The new Toyota Harrier is now being previewed in Malaysia, the premium SUV is arriving on our shores for the very first time through official channels, following in the footsteps of Singapore. 

UMW Toyota Motor has also opened the order books and revealed pricing – and they’re very competitive indeed. The Harrier will be available in the latest facelifted form and in two variants, with the 2.0T Premium priced at RM 238,000 and the range-topping 2.0T Luxury at RM 259,900, both on-the-road without insurance. Included is an official five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.


Power comes from a new 8AR-FTS 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the Lexus NX, producing 231 PS from 5,200 to 5,600 rpm and 350 Nm of torque between 1,650 and 4,000 rpm – all sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. Toyota claims fuel consumption of 13 km per litre on the Japanese JC08 cycle, and there are also “performance” dampers to reduce roll and improve high-speed stability.

This engine is a big step up in performance over the previous powertrains still being sold on the grey market – a 151 PS/193 Nm 2.0 litre Valvematic naturally-aspirated mill with a CVT and a Hybrid model with a 152 PS/206 Nm 2.5 litre engine paired to two electric motors (front 143 PS/270 Nm, rear 68 PS/139 Nm).


Built on the Toyota New MC platform that also underpins the latest RAV4, the Harrier is no longer related to the Lexus RX, which has been spun off into a completely separate model. Dimensions include a length of 4,720 mm, a width of 1,835 mm and a height of 1,690 mm, along with a wheelbase of 2,660 mm.

Changes to the facelifted model include triple-projector LED headlights with sequential indicators, flanking a new upper grille design. There’s also a wider lower grille incorporating LED fog lights, vertical LED daytime running lights, red-tinted LED tail lights, a redesigned rear valence and a visible exhaust pipe with a chrome finisher, plus 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels with a five-spoke turbine design.


Moving inside, there’s new Ultrasuede and faux leather upholstery and carbon-weave metal trim; the Luxury variant gets Nappa leather and brushed aluminium not seen here. There’s also an electronic parking brake with an auto brake hold function, as well as a driver’s seat that slides back automatically to improve ingress and egress, both of which are new on the facelifted model.

Other features include a new height-adjustable powered tailgate, a panoramic sunroof and ventilated power-adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory. These items are only available on the Luxury model.


We’ll also get plenty of safety equipment onboard, headlined by the standard-fit Toyota Safety Sense driver assists including Pre-Collision System (autonomous emergency braking), active cruise control and auto high beam. We’ll also get the full complement of seven airbags and Vehicle Stability Control.