This article extra is part of the feature article Harp on Board in the September-October 2019 issue of Harp Column.

Close but not quite

We tried squeezing the harp into a lot of compact crossovers and hatchbacks that were just a little too small. Since we did our testing with a concert grand Lyon & Healy Style 23, it’s likely that a smaller harp could fit in some of the models that were just a bit too small for our test harp. Some were lacking significant length of a foot or more, but others were only shy an inch or two, like the Toyota C-HR and the Chevy Cruze Hatch.

So if you own a semi-grand or petite harp, definitely check out these close-but-not-quite models: Buick Encore (crossover), Cadillac XT4 (crossover), Chevrolet Cruze Hatch (hatchback), Chevrolet Trax (crossover), Ford EcoSport (crossover), Honda Fit (hatchback), Hyundai Kona (hatchback), Jeep Renegade (crossover), Jeep Compass (crossover), Kia Niro (hatchback), Lincoln MKC (crossover), Toyota C-HR (hatchback). There are also a couple of harp-loading hacks you can try to fit your harp in models like the Honda Fit where the passenger’s seat folds or lays down flat. First, try flipping the harp and loading it tuning pins up, so the crown lays on top of the passenger’s seat. Not ideal for the harp, but it could work in a pinch. Another option, which usually requires an extra set of hands to help, is to load the harp base first. With the passenger seat flat, the base sits on the passenger seat and the harp lays on the tuning pin side. The extra length gained in the passenger’s seat area makes some too-small vehicles just big enough.

Bells and whistles…and violas

Every time we do a harpmobile review, we find new features that automakers have developed for the convenience and comfort of the general driving public that feel like they were developed with the harp-schlepping musician in mind. This year was no different. Our favorite new feature found on many models we tested is levers near the back hatch that automatically fold down the second row seats. No more wrestling with release latches and stubborn buttons, with the flick of a lever, the seats snap into flat, harp-loading position, and you don’t even have to take your hand off of your harp. While the seat folding levers aren’t standard in every model yet, they are available in most, and standard in some. Options that were once reserved for the top-of-the-line models such as rear view cameras, automatic lift gates, and touch screen navigation are now found standard on many vehicles. The car sales people we encountered loved to show off their models’ fanciest features, including an automatic tailgate opening button on the Chevy Blazer’s key fob, variable lift gate heights, backup sensors, and our personal favorite: mindful alert noises recorded by members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). In Lincoln’s new Aviator luxury SUV, instead of hearing an annoying DING, DING, DING when you forget to buckle your seat belt or get dangerously low on gas, you hear lovely sounds of percussion, violin, and viola, created and recorded by DSO musicians. Our only fear is that the alert sounds are so enjoyable to listen to, you might want to leave your seatbelt off and run your gas tank dry just to hear the music.

Hey, you forgot one!

Don’t see a particular harpmobile you are looking for in our review this year? There are three likely explanations. We only review a vehicle once unless it receives a significant interior redesign that affects the harp hauling capabilities (see this year’s Volkswagen Tiguan). Download this issue to see the complete list of harpmobiles we’ve reviewed since 2004. You can read the full reviews in our November-December 20042006, and 2008 and September-October 2014 issues. If you still don’t see the harpmobile you’re looking for in our previous reviews, check our ”Close, but Not Quite”  list of vehicles above (and take a look at our “close” lists from previous reviews too). One last reason you may not see your desired harpmobile on our list is the price. We only reviewed vehicles with an MSRP below $50,000. Most harpmobiles that fall into this category are full-size luxury SUVs. The two exceptions we made to the price cap in this review were the Volvo V90 station wagon (because harpists love a good wagon…even if it is pricey) and the Lincoln Aviator, which just arrived at dealerships this summer. With an MSRP just north of $50,000, it wasn’t on our radar to test. However, some particularly persuasive salesmen at the dealership we visited convinced us that we had to check it out. If you have a chunk of change to spare for a luxury harpmobile, the Aviator and other full-size luxury SUVs definitely offer a roomy fit for the harp and a cushy ride for the driver.