Toyota Highlander

Design & Quality

The Highlander’s interior is a great representation of practicality, superior design, utmost comfort and high-quality address the growing expectations of families and professionals. What is instantly noticeable is the quality of material, such as durable fabric or SofTex/leather upholstery, soft-touch surfaces, and blue LED ambient lighting, all of which feel like you’re entering your cocoon. Of luxury. One also can’t fail to admire the fit and finish, with tight panel gaps and thorough attention to detail, underscoring Toyota's brand commitment to durability and quality.

Once you’re at the driving seat, you get the perfect view of the dashboard, which makes you feel quite happy with its clean, subtle design with metallic accents and a centrally mounted touchscreen infotainment system, a very standard setting these days across brands. The precsient layout provide easy access to controls, you don’t be surprimse becuase you get physical buttons and knobs complementing the touchscreen for a driver-friendly experience. Overall, one gets a feeling of being in an upmarket and high-end SUV in the Highlands with a magnificent interior, packed with quality materials,  great design.

Front Seat

The front seats are unique in this SUV, where you feel right in a commanding position, ready to go, and are promised great visibility through the big windshield at the front and also equally large windows and slim A-pillars. Then the driver seat comes with 8-way power-adjustable features, and the support for lumbar is great for high comfort, also with a tilt-and-telescopic you can set the steering wheel at your level of comfort. As one might expect, the seats are well-cushioned yet supportive, making sure to reduce fatigue, especially if you’re on the wheel for a longer drive. Features like heated and ventilated front seats make the journey even more awesome with extra luxury, considering the weather conditions we have in KSA.

Electronic Parking Brake

As this is a premium SUV, the features are also advanced, one example of that is the electronic parking brake (EPB), which replaces the traditional handbrake. This not only frees up cabin space but also provides huge convenience. The EFB is well combined with hill-start assist, and it ensures smooth operation in bumper-to-bumper city traffic or when driving through hilly terrains, and so it is a practical feature.

Rear Seat

The Highlander’s second row is something special for people at the back, especially families travelling together, both rows are taken care of well. At the rear, there is a huge space, and so enough legroom, headroom, and shoulder space for three average-sized adults. You can choose between sliding and reclining second-row bench or captain’s chairs, and each provides flexibility, with tri-zone climate control and rear air vents for great comfort. There is a third row, which is an extra addition, but frankly suits kids, and adults will find it getting a little cramped as it has lower legroom, but that takes the total seating for up to eight passengers. This also means the Highlander is a capable and highly multitasking family SUV.

AC Vents

To offer the most effective cooling to tackle extreme heat in our country, the tri-zone automatic climate control system, with dedicated front and rear AC vents, is a great feature. This helps maintain consistent comfort across all three rows, and you won’t feel any lag even during long drives or heavy traffic, keeping the cabin comfortable for all passengers. There is also a digital climate control interface within the touchscreen, which makes it quite modern.

Storage Options

Another key element of the Highlander’s family SUV characteristics is its practicality. And, the cabin is designed in such a way that the user will get a perfect taste of it, and one big aspect of it is the storage spaces; there are plenty of them. There is an in-dash shelf for convenient storage of phones, keys and other smaller items. Also, what is interesting from the store's point of view is that the centre console’s deep storage compartment and extra cubbies throughout the cabin ensure ample space for personal items, keeping the interior organised and clutter-free.

Bottle Holder

You instantly figure out that each door features a 1-litre bottle holder, so the car can carry several of them, and you don’t run out of hydration, as it is within reach. The rear centre armrest gets the standard two cup holders, adding to the passenger's convenience during long drives or daily commutes. The bottle holders are well-integrated into the door panels, without really making the interior design look unattractive.

Armrest

The well-padded centre armrest is perfect for comfort of the driver and front passenger, but we feel the storage could have been a little more. However, it is posited that it actually boosts the overall cabin’s user-friendly layout, and access is easy to control and a relaxed driving posture.

