The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is a three-row midsize SUV that sits above the standard Highlander as a model new, separate model. By introducing a model new crossover above the aforementioned Highlander – nevertheless beneath the body-on-frame Sequoia – Toyota seeks to take care of a key grievance that exists with every of those fashions: inferior cargo and passenger room as compared with rivals. We seen the dearth of passenger space on the frequent Highlander after we tried to swimsuit six adults into it for a bachelor’s weekend away. The Grand Highlander tackles this consumer recommendations head-on, offering a third row that’s lastly spacious enough for adults and a trunk that’s better than any crossover not often known as the Chevrolet Traverse.
Along with the elevated inside amount, the Grand Highlander introduces a turbocharged Hybrid Max powertrain chance on prime of the Highlander’s obtainable gasoline and commonplace hybrid setups. The Hybrid Max is the brute of the bunch with 362 horsepower, whereas the gasoline and hybrid ship 265 and 245 hp, respectively.
Toyota has grand expectations for the model new Grand Highlander, with plans to advertise over 100,000 fashions per 12 months – which is why DrivingOnRoad was flown all the way in which wherein to Kona, Hawaii, to drive it. Right here is how the Grand Highlander stacks up in a crowded part:
Exterior: Larger, Nevertheless Bland
Toyota went to good lengths to supply the Grand Highlander it’s private distinctive styling; it is not solely a stretched Highlander, although it is larger. That being said, the Grand Highlander is six and a half inches longer, 2.3 inches wider, and two inches taller than the standard Highlander.
Up entrance, the grille incorporates a trapezoidal hammerhead kind, and the side profile incorporates a taller greenhouse. On the once more, you could spot a Hybrid Max via its badging and twin exhaust concepts. Obtainable colors embody Storm Cloud (new), Wind Chill Pearl (non-obligatory), Ruby Flare Pearl (non-obligatory), Midnight Black Metallic, Blueprint, Coastal Cream (new), and Celestial Silver Metallic. Ruby Flare is by far our favorite.
We solely have one foremost grievance regarding the Grand Highlander; the styling is pretty bland. Considerably in XLE guise with the underside 18-inch wheels, the Grand Highlander doesn’t look so grand. Points get a bit larger on the Restricted and Platinum grades, every of which get 20-inch wheels that fluctuate in design based on the powertrain. This model seems ripe for the actual model remedy, perhaps a stealthy Nightshade Model like on totally different Toyota merchandise, or a premium Bronze Model… maybe even a rugged Woodland Model?
Inside: Premium Family Bus
Counting on which trim you go for, the Grand Highlander goes from pretty good to outright swanky. All trims get a 12.3-inch touchscreen as commonplace, powered by Toyota’s latest infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The XLE grade makes use of a seven-inch Multi-Data Present (MID) gauge cluster, whereas the Restricted and Platinum variations enhance to a 12.3-inch completely digital present that seems further high-tech. Your complete know-how inside the cabin is apparent, concise, and easy to know at first look.
Customary choices embody heated seats, power driver and passenger seats, second-row sunshades, heated mirrors, wi-fi charging, an affect liftgate, and further. The provides are amongst Toyota’s most premium, even inside the XLE grade with SofTex, and the Ultrasuede seats with bronze accents (distinctive to the Platinum Hybrid Max) are near-Lexus top quality. Obtainable luxuries embody heated and ventilated entrance and second-row seats, a panoramic roof, a head-up present, website guests jam assist, and further.
The place the Highlander struggles with a mediocre second row and a pitiful third row, the Grand Highlander excels with primarily essentially the most combined legroom of any midsize crossover in its class. With 41.7 inches up entrance, 39.5 inches inside the middle, and 33.5 inches inside the once more, not even the big Traverse can compete with the Grand Highlander’s leg space. Put in a lot much less numeric phrases, you could match grown adults in all three rows comfortably.
Entering into the third row is pretty easy, too, requiring a lever pull to slide the middle seats forward in a single motion. There is a large gap to entry these rear seats and even a specific footwell cutout to make it less complicated to step up into the automotive. Patrons can get eight seats on the XLE model, nevertheless the Restricted and Platinum fashions are restricted to seven seats with captain’s chairs and a removable center console.
Powertrains: Gasoline, Hybrid, Hybrid Max
Toyota affords three powertrains inside the Grand Highlander: gasoline, hybrid, and Hybrid Max. The gasoline powertrain is equivalent as the standard Highlander: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Output goes to the doorway wheels or non-obligatory all-wheel-drive by an eight-speed automated transmission. 0-60 takes spherical 7.5 seconds, and gasoline monetary system is rated at 21/28/24 mpg metropolis/freeway/combined with FWD or 21/27/23 with AWD (20/26/22 in Platinum guise).
