablet approach. One provides items such as the speedometer directly in front of the driver. Another to their left is touch-screen and captures things such as saloon lighting.

Climate control remains within a conventional third-party display with dials and buttons, while on the driver’s right are rocker switches for the door, sun blinds, signalling window, luggage bay doors, and the like.

Adjustment of the steering wheel is good. The left stalk controls indicators, wipers and headlight flash, and that on the right has four stages of auxiliary braking. The driver and courier certainly are not short of ventilation. No fewer than 22 rotary outlets are above the windows in that area.

Crew storage is reasonable. The test coach has two small covered trays within the dash. Its fridge is part of the servery, but Wayne advises that later deliveries will have a fridge at the front. A wireless charging pad is to the driver’s left next to gear selector buttons.

Isringhausen provides the cab seat to a customary high specification. It has a safe in the base, with a second such secure location part of the aisle steps. A driver’s microphone is mounted to the side wall beneath the signalling window. CMS displays are clear, while the A-pillar is slim and the B-pillar is set far enough back to not intrude on offside visibility even when the seat is pushed rearwards.

Cummins X12 power unit on top of the job

Keyless ignition starts the V-14, and its electric handbrake releases when the accelerator is pressed. The coach moves away smartly. An economy/power toggle switch controls gearbox shifting strategy, although it can be deactivated if required.

The drive was undertaken entirely in economy mode. That sees the EcoLife keep engine speeds below 1,500rpm even when a full-bore take-off uphill is underway. The X12 pulls very strongly from 1,000rpm and cannot be heard from the cab. At 62mph in top gear the tachometer shows around 1,300rpm.

Passive third-axle steering is part of the test coach, but active functionality will follow. Nevertheless, it proved manoeuvrable for its size with the existing fitting. A positive is how the V-14 holds the tarmac nicely on winding roads. Such is the nature of that and the quiet cab, it is easy to stray over the legal maximum on such routes. Ride is firm.

While a 14m tri-axle is a large coach, the V-14 lends itself to an easy driving style with much scope to push on regardless of road type. The tablet-created binnacle is clear, and visibility from the cab is good, including at obtuse junctions that can otherwise highlight weaknesses in that respect.

Higer V-14 bring new option to tri-axle field

Harris Bus and Coach has strong hopes for the V-10, V-12 and V-14 and its bus models. Plentiful investment is going into stock vehicles and support provision, while work to build an industry-specific team in the UK is ongoing. The position on PSVAR and AIR compliance is already mature.

Chinese manufacturers have shown that they learn quickly. That is ongoing with the V-series, and multiple factory representatives are in the UK and Ireland on an ongoing basis. Wayne notes how the past 10 years have seen vehicles from China become integral to the UK coach and bus field, and he is confident that will continue.

As tested, the V-14 shows that product as a solid early contender. Feedback on minor points has already been received and is being actioned. Cummins power is here to stay, and Harris has parts on the shelf in recognition of the V-14 being the only passenger application in the UK and Ireland for the X12, as it does for the X11 in the V-12.

When weighed up against its competition, the V-14 is well worth a look. The warranty will serve as a big incentive, and the environment within the coach is good. Couple that to other ‘soft’ elements of purchase – support, aftersales and the dealer network – and it is a realistic option.

Facts and figures – Higer V-14

Engine: 11.8-litre, six-cylinder Cummins X12
Power: 360kW (490bhp) @1,900rpm
Torque: 2,400Nm (1,770 lb ft) @1,100rpm
Emissions: Euro VI using SCR
Gearbox: ZF EcoLife six-speed automatic
Tyres: 295/80 R22.5
Length: 14.00m
Height: 3.85m
Width: 2.55m
Wheelbase (axles 1-2): 6.73m
GVW: 26,000kg
UVW: Awaited.