The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is a brand-new automobile that is not essentially a Highlander with a longer wheelbase. The Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is greater, but every other measurement is also significantly larger.
It also has a distinct appearance from the Highlander, with smooth flanks that lack the Highlander’s Supra-want to be swoopiness. The GH is designed primarily to compete with the rivals above in the market Toyota refers to as a “long-haul three-row SUV.”
Using a derivative name is deliberate, as Toyota readily acknowledges that adding “Grand” to the moniker is “drafting of the success” of the Highlander.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Interior
We’re fortunate that head engineer Craig Payne gained experience on the Sienna minivan before taking on the Grand Highlander project since the extra inside space of the Grand Highlander is put to excellent use.
Our 6-foot-2-inch tester, yourself, could sit there comfortably with the second row configured to consider his own modified driving stance. The now-roomy third row is simple to access.
One can claim that the Grand Highlander can transport a line-up of Dans. Toyota estimates that the area behind the third row of seats has a capacity of 21 cubic feet, sufficient for seven carry-on baggage.
On the other hand, the Highlander only offers 16 cubic feet of space behind a third row that is completely unsuitable for adults, with 1.1 inches less headroom and 5.5 inches less legroom.
The Sequoia is notably lacking in quality, offering either Grand Highlander levels of third-row legroom or 22 cubic feet of backload space, but not both.
To access the former, you must scooch the seat forward until it is unusable; to access the latter, you must move the seat back; at this point, you have just 12 cubes of cargo space and 1.6 inches less headroom than the Grand.
We appreciate that the Grand Highlander’s multiple cupholders have adjacent spaces that accommodate smartphones and tablets and that every outboard seat has a USB-C plug.
The front console has a smart roll-back top between fixed armrests that lets you see about without bothering your seatmate, and the second-row mini-console swiftly slides out to make an aisle.
Want to carry goods while folding seats? The Grand Highlander outperforms the Sequoia in all categories, carrying 10 cubic feet behind the front and 58 cubic feet behind the middle, respectively.
The dash has a layered and fascinating appearance up front, and the driver’s seat is very well-shaped—especially when it is enhanced with the optional Portobello brown leather and bronze accents.
A surprising number of controls are placed on matte-black surfaces that appear and feel expensive, although piano black is only occasionally employed.
Every grade has a 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard, and wireless Apple CarPlay connecting with our phone proved simple. This is a welcoming and pleasant location to log miles.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Exterior
The Grand Highlander performs the same primary function as its namesake, but it does it better—especially if you plan to utilize the third row more frequently or for longer excursions. The Grand’s wheelbase, which measures 116.1 inches, is 3.9 inches longer than the Highlander’s.
Moreover, it is 2.0 inches higher, 2.3 inches broader, and 4.0 inches longer than the longest Highlander XSE. Despite this, it is still 6.7 inches shorter overall, has a roof that is 4.4 inches lower, and is 1.3 inches slimmer than a Sequoia, making it substantially easier to park in garages and spaces.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Performance
You may choose between three different powertrains within the car. The standard 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine produces 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque with front- or all-wheel drive.
The Grand Highlander’s eight-speed automatic transmits 48 to 50 pound-feet of torque while the V-6-powered rivals produce 20 to 28 more horsepower. The all-wheel-drive XLE’s combined fuel efficiency rating from the EPA is 23 mpg, divided into 21 city and 27 highway mpg.
However, our test vehicle exceeded expectations by achieving 29 mpg on our motorway test at 75 mph, indicating 510 miles of range. The 2.5-liter engine of the system produces 187 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque on its own; the electric motors increase it to 245 horsepower.
Versions with all-wheel drive have a third motor between the back wheels. The estimated combined fuel efficiency is between 34 and 36 mpg, depending on trim. Although it is on our to-do list, we have not yet acquired one for testing.
Hybrid Max, the top-tier powertrain, has nothing in common with the standard hybrid. It sports a single electric motor sandwiched between the standard 265-hp turbo four and transmission, which has six rather than eight gears since its increased torque helps cover the wider gaps.
A second motor is located in the back because all-wheel drive is standard. Overall, this engine outperforms the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L with 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet.
Although the Hybrid Max disappointed somewhat in our 75 mph highway fuel-efficiency test, getting 24 mpg, fuel economy is predicted to be 27 mpg combined, 10 mpg better than the Jeep.