2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

In a world where SUVs reign supreme, the evergreen Toyota Highlander has been a competent three-row crossover for an age; but it lacks space in the back seats to match the wildly popular Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Sequoia solves this problem to an extent, but it's a significantly pricier body-on-frame SUV. Enter the new Toyota Grand Highlander SUV.

Built on the TNGA-K platform, it has a lot more space to better compete with the abovementioned rivals. But it's no one-trick pony: buyers can choose from three different powertrains in front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive configurations. Two of the powertrains for the Toyota Grand Highlander are efficient hybrid engines, with the Hybrid MAX variant providing 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Toyota claims that the Grand Highlander with this setup is the most powerful midsize SUV it has ever produced. And while the more rugged 4Runner is still the best bet for tackling the rough stuff, the Grand Highlander has Multi-Terrain Select on certain AWD models for mild adventuring.

See all Trims and Specs

The release date for the Toyota Grand Highlander in the USA is this summer.

The price of the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander starts at $43,070 for the XLE, increasing to $44,670 for the XLE AWD. That's followed by the Limited at $47,860 ($49,460 for the AWD), and $53,545 for the Platinum which already has AWD as standard. The Hybrid XLE costs $44,670 ($46,270 with AWD) and the Hybrid Limited is $51,060. To get access to the powerful Hybrid Max powertrain, you'll pay at least $54,040 for the Limited or $58,125 for the Platinum.

These prices make the Toyota more expensive than both Korean rivals, Kia's Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade. The former starts at $35,890 for base models, with the most expensive version having a starting cost of around $53k. Hyundai's contender is just a few hundred dollars cheaper at the lower end of the spectrum, but the top trim starts at under $50k.

That being said, the new Grand Highlander is not much more expensive than the base Highlander Hybrid that doesn't have as much space.

The Grand Highlander draws inspiration from the familiar Highlander shape, but is tweaked with a trapezoidal, hammerhead front grille and sporting a sharper bumper at the back. All models feature body-colored rear pillars and roof rails, and the base model rolls on 18-inch wheels. The mid-range Limited models upsize the wheels to 20-inch items, gain LED DRLs and fog lamps, and power-folding exterior mirrors. Top-spec Platinum models get a panoramic moonroof as standard. Hybrid MAX models have access to dual exhaust outlets and bespoke front and rear bumpers.

The overall look of the Grand Highlander is robust, with muscular proportions and a bold front stance. The emphasis on size and space doesn't culminate in a sloping roofline with the Grand Highlander as this would encroach on practicality. The squared-off look, especially in profile, may be generic, but the aim of the Grand Highlander isn't to be a stylish accessory; the Grand Highlander doesn't need to shout about comfort, space, and practicality, so the design is simple, yet pleasing to the eye.

Exterior colors for the base Toyota Grand Highlander includes Ruby Flare Pearl ($425 extra), Celestial Silver Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic, Wind Chill Pearl ($425), Coastal Cream, Storm Cloud, and Blueprint.

Official dimensions for the base Toyota Grand Highlander include a length of 201.4 inches, making it over five inches longer than the standard Highlander. It has a 116.1-inch wheelbase, a height of 72.1 inches with the antenna, and a width of 78.3 inches without the mirrors.

Naturally, the Grand Highlander weighs more than the current Highlander Hybrid, which starts at 4,155 pounds and goes up to almost 4,600 lbs. The Grand Highlander starts at 4,300 lbs but goes all the way up to 4,920 lbs for the Hybrid Max trims.

Three powertrains are available for the 2024 Grand Highlander, with Toyota claiming the options cover both efficiency and performance aspects. The first option is a 2.4-liter turbocharged gas engine, which can be paired to either FWD or AWD. It produces 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, which are decent specs. Most efficient in the range is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid unit with 245 hp combined, while the 362-horsepower Hybrid MAX is paired to AWD only. The latter makes 400 lb-ft of torque from its 2.4-liter turbo-four and electric motor and is touted as the most potent midsize SUV from the brand. 0-60 mph comes up in 6.3 seconds and towing capacity maxes out at 5,000 lbs. The normal hybrid can tow up to 3,500 lbs.

Toyota claims that the gas-only model can hit 60 mph in 7.5 seconds with FWD, while the hybrid does the same in 7.8 seconds with AWD.

The base gas engine comes with an eight-speed automatic, the hybrid has a continuously variable transmission, and the Hybrid MAX comes with a six-speed automatic. An electronic on-demand AWD system for the normal hybrid makes way for a full-time electronic AWD system on the most powerful hybrid.

All three options come with three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal. AWD gas and Hybrid MAX models have Multi-Terrain Select for the roads less traveled, with access to Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow modes for light off-roading.

Gas mileage figures published by Toyota show that the hybrid XLE with either FWD or AWD is most efficient, with figures of 36/32/34 mpg city/highway/combined. In Limited AWD guise, the hybrid manages 35/31/33 mpg.

Regardless of the trim, the Hybrid MAX returns 26/27/27 mpg, which is decent in light of its power and far better than V6 rivals like the Kia Telluride. The base gas-only engine is the least efficient Grand Highlander, returning a worst of 20/26/22 mpg and a best of 21/28/24 mpg with FWD.

All hybrid models have a 17.17-gallon gas tank, while the gas-only models have a 17.83-gallon tank. The most efficient hybrid, therefore, has a very practical range of up to 583 miles. That drops all the way down to 392 miles for the least efficient gas model.

One of the criticisms of the regular Highlander - and much of the three-row midsize segment - is the cramped accommodations in the rear seats. The Grand Highlander's focus is on supplying a usable-for-adults back row that is comfortable over longer journeys, and so it comes with seating for up to eight with loads of space for the two back rows. The second row can be specified with captain's chairs to seat just seven.

Base Toyota Grand Highlander models have Softex-trimmed seats, heated seats for the front passengers, ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and eight-way power settings for the passenger. Leather comes standard from the mid-spec Limited, and the second-row gains heating while ventilation is added to the front seats. A heated steering wheel and ambient lighting help to make it feel a bit more special, but the top-end Platinum grade gets all the bells and whistles: heated and ventilated second-row seats and a panoramic moonroof, among others.

Across the range, the 2024 Grand Highlander comes with a soft-padded instrument panel and available wood-effect ornamentation. Interior colors for the Toyota Grand Highlander are restricted to Light Gray or Black in lower trims, while the Platinum Hybrid MAX gets Portobello-themed Ultrasuede and leather with bronze accents around the cabin.

The roominess of the cabin extends to cargo space, too, with the Grand Highlander offering up to 98 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Exact figures aren't available yet, but Toyota claims that seven carry on suitcases will fit behind the third-row seats, ticking the box for practicality. That's a lot more than the 84.3 cubes the regular Highlander provides with the seats folded down, and on part with the Chevy Traverse that has, historically, been at the top of the segment in terms of cargo volume. The Grand Highlander also comes with 13 cupholders across all three rows.

Comfort isn't just about seating, though, and Toyota meets the need for feeling relaxed by equipping a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a seven-inch driver's information display, wireless charging, six USB charging points, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to even the base model. Higher up in the range the information cluster grows to 12.3 inches and an 11 speaker JBL sound system becomes standard.

As is expected of a family carrier, and the brand itself, safety isn't skipped over. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on all models, which includes road sign assist, lane tracing and lane departure alert, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, and proactive assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert is equipped to all trims. Limited models come with parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers while the Platinum trims get a head-up display, a panoramic view monitor, traffic jam assist, and front cross traffic alert.