2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: What's New, Photos, and Specs
A Grander version of Toyota's midsize SUV offers more passenger and cargo space.
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Article QuickTakes:
What is the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander?
Filling the gap in Toyota's sport utility lineup between the midsize Highlander crossover and the full-size Sequoia SUV, the new 2024 Grand Highlander lineup includes XLE, Limited, and Platinum trim levels.
Toyota builds the Grand Highlander on the same platform as the standard Highlander, and the upsized SUV is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). There are three powertrains, including a choice between two hybrid gas-electric variants. However, Toyota is not offering a plug-in hybrid or electric version. The Grand Highlander offers up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity when properly equipped.
The point of the Grand Highlander is the added interior room. Like the Highlander, the SUV seats seven or eight passengers in three rows of seats. They include a pair of front buckets, a second-row three-passenger split bench seat or individual captain's chairs, and a third-row three-passenger split bench seat. But, according to Toyota, the third-row seat accommodates adults in relative comfort.
Toyota's newest SUV also offers up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space, another byproduct of its grander dimensions. That's significantly more than you can stuff into a Sequoia, which holds no more than 86.9 cu-ft of cargo. In addition, thanks to its commendable volume behind the third-row seat, Toyota claims you can stow up to seven airport roller bags while carrying a full load of passengers.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Highlights
- All-new, three-row, eight-passenger midsize SUV
- Positioned between the Highlander and Sequoia
- More third-row seating space than a Highlander (and a Sequoia)
- More cargo space than a Highlander and a Sequoia
- Available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trim
- Standard 12.3-inch infotainment display
- Standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 safety features
- A choice between gas and gas-electric hybrid powertrains
- Tows up to 5,000 pounds
- Carries between 20.6 and 97.5 cubic feet of cargo
Ron Sessions
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Styling
Compared to the standard Highlander, the new Grand Highlander has a different look thanks to unique sheet metal. The styling is more squared-off and less sculptured, with a large trapezoidal grille, upright side and rear window glass, and a taller roof. In addition, a set of 20-inch alloy wheels is available.
The Grand Highlander is also larger overall than the Highlander, measuring 6.5 inches longer, 2.3 inches wider, and 2 inches taller than its sibling.
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2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Interior
The Grand Highlander puts its larger overall size to good use with more room throughout the cabin, not just in the third-row seating area and cargo hold. Upgraded materials and soft-touch surfaces abound, as do thoughtful storage solutions.
You can configure the center console with three cupholders, one of which can hold a large reusable water bottle. The console also features a standard wireless phone charger and a place to stow a tablet. A tambour-style cover slides open to provide easy access to storage between the padded inboard front-seat armrests.
There is also a pocket on the console's passenger side, large enough for a digital camera, plus a non-slip shelf on the passenger side of the dash that's suitable for stashing sunglasses and such. A total of seven USB-C ports across all three rows help keep devices charged throughout the cabin.
Compared to the Highlander, the Grand Highlander's third row offers a whopping 5.5 inches more legroom plus an added 1.1 inches of headroom. Cargo space is another big plus for the Grand Highlander, with 20.6 cu-ft behind the third-row seats (4.6 more than the Highlander) and 97.5 cu-ft with all rear seats folded down (a 13.2-cu-ft increase over the Highlander).
Ron Sessions
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Technology
Toyota equips the new Grand Highlander with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display atop the center of the dashboard. It includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices simultaneously, and an upgraded voice recognition system.
The touchscreen is the conduit to a long list of technologies. However, Toyota unlocks some of the good stuff only after buyers subscribe to a connected service plan. There are several choices, including Service Connect, Remote Connect, Safety Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Drive Connect.
Drive Connect grants access to some of the more sophisticated infotainment features. It includes a cloud-based navigation system, access to a live Destination Assist operator, and Intelligent Assistant. The latter feature uses enhanced, natural-language voice control to find Google-updated points of interest, adjust the climate control system, and change audio settings. Simply speak the wake-up phrase ("Hey, Toyota"), and the digital assistant is ready to help.
Another neat feature is Integrated Streaming, which gives drivers onboard control of Apple Music and Amazon Music. You get Integrated Streaming as part of Wi-Fi Connect, which provides an onboard 4G hotspot for up to five devices. Wi-Fi Connect is complimentary for the first month of Grand Highlander ownership.
In addition, the Grand Highlander is available with digital key technology, which turns your smartphone into a remote key for entering and driving the SUV. It requires a subscription to the Remote Connect service plan, which is free for the first year of ownership.
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2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Safety
Every 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander includes Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), a comprehensