Toyota is expanding its SUV lineup for 2024 with the new Grand Highlander, a roomier alternative to the three-row Highlander that has been on sale in its current form since 2020. While the two models may share a name, there are plenty of distinguishing features that set the new Grand Highlander apart from its smaller sibling.
Exterior
The most obvious difference is the design. Not only is the Grand Highlander larger—stretching 6.5 inches longer, 2.0 inches taller, and 2.3 inches wider—but the new crossover also benefits from unique styling. The slicked-back front end of the Highlander has been swapped for more upright, boxier looks dominated by straight lines and sharp angles. The rear end is also fresh, with a D-pillar and taillights more reminiscent of the compact RAV4 than the mid-size Highlander. While the regular Highlander has a trendy blacked-out A-pillar and a slight slope to the roofline, the Grand Highlander model sticks to a more traditional roofline.
The Grand Highlander.
The 2023 Highlander.
Interior
An extra four inches in the wheelbase improves interior space, with the third row adding 5.5 inches of legroom, an inch of headroom, and more than 2 inches of shoulder space. Not only is the third row actually comfortable for adults now, but the rearmost passengers are also treated to a USB-C port, absent in the standard Highlander. Both crossovers feature dual cupholders in the third row.
The Grand Highlander also distinguishes itself by offering ventilated captain’s chairs for the second row in the top Platinum trim. The Grand’s added length is a boon for cargo space as well, with five more cubic feet behind the third row or an extra 14 cubic feet with the the two rear rows folded away.
The dashboard has been tweaked with a more streamlined design, but like the more expensive trims of the Highlander, the Grand has both a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Just as with the standard Highlander, you’ll have to upgrade to the top-of-the-line Platinum model if you want goodies like a head-up display and a digital rearview mirror.
Powertrains
The Grand Highlander will be offered with three powertrain choices. The headlining act is the Hybrid Max setup, which first debuted in the Crown last summer. A turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four works in conjunction with two electric motors—one powering the rear axle and the other sandwiched between the engine and the six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain has been beefed up for use in the Grand Highlander, producing a combined 362 horsepower—up from 340 ponies in the Crown—and 400 pound-feet of torque. Toyota also says it’s been adjusted to help the Grand Highlander achieved a 5000-pound max towing capacity, which equals the maximum for the standard Highlander.
The Grand also comes with two lesser powertrains both found in the smaller Highlander. Toyota didn’t specify outputs but said that little has changed, besides tuning differences to account for the Grand’s, well, grander size. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic, which makes 265 hp in the standard Highlander. A hybrid setup combining 2.5-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors and CVT gearbox for a total of 243 hp is also available in both SUVs. Just as in the original Highlander, these powertrains are offered in the Grand with front- or all-wheel drive, but the Hybrid Max is all-wheel-drive-only thanks to the electric motor on the rear axles.
The 2023 Highlander.
Chassis and Suspension
The Grand Highlander, unsurprisingly, shares its TNGA-K platform with the standard Highlander, but Toyota didn’t leave the Grand’s structure untouched. The automaker says that the body is stronger and stiffer thanks to more spot welds and extra adhesives. These upgrades are also said to keep the cabin quieter and better isolate the occupants from vibrations or bumps in the road. Contributing to this smoother, more placid ride is a revised rear suspension that sees the multilink setup redesigned to increase the roominess of the third row and cargo area.
Price
As is the case for most new car reveals, Toyota isn’t yet divulging the price of the 2024 Grand Highlander. We predict that the enlarged crossover will start at $43,000, with the top Platinum trim opening around $56,000. This will put it about $4000 to $6000 higher than the regular Highlander, and we expect the Hybrid Max to only be offered on the Limited and Platinum, with the XLE receiving just the base engine and less-powerful hybrid setup.
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