2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Takes On Today’s Growing Family Needs

Toyota built its success by offering a diverse model line that addresses nearly any consumer need. From small, fuel-efficient compacts to large, full-size trucks and SUVs, with plenty of midsize sedans and crossovers thrown in for good measure, the world’s number one automaker knows how to sell a vehicle or two (it was 10.5 million last year). In Toyota’s never-ending effort to fill every possible hole in the new car market, the automaker just launched the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander.

Toyota first launched its Highlander in 2001, a family-oriented SUV and consistent top seller in the midsize SUV category. With over 3.3 million Highlanders sold, there’s no obvious need for this new, larger Grand Highlander. But Toyota says there’s growing demand for larger SUVs from larger families. These buyers are particularly interested in SUVs offering what Toyota has dubbed an “adult-sized third row” — as well as added cargo space and passenger-friendly features.

When It Comes to Large Family SUVs, Bigger is Better

The 2024 Grand Highlander brings all that to the family segment, along with unique styling, three drivetrain choices, and three trim levels. The Grand Highlander’s size advantage manifests as 2 inches taller, 2.3 inches wider, and 6.5 inches longer than the Highlander. You might think those exterior advantages translate to more interior space, and you’d be right. The Highlander offers 141.8 cubic feet of interior space, while the Grand Highlander has 153.3 (149 with the available panoramic moonroof).

The bulk of the Grand Highlander’s additional exterior space goes into creating that aforementioned adult-sized third-row seat, plus increased cargo capacity. The Highlander offers 36.1 inches of headroom and 28 inches of legroom in the third row, along with 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. The Grand Highlander delivers 37.2 inches of headroom and 33.5 inches of legroom in the third row, plus 20.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind it.

Having crawled through the Grand Highlander’s interior we can verify the real-world differences those numbers suggest. Between its larger rear doors and roomier third row we found both accessing and sitting in the aft area to be far easier and more comfortable. Multiple flip, fold, tilt, and sliding options exist to quickly configure the second- and third-row seats, with further flexibility provided by a removable second-row console. It was also quite apparent how much space existed behind the third row seat, suggesting plenty of room for family accoutrements even with every seat taken.

Family Friendly Features for the Win

Extra interior space is good, but extra interior space + more family friendly features is better. Expected items, like a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and heated front seats, are paired with unexpected standard features on even the base XLE trim. These include a digital key that lets drivers use their smartphone to operate the Grand Highlander, wireless smartphone pairing and charging, and 7 USB ports. Three cupholders in the center console and a smartphone tray in the dash, above the glovebox, add to the Grand Highlander’s family functionality.

Additional standard features include a second-row climate control panel, smartphone/tablet storage in the third row, and Toyota’s latest driver assistance suite of safety tech. Toyota says it’s upgraded technologies like pre-collision detection, lane keeping assist, radar cruise control, and driver attentiveness. These changes improve the Grand Highlander’s sophistication in the areas of object detection, steering assistance, and speed control. High-tech options include a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and “Traffic Jam Assist” to reduce driver fatigue in heavy traffic.

Three Engine Choices, Including Two Hybrid Options

Bigger usually means heavier, and in the Grand Highlander’s case the lightest, base model XLE with front-wheel drive still weighs 4,300 pounds. The heaviest version, an all-wheel-drive Platinum model, weighs 4,920 pounds. Three engines are available to balance performance needs against Toyota’s fuel-efficiency goals. The standard engine is a 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder offering 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Toyota says it can power the Grand Highlander to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds while returning 28 mpg (front-wheel drive) or 27 mpg (all-wheel drive).

A 2.5-liter four cylinder engine paired with an electric motor makes up the hybrid option for the Grand Highlander, with 245 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. While the gasoline model uses an 8-speed automatic, the hybrid sends power through a continuously variable transmission, delivering an impressive 34 mpg from front- or all-wheel drive models. Front-wheel drive hybrids get to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, or 7.9 seconds for all-wheel-drive versions.

The most powerful Grand Highlander option, and our favorite configuration, is called the Hybrid Max. This drivetrain combines the aforementioned gasoline 2.4-liter turbo with the hybrid motor, creating 362 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. This version comes standard with all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic, which gets it to 60 mph in a snappy 6.3 seconds. Fuel efficiency drops to 27 mpg, but towing capacity is a healthy 5,000 pounds (versus 3,500 pounds from the non-max hybrid). Hybrid Max models also include additional driving modes for mud, rocks, and snow.

Experiencing all three drivetrains confirmed the power differences, especially when putting the drive mode setting in Sport (Eco and Normal are also available). Quicker throttle response, altered steering feel, and even a meatier exhaust note, gave the Grand Highlander a surprisingly nimble personality, despite its nearly 5,000-pound curb weight. A standard acoustic glass windshield keeps the cabin quiet at higher speeds, while large side windows and relatively thin roof pillars improve outward visibility, making it relatively easy to maneuver and park the Grand Highlander.

Three Grand Highlander Trims: XLE, Limited, Platinum

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will arrive in showrooms in July. Three trim levels will be offered, but only the Limited and Platinum trim will be available with the Hybrid Max powertrain. Each trim offers the following equipment and reflects the price of the standard gasoline engine (Hybrid and Hybrid Max cost more):

XLE: 18-inch wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, 7- or 8-passenger capacity, 2nd row sunshades, digital key, 12.3-inch touchscreen, 7-inch gauge cluster, 7 USB ports, wireless smartphone charging — $43,070 (FWD) or $44670 (AWD)

Limited: 20-inch wheels, LED foglight, leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, AC power outlet, 12.3-inch gauge cluster, 11-speaker audio system — $47,860 (FWD) or $49,460 (AWD)

Platinum: Heated and ventilated 2nd-row seats, panoramic (glass) moonroof, paddle shifters, head-up display, 360-degree camera view, digital rearview mirror, puddle lamps, Traffic Jam Assist — $53,545 (AWD)