“Upgrading” to the hybrid really lowers the output to 245 hp from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electrical motors. With a lot much less power, the hybrid is a bit slower to 60 mph – you want spherical 7.8 seconds. Gasoline monetary system is the trade-off, as a result of the hybrid manages stellar scores of as a lot as 36/32/34 (35/31/33 in Restricted AWD guise). Nothing on this dimension class even comes shut.
The Hybrid Max makes an try to combine power and gasoline monetary system into one bundle. A 2.4-liter turbocharged engine combined with two electrical motors to supply 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque – or way more on premium gasoline. AWD is commonplace with a six-speed automated transmission. That’s the quickest Grand Highlander, at 6.3 seconds to 60 mph, and gasoline monetary system is 26/27/27, which is more healthy than the Platinum gasoline with AWD.
Driving Impressions: Grander Highlander
We had the likelihood to drive all three powertrains, and the two hybrids bought right here away as our favorites. Toyota’s gasoline powertrain is okay, nevertheless it certainly lacks the effectivity of the hybrid and the brute stress of the Hybrid Max. The scarcity of power inside the hybrid would possibly flip patrons away, nevertheless we would luckily commerce velocity for best-in-class gasoline monetary system. What the hybrid lacks in muscle, it makes up for with responsiveness. The direct drive (eCVT) makes this primarily essentially the most eager powertrain of the bunch since it might instantly change ratios with out bodily swapping gears in a transmission.
In case you may afford the enhance, the Hybrid Max is the star, bundling low-cost gasoline monetary system with one in every of many highest outputs inside the class. Exterior of the V8 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee L, nothing else compares by means of power. Acceleration is clear and simple, and the engine remember is further sporting than the fluid drone from the standard hybrid.
All three powertrains actually really feel quieter than the frequent Highlander, attributable to elevated sound deadening. Journey comfort is respectable, and physique administration is one thing nevertheless sloppy. Think about this as a Highlander that bulked up nevertheless saved its athleticism.
Practicality: Large Home
Throughout the frequent Highlander, householders needed to resolve on between having passengers or cargo. This dilemma not exists inside the Grand Highlander. Even with the third row in place, the Grand Highlander affords 20.6 cubic toes of space, which Toyota says would possibly match seven carry-on suitcases stacked to the roof. And do not be involved, you could nonetheless see out of the once more as a result of rearview digital digital camera mirror. Folding the third row opens the trunk to 57.9 cubic toes, which is spectacular.
Toyota’s approach for folding the second row requires two lever pulls, which is a bit powerful to execute with one hand. Completely different autos inside the part make the strategy less complicated, nevertheless as quickly because the seats are down, the Grand Highlander turns into cavernous with 97.5 cubes. Solely the Chevy Traverse (98.2 cubic toes) affords further sooner than you get into full-size SUVs.
Pricing & Verdict: The Correct Highlander
As a result of the Grand Highlander begins on the XLE grade, which is commonly a mid-level trim for Toyota, it has a so much bigger starting worth than the Highlander. The XLE gasoline begins at $43,070 (add $1,600 for AWD). That’s significantly better than a base Highlander, which begins at $36,620, nevertheless must you look at apples to apples with a Highlander XLE, upgrading to the Grand Highlander solely costs an extra $1,050. Stepping as a lot because the Restricted brings the value to $47,860, and the Platinum trim comes with commonplace AWD for $53,545.
Selecting the hybrid incurs the equivalent $1,600 premium as together with AWD, so the XLE hybrid begins at $44,670. This trim can be obtainable inside the Restricted grade with AWD for $51,060, nevertheless is not going to be offered in Platinum guise.
Hybrid Max fashions start at $54,040 for the Restricted and $58,125 for Platinum and every embody AWD as commonplace. In our opinion, the Restricted is the trim to get since it’s going to save over 4 grand and solely misses out on quite a lot of choices over the Platinum, a number of of which may very well be added optionally. In actuality, the Restricted Hybrid Max is barely $495 better than the Platinum gasoline and affords further power and better gasoline monetary system.
Toyota bought all the way down to assemble a a lot larger, larger Highlander, and it achieved these targets and further. The Grand Highlander is not going to be solely better than the Highlander, nevertheless it certainly’s moreover one of many spacious autos in its class. Whereas totally different opponents provide a gasoline V6 and nothing else, Toyota supplies shoppers three great powertrain choices, along with primarily essentially the most fuel-efficient chance and one of many extremely efficient outside of an SRT-powered Durango. With the addition of the Grand, the Highlander goes from a automotive we would solely counsel for gasoline monetary system to perhaps primarily essentially the most compelling bundle in its part. Toyota knocked it out of the park with the Grand Highlander.