2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: Grand Yes, The Best Too?

Though it may sound similar to the Toyota Highlander, the Toyota Grand Highlander is an all-new model for the 2024 model year from the Japanese marque.

The all-new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is not just a stretched-out version of the regular Highlander but has some new tricks under its sleeve. For me, it looks like a bigger Corolla Cross, to be honest. The existing Highlander also comes with a three-row configuration, but this one promises to be a more comfortable and practical option, justifying “Grand” in its name. Fortunately, there are hybrid options as well to make your daily errands a little more economical. So, let's see how many grand you need to buy one of the 2024 Grand Highlander trims on sale.

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Price For All Trims 

So, except for the base two and Hybrid XLE trims, AWD is standard, irrespective of the selected powertrain. Given the vehicle's purpose and size, most customers would choose AWD, so congratulations to Toyota on this well-considered choice. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid bears a higher price tag but compensates with better fuel economy or power. 

How Photogenic Is The Grand Highlander?

The exterior dimensions make it fit perfectly between the smaller Highlander and the bigger Sequoia. Grand certainly means bigger here, and the external dimensions are grander too. It shares some exterior similarities with the Highlander but is actually very different from the regular Highlander.

With multiple color and wheel options, you won’t be out of style. However, I do feel that the 18-inch alloy wheels look puny on the base XLE trims, while the other trims get larger 20-inch wheels. The squared wheel arches add a bit of ruggedness to this three-row family SUV, aided by a larger front grille belonging to Toyota’s new design language. 

Oddly, though, I feel that the size of the headlamps is pretty small as compared to the large and wide front fascia, but that’s just my opinion, and looks are subjective. The tail lamps are sleek and cover the entire width of the car, something similar to what we have seen on a Venza

The Grand Highlander can be a great alternative to the Toyota Sienna in terms of its exterior dimensions. Some useful features, like a power liftgate, are standard across all the models, adding to the convenience. Overall, I won’t be clicking pictures with it on a daily basis, but yeah, it does look good out in the sun.

Glitzy Interior With A Premium Appeal!

In terms of interiors, the term “Grand" refers to more space for families and all their gear. It is definitely more appealing than the regular Highlander in terms of space and feel. The power-adjustable front seats improve comfort, and higher trims do get memory function as well. 

The third-row seats offer about 6 inches more legroom than the standard Highlander, totaling 33.5 inches of legroom across the third row, which is really decent for adults as well as kids. With more cargo space, most families won't complain. I really felt at home in Grand Highlander’s airy and roomy cabin.

As you climb the trim ladder, things start getting luxurious. I would pick the Limited and Platinum trims for their upmarket appeal, especially the Hybrid Max trims. The bronze dashboard treatment makes them distinctive as compared to the regular trims. Being a Toyota, starting from the Limited trims, the build quality is very good with tactile feedback wherever necessary.

The Grand Highlander's interior has an option for second-row captain chairs or flat bench seats. Overall, all the seats are soft and comfortable for long journeys. However, only the Hybrid Max trims get you Ultrasuede upholstery with heated and ventilated function for the front seats.  Also, from the driver’s perspective, steering-mounted controls are user-friendly and do not feel overwhelming.

One cool feature is the steering driver monitor 

The steering driver monitor imbibes facial recognition technology to pre-adjust all the mirror and seat settings depending on the driver's profile just by recognizing the driver’s face. Also, it can detect driver inattention and alert the driver of the same.

A large 12.3-inch digital gauge is standard on the more expensive trims, while the base XLE trim gets access to a smaller yet efficient 8-inch display and performs all the basic functions quite well.  All the trims, barring the XLE and Limited trims, get access to the 10-inch heads-up display for improved driver attention on the road.

All the trims get access to a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, screaming extreme VFM quotient. Useful features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims get 11-speaker JBL audio, while the lower ones get a 6-speaker system, which is pretty satisfactory as well. To be honest, an audiophile like me has no complaints with either.

Being a family-oriented SUV, practicality had to be at the forefront. I could find plenty of storage spaces, including 13 cupholders, large door pockets, and center console storage. I personally feel that the air vents in the rear could have been behind the center console but they are on the roof.

Better cargo capacity (max) than the bigger Sequoia 

The ingress and egress to the third row are easy and not much of an issue. The Sequoia and the Highlander felt a bit low on cargo space, but that’s definitely not the case with the 2024 Grand Highlander, which has a maximum cargo space of 97.5 cubic feet and a decent 20.6 cubic feet of space with all seats in place.

Big On Size, Big On Performance?

The 2024 Toyota Highlander has something for everyone in terms of the three powertrains on offer. The standard Grand Highlander gets a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a decent 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of output. For efficiency-conscious buyers, there are hybrid options as well.

Under the hood of the standard Grand Highlander Hybrid is a 2.5-liter inline-four engine paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 245 hp. The Hybrid Max trims are equipped with a 2.4-liter engine and dual electric motors. The combined output is 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.

The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Takes Away Performance Woes 

In terms of outright performance, nothing much special can be expected from the base non-hybrid powertrain with a 0–60 time of 7.0 seconds. However, the Hybrid Max takes all your performance woes away with a 0–60 time of 5.6 seconds. Overall, this three-row SUV is faster than the similarly-sized Honda Pilot, and I really didn’t expect it with this one.

Decent towing capacity with the standard and Hybrid Max trims

Being a family-oriented SUV, the 2024 Grand Highlander takes care of your towing needs as well, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds in the non-hybrid and Hybrid Max trims. However, the regular hybrid trim can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Does The Grand Highlander Moves Like Jagger?

The four-banger under the hood feels pretty refined and torquey at the same time. The NVH is well controlled for a vehicle of its class. Surprisingly, there’s a good amount of grunt from this small engine, thanks to the forced induction. The new three-row SUV from Toyota is well-tuned with respect to handling, but not a corner carver, for sure. 

However, I did feel the steering to be overly light for an SUV of its size, but it does the job well. Also, the maneuverability is decent and moving it in tight spaces won’t be much of a problem. Even visibility is quite good with minimal blind spots. With 8-inches of ground clearance and available AWD drivetrain, there is a good amount of traction and possibility for mild off-roading. 

So, I did not have any problems while turning at decent speeds over wet surfaces. Driving the Hybrid Max trim made me greedy for power. It's fun-to-drive nature and refined power delivery are addictive. If you can spend more, opt for the Hybrid Max trims, as they deliver the most fun. 

Fuel Sipper Or Fuel Hungry?

According to the official MPG numbers from the brand, the regular Grand Highlander delivers an overall 24 mpg, which is just about okay. The regular hybrid trims deliver an overall 36 mpg, which is pretty economical for an SUV of its size and weight. The powerful Hybrid Max trims deliver up to 27 mpg in combined driving conditions. Let’s have a look at the detailed mpg ratings with different powertrains

Pretty Grand, Pretty Safe?

The Grand Highlander shares a common platform with the higher-end Lexus TX, and it was destined to be safe. With Toyota’s very own Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 3.0), a whole suite of ADAS features, along with multiple passive ones, are bound to make it a safe option in the three-row SUV segment.

Some of the interesting TSS 3.0 features that are standard across the dynamic cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, proactive driving assist, lane tracing assistance and road sign assist to name a few. Some other features like front and rear park assist and 360 degree panoramic camera can be seen on Limited and Platinum models. 

In terms of safety ratings, NHTSA has not tested it yet. However, the IIHS has given it an overall acceptable rating for headlights, driver and passenger side small overlap, and pelvis side testing. However, that’s not something worrisome in my opinion. 

Should the Grand Highlander Make a Grand Entry into your Garage?

Well, if you are a complete family person and love to travel more often, then this might be a viable option on the market right now. Also, with three powertrain options, decent mileage, and a competitive price tag, I wouldn’t mind recommending it to you guys.