Getting around Riyadh requires some planning, so travellers should prepare for the time it takes. The city is large, public transport is limited, and many daily trips involve long distances and heavy traffic. Therefore, the type of rental car you choose can affect how tired or stressed you feel after driving.
Heat is another issue. Summer temperatures in Riyadh often go above 40 °C. The best car to rent in Riyadh should offer strong air conditioning, comfortable seating, and be suitable for long drives. This guide explains what to look for in a comfortable rental car and which types of vehicles work best in Riyadh.
Riyadh’s road network is a mix of multi-lane highways, suburbs, and congested inner-city streets. This section helps you understand your possible routes, including fast freeways in the outskirts and narrow lanes in the center.
Riyadh changes from district to district. In North Riyadh, areas such as Al Narjis, Al Yasmin, and Al Malqa have newer neighbourhoods with wide roads, modern highways, and long distances between destinations. Traffic here is faster and more fluid, with frequent highway driving and longer daily commutes. A stable sedan or SUV with good suspension, sound insulation, and cruise comfort is usually enough here.
Central Riyadh, by contrast, feels denser and more demanding to drive. Areas like Olaya and Sulaymaniyah are busy commercial hubs with heavy congestion, narrow streets, and constant traffic. Parking can be tight and stressful, so choose smaller cars. In these conditions, an automatic car rental in Riyadh is essential. Smooth gear changes, light steering, strong air conditioning, and supportive seats greatly reduce fatigue when navigating traffic, roundabouts, and crowded parking spaces.
Riyadh is criss-crossed by modern highways and two major ring roads that loop around the city. The Northern Ring Road and Eastern Ring Road allow drivers to bypass congestion and move quickly between districts. Speed limits reach 120 km/h on certain stretches. Major arteries like King Fahd Road and Airport Road feature wide, multi-lane carriageways with fast-moving traffic throughout the day.
The best rental car for long drives in Riyadh should offer features like cruise control to reduce fatigue on long, straight routes and smooth acceleration. Cabin insulation is another factor, as wind and road noise become tiring at higher speeds.
Riyadh is expanding quickly, with new roads, bridges, and major construction projects happening across the city. You will likely be driving and suddenly have to take a rough temporary road. In residential areas, ongoing utility works can leave rough patches or uneven tarmac. To handle these, consider a car with a bit of ride height and robust suspension.
A mid-size SUV can glide over potholes or poorly leveled detours better than a low-slung sports car. A higher seating position can also improve your visibility, especially when road markings are unclear. Even if you don’t plan on off-roading, a vehicle with moderate ground clearance can prevent jolts when you hit an unexpected speed bump or driveway lip.
Riyadh’s desert climate pushes vehicles to their limits. Intense sun and heat create a hostile environment for car interiors and mechanics.
Riyadh’s summer daytime temperatures often exceed 45 °C, so choose a car rental with air conditioning in Riyadh. Smaller or budget cars may struggle to cope with extreme heat. Ideally, the car’s cooling systems should have dual-zone climate control and rear air vents for even air distribution.
When a car sits under Riyadh’s midday sun, the interior can quickly turn into a furnace, and seat material affects how comfortable the car feels. Leather or faux-leather seats may look premium, but in extreme heat, they can become uncomfortably hot and retain warmth for a long time. Fabric seats, by contrast, heat up less aggressively and cool down faster.
Seats aren’t the only concern. Steering wheels, dashboards, and touchpoints can also become painfully hot. Dark leather steering wheels, in particular, may be difficult to hold until the air conditioning fully cools the cabin. Use a reflective windshield sunshade when parked to reduce interior temperatures and protect electronics. Many cars in Saudi Arabia have dark rear-window tints, which can reduce heat and glare. Lighter interior colours can reflect heat better than all-black cabins.
Finding an affordable car rental in Riyadh is one thing. We also need to see which vehicle will keep you most comfortable on Riyadh’s varied roads.
For business travellers and city visitors, sedans are often the best option. Mid-size sedans can handle Riyadh’s smooth urban roads and highways with ease. Their moderate size makes them easier to manoeuvre in busy districts like Olaya or KAFD, especially in underground car parks and at limited hotel parking.
Comfort-wise, modern sedans usually come with strong air conditioning, automatic transmission, and good cabin insulation. They are also fuel-efficient and quieter than larger vehicles at city speeds. Choose a sedan if most of your driving involves commuting between offices, malls, and restaurants,
SUVs for familes and groups are popular in Riyadh because they provide generous space for passengers, luggage, and shopping. They also work well on Riyadh’s residential streets with lots of speed bumps, thanks to softer suspension and higher ground clearance. On highways and ring roads, their heavier build helps them feel stable at 120 km/h, even with strong crosswinds. Many SUVs feature multi-zone climate control and rear air vents. They are the best choice if you will drive long distances daily or frequently leave the city.
Compact cars may look appealing due to lower rental prices, but they often struggle on Riyadh’s wide highways. Plus, the dominance of large vehicles can make small cars feel unstable, especially at higher speeds.
Compact models typically offer less sound insulation. Air conditioning performance can also be weaker, which becomes a serious drawback in peak summer heat. While compact cars work for short road trips or cooler months, they are less suitable for daily commuting or highways.
Riyadh is a city built for driving, so you will spend a lot of time behind the wheel. Match your vehicle to your itinerary. Maybe it’s a sedan with strong cooling for city errands, or an SUV with plush suspension for those daily treks. Remember that comfort features are not frills here. Powerful AC, good seats, low cabin noise, and a stable ride are your survival kit for the Saudi roads.
Rent a car in Riyadh with Final Rentals and choose from small hatchbacks to 7-seater SUVs. With Final Rentals, booking a car online is fast and simple. Select King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1 or 5, or Al Worood District as your pickup location, enter your travel dates, and choose a vehicle for your trip. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
The best rental car in Riyadh depends on your itinerary. Sedans work well for city and business travel, while SUVs are better for families, long-distance driving, and handling speed bumps and rougher roads.
Driving in Riyadh is manageable for tourists but can feel challenging due to heavy traffic and aggressive driving stles. Choose an automatic rental car with good visibility and strong air conditioning to travel comfortably.
Yes, renting a car in Riyadh is highly recommended. Public transport is limited, and the city’s size and long distances make a rental car the most convenient way to travel.