Charging Options

The Highlander has five USB ports (including USB-C), a wireless charging pad, and a 12V socket. So, seamless connectivity for smartphones, tablets, and other devices is ensured all the time and very conveniently. The wireless charging pad, located in the centre console, helps you avoid cable clutter, so you feel quite at ease, and it improves cabin appeal.

Boot Space

Another strong point of this SUV is the boot space, and so it appeals to families who prefer a big space for people and luggage. While all the seats up there is nearly 16 cubic feet of boot space, which is enough for everyday needs. And, when occasionally required, folding the third row, extra space is created up to 48.4 cubic feet, and if you choose to fold both rear rows, then a flat load area with 84.3 cubic feet of space is up for your use, perfect for special times like family vacations. What also helps here is the hands-free power liftgate and low liftover height improves accessibility, and the roof rails come with some extra cargo-carrying options for outdoor adventures. If you compare the Highlander with its nearest rivals like the Hyundai Palisade and Honda Pilot, it may appear on the lower side, but instead, what you’re offered is a highly functional boot for most needs.

There is no compromise when it comes to Safety, and the SUV get almost everything a segment like this would want, and so, you feel confident at every single drive.

Safety Features

• Toyota Safety Sense (TSS Ver. 2.5):

- Pre-Collision System (PCS)

- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)

- Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)

- Lane Departure Alert (LDA)

- Blind Spot Monitoring 

- Reverse Collision Avoidance and Warning

- Automatic High Beam (AHB)

• Airbags (Driver & Front Passenger + Knee + Side + Curtain)
• Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• Tire Pressure Warning System (TPWS)
• Engine Immobilizer System with Alarm
• Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
• Brake Hold System
• Safety Regulation Kit
• Tire Inflator
• Fuel Sticker 91

The Highlander has earned a 5-star NHTSA safety rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, reflecting its exceptional safety performance, which is particularly reassuring for Saudi families committed to occupant protection.

The new exterior of the Highlander is pretty clearly an attempt to get a perfect balance between rugged capability and sleek sophistication, which attracts attention from enthusiasts and families on KSA roads. The SUV looks quite imposing with its 4,950 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, and 1,730 mm in height, and a 2,850 mm wheelbase allows the Highlander to get an authoritative road presence without losing the agility often needed for city driving. What also makes it quick and efficient is the 203 mm ground clearance, especially in the light off-road environments.

Front

Stand right at the front of this SUV, and the bold and commanding face gets a highly visible trapezoidal grille with chrome accents, which highlights the confidence. Shiny, angular LED headlights nicely combined with Daytime Running Lights give an attractive appearance, making the SUV sharper and quite contemporary. Now, the grille isn’t designed just for the look, but it also serves to provide better airflow for engine cooling, which is necessary for KSA’s extremely hot summer. The log lights, which come as a standard on higher trims, do their job of providing additional visibility in certain conditions, be it sandstorms or early morning mist, adding an extra layer of safety and style.

Side

Move to the side of the Highlander, and it certainly complements the overall front and rear of the SUV, largely backed by glossy lines and premium touches. The wheels make the SUV sporty, and body-colored side mirrors with turn signals elevate its modern look. Similarly, the roof rails create extra cargo space, and the shark-fin antenna bolsters aerodynamics. The side mouldings and chrome door handles add refinement, upmarket appearance, and give extra appeal, style and practicality.

Alloy Wheels

The Highlander’s alloy wheels, both in 18-inch and 20-inch, provide the SUV a bold and aggressive appearance. The multi-spoke patterns bolster the dynamic look while also giving superb stability in our different driving conditions. Toyota has chosen the right design and size of tires that complement the overall look and performance of the SUV.

Rear

Moving onto the rear of the Highlander, there are a lot of elements of design you won’t fail to notice, including the LED taillights and a sporty spoiler, making a cohesive and modern, distinctive design. For convenience and ease of access, the hands-free power liftgate helps during loading groceries or other equipment, while the wide rear diffuser and integrated exhaust tips add to the SUV’s aggressive yet quiet polish aesthetic. The rear design basically gives the SUV a full, exterior look, being functional and contemporary, with roof rails providing extra cargo-carrying options for family adventures.

Colors

To choose the right Highlander for your personal perfect, there are about eight colour options to choose from, including Pearl White, Green Gem Metallic, Red Metallic, Silver Metallic, Grey Mica Metallic, Black Mica, Celestial Silver Metallic, and Moon Dust. Toyota is offering you these colours from classic neutrals to bold, eye-catching hues, allowing buyers to make the car highly personal to their style.

City Performance

Take the Highlander for a city ride, and you’ll mostly feel the real pleasure of driving, and thanks to the 2.5L hybrid powertrain, the performance is going to be smooth and efficient. We loved the quiet engine, superior fuel economy, and so a perfect choice for stop-and-go city traffic across cities in KDA. The Highlander’s AWD gives outstanding traction and stability on wet or uneven city roads. Toyota’s proven and highly advanced hybrid system’s ability to run on electric power alone during low-speed navigation enables a reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. In the city, we felt the Highlander is easy to drive, handles well and appears quite comfortable and composed, with e-CVT transmission providing seamless acceleration. While not the most punchy and sporty, the Hybrid’s performance is nicely tuned to make your everyday driver a breeze and effortless, and families will find it a relaxed and refined experience that focuses on efficiency and comfort over outright speed.

Highway Performance

On the highway, though there are some differences, and here we noticed the 2.5L hybrid engine remains strong in efficiency and steady power delivery, and with steady and stable driving, you can squeeze some extra mileage as compared to the city drive. The all-wheel-drive system certainly improves stability and traction on all types of road conditions, and you feel confident no matter the kind or rough. While at times the acceleration felt a little measured, the hybrid keeps pace with your highway speed effortlessly and offers a plush, controlled ride. In terms of noise insulation, you won’t complain; however, there are times when we felt some road noise at higher speeds. But in our experience, we discovered Highlander Hybrid as a balanced performance on the highway, with good mileage and comfortable cruising, which is what an average SUV user will look forward to.

Ride

Being a three-row SUV, the Highlander is a combination of space and comfort, but when it comes to ride quality, Toyota has something great. We experienced the overall ride as highly comfortable, with no big issues in any areas of ride quality. It was always quiet, composed and very relaxing, and this was due to the finely tuned suspension, which does the job of absorbing most road imperfections, ensuring the cabin is perfect while passing through city potholes and highway undulations alike. It is not a high-end luxury SUV, so you need to tame expectations a little bit, but what you do get is a balance between comfort and control. The body roll is managed perfectly during cornering, contributing to a confident feel without any compromise on passenger comfort. The cabin stays silent mostly, and you feel protected from the outside world of noise, sound, dust and weather conditions for a smooth and quality ride.

Handling

In the handling department, the Highlander feels standard and confidence-inspiring dynamics. Here, we noticed the steering was quite light and extremely responsive, so steering through tight city areas is effortless. On winding roads, the SUV stays in composure, you get the all-wheel-drive system to maintain solid grip and stability. Like we already told you, it's not the sportiest performer, the Highlander’s handling is appropriate for its role as a family haulier, and so easy for secure cornering and stable braking. The hybrid powertrain’s smooth power delivery further complements the handling, enabling a balanced driving experience.

The 2025 Toyota Highlander is offered with a comprehensive range of sophisticated and cutting-edge features here to make your life with the car unforgettable-be it connectivity, convenience, comfort and infotainment.

Toyota is offering the Highlander in five different variants in KSA right now, and each one of them tries to address different customer profiles, offering everything to everyone at the right budget.

• LE HEV 4x2 (SAR 148,925): The entry-level variant get an 8-inch touchscreen, Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, fabric upholstery, and 18-inch alloy wheels, and could be an affordable entry point for customers on a tight budget but want a Toyota three-row SUV.
• LE HEV 4x4 (SAR 156,745): With just a few extra thousand SAR, this variant gets All-Wheel Drive, for those buyers who prefer greater traction on diverse terrains; however, the variant gets all the LE’s essential features and affordability.
• GLE HEV 4x4 (SAR 174,915): This variant takes you to the mid-range option of the Highlander, where the top highlights include a 12.3-inch touchscreen, SofTex upholstery, a 360-degree camera, and 20-inch alloy wheels. This suggests that with the extra price you are shelling out, this variant tries to offer you a balance between advanced features and value.
• GLE HEV 4x4 Black Edition (SAR 181,125): As the name suggests, in this variant, you get sporty black accents, besides 20-inch black alloy wheels, and a bold exterior look, which appeals to more style-conscious buyers.
• Limited HEV 4x4 (SAR 203,320): Here comes the top-end variant where the price gets a significant bump, but then, as expected, is loaded with all premium features. Like a panoramic glass roof, navigation, leather upholstery, ventilated seats, and a JBL premium audio system, and so with this price, you’re offered a complete near-luxury experience.

Sayarabay Recommends: Our recommendation is quite straightforward: anyone interested in the Highland for its key benefits and Toyota's promise should opt for the GLE HEV 4x4 (SAR 174,915), and very simple to explain. A perfect fit for most Saudi buyers, where almost everything that matters is offered at a reasonable price, and you hardly miss anything. So, why spend extra money for almost the same experience? The GLE HEV 4X is suitable for buyers looking at practicality, efficiency, and contemporary features, and potentially use the car for city and highway drives.

Having spent considerable time with this SUV has not just impressed us but also convinced us that Toyota has not lost its charm when it comes to offering a perfect hybrid SUV, which is good for city driving, and also for highways. The Highlander is here to give you comfort, efficiency, and technology at the right price. It is spacious, the cabin is high, feels premium with quality interior materials, and practicality is one big aspect that families will appreciate a lot. Then comes the real game-changer, the 2.5L hybrid powertrain, where Toyota excels; frankly, nobody does better than the Japanese automakers. You’re here for a treat of smooth acceleration and remarkable fuel economy, a major advantage considering the fuel prices jumping up in the region. The all-wheel-drive system added to the confident handling, be it city or desert roads, improves safety and control. A lot of us will like comprehensive safety, consisting of Toyota Safety Sense. We know, some of you won’t like the fact that the third row is a bit tight, but it's something easily just a minor issue, in the overall offering of the Highlander, where you get multipurpose and value.

Other Cars to Consider

Kia Telluride

Reasons to Consider:

• Roomy cabin with high-quality materials 
• Offers larger eight seats
• Aggressive price, SAR 140,000

Reasons to Ignore:

• Lower fuel efficiency
• Unexciting off-road capability

Hyundai Palisade

Reasons to Consider:

• High-end, large touchscreen
• Modern features and technologies for driver aids
• Reasonable price starts SAR 145,000

Reasons to Ignore:

• Less efficient than Highlander
• Cramped third-row space

Honda Pilot

Reasons to Consider:

• Reliable and Rugged
• Comfortable, spacious second row
• Competitive price, SAR 135,000

Reasons to Ignore:

• Lacks advanced safety features
• Dated infotainment system

Mazda CX-90

Reasons to Consider:

• Sporty handling, premium interior
• Plug-in hybrid, 56 mpg-equivalent
• Balanced performance, SAR 150,000

Reasons to Ignore:

• Seems a little pricey
• The third row is not practical t

Ford Explorer

Reasons to Consider:

• Capable and highly powerful 400-hp V6 option
• Multi-purpose AWD, off-road capability
• Competitive price, SAR 155,000

Reasons to Ignore:

• Lower fuel economy
• Lower variants offer very little