Toyota Revealed: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

People who believe the recently unveiled Grand Highlander is just an XL version of the normal Highlander will have to be pardoned by Toyota. The new entry is more than just bigger, but when an adjective like grand is thrown into a well-known nameplate—and the Highlander has proven to be quite well-known—size-based assumptions are sure to happen.

The Toyota Highlander is an eight-seat American SUV that we would characterise as being "quite darn enormous indeed" for anyone in the UK reading this. It is around the size of a grown-up Land Rover Discovery 5.

However, it is obvious that Toyota USA believed it required expansion. So let's offer the new Grand Highlander from 2024 a hearty greeting. According to Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Toyota Marketing, "There is definitely a need in the market for a midsize SUV that prioritises interior comfort in all three rows, and Grand Highlander is the ultimate alternative." Midsize! We are not fabricating this.

Size and Space of Grand Highlander

What distinguishes the Grand Highlander from the regular Highlander, then? Well, for starters, it looks different. The Grand is really constructed on the same TNGA-K base as its smaller sibling, but it is significantly more boxy-looking and measures almost 16 cm longer and 5 cm broader.

In essence, Toyota anticipates that the Grand Highlander will bridge the gap between the standard Highlander and the full-size Sequoia. In terms of dimensions, it achieves that. 

The Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer than its smaller sister and about 7 inches shorter than the Sequoia at 201.4 inches front to back. 

The Grand is 2.3 inches wider and 2 inches taller than a standard Highlander. The wheelbase of the larger Highlander is about 4 inches longer than that of the smaller Highlander, with around 116 inches between its axles.

It was created by Toyota's Calty Design team in the US and will be produced in Indiana. Even with all of the seats in place, the boot appears to have the capacity for seven hand luggage suitcases and the third row of seats is described as being "adult-sized." Yes, it is enormous.

Power and Performance of Grand Highlander

There are three available powertrain options. The 2.4-litre petrol and 2.5-litre hybrid engines from the base Highlander are likely to remain, but Toyota claims there will also be a 362-horsepower "Hybrid MAX" option that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and tow 5,000 pounds.

Perhaps not simultaneously though. While the other two can be specified with either front- or all-wheel drive, the latter configuration will only be available with all-wheel drive.

Interior and Features

The Grand Highlander Platinum we saw up close had a soft-touch interior with nice materials that reminded us of Lexus. Only the top-of-the-line trim includes a head-up display and a digital rearview mirror, although it shares a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with the Limited trim below it.

Both variants also come standard with heated front seats, heated back seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather-trimmed upholstery.

A sharp 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard on all three Grand Highlander levels.

Each of them has a sizable centre console with a wireless charging pad underneath the actual HVAC controls.

We also value the spacious centre console bin's sliding cover, which Toyota claims is large enough to accommodate a tablet.

Adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and even blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert are all standard on every Grand Highlander, as they are on every Toyota. The 360-degree camera technology is exclusive to Platinum.

Rivals

The Grand Highlander will go off against the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L.