Anyone else in UK waiting for a Highlander?

I ordered an Excel Premium (the only choice at the time but this is the  one I wanted) in Silver last September, which I understand will still be delivered, one day (maybe!).

At the time of the order, I was told to expect delivery in June this year.  Last update from my dealer was along the lines it "might be October".

Less than 2 weeks after I ordered the website showed a price increase of nearly £3k (after a similar increase a few months earlier) and spec changes to include the new 12.3" screens, wireless phone charger moved to dash, and truly horrible (IMHO) wheels instead of the rather nice ones shown previously.  Then the price disappeared from the website, and the spec seemed to revert to the previous level.  More recently of course, we learned that the Highlander is to be discontinued once existing orders are fulfilled and it disappeared completely from the UK website.

MyT just shows "Processing Order", although some weeks ago the following stages acquired location data, such as build will be in California, and shipping via Zeebrugge.

So I don't actually know if/when it arrives, what the spec will be or what the price will be.  When I told me salesman about the October increase he said they'd honour the quote, until I mentioned the spec change at which point he said the decision was out of his hands.

Just wondering if many others are awaiting a Highlander and what news, if any, they've had?

Well, doesn't look like I'll be seeing too many Highlanders on the UK roads!

Apart from the dealer's test drive car (which was an Excel) I've only seen 2 in the wild (and only 2 days apart at that!).

Anyway, I had an email today to say my car's being built, and the MyT app has updated to reflect this.

If anyone reading this already has one, I'd be interested in their views on it so far.  On my 3-hour test drive my main impressions were:

• it didn't feel bigger than my RAV4 (until I came to park it!) and I felt comfortable driving it even on narrow Norfolk lanes
• it seemed quieter than my RAV4 (no doubt helped by the front sound absorbing glass)
• it had a smoother ride than my RAV4
• it  had or improved upon what I consider to be the RAV4's good points, and fixed many things I don't like about the RAV

To me, the only downsides are:

• a top heavy panoramic roof I'd have loved to be able to delete from the spec
• a coffin-like all black interior, all the more annoying given the plush tan interior in my older, cheaper RAV and versus the very appealing range of interior colours US and Canadian buyers can choose in cars made in the same factory

You are right, there are not many highlanders in uk. I have seen very few up and down the country. Last year Toyota event at Silvetstone circuit was one perhaps belonged to some of the Toyota officials , he was leading us on the laps. These are very good cars imo. I also like the new longer version available in USA , perhaps  my favourite Toyota suv interior. 
 

As much as I live my RAV PHEV, I do wonder at times if I should have stretched to buying a Highlander. Better towing credentials and roomier. It is a shame so many Toyota models are not available in the UK, Corolla Cross, Prius, to name just another 2. 

On 7/24/2023 at 1:23 PM, PeteB said:

So I don't actually know if/when it arrives, what the spec will be or what the price will be.  When I told me salesman about the October increase he said they'd honour the quote, until I mentioned the spec change at which point he said the decision was out of his hands.

I'm starting to feel a little more confident about the spec of my Highlander that's now in transit.

I looked on the Used Toyota list and there's a couple for sale with 23 (priced at £65k!!!) and 73 plates that have the 2023 spec as briefly displayed on the Toyota Website just after I placed my order.  That probably means I'll have to pay about £58k instead of the £55k in my order, but the 12.3" screens are light years ahead of the tired displays in my 2019 RAV4, which are the same as a 2022 Highlander would have had.

I was also quite concerned by reports that RAV4s ordered over a year ago had started to arrive, but with significant items of equipment missing.  From the photos of the cars for sale I can see all of the things that *really* matter to me (and the only reason for choosing an expensive upgrade to the Highlander) are present, namely:

• HUD
• 360° camera
• Smart rear-view mirror
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated outer 2nd row seats
• Kick-activated Power back door

So, keeping everything crossed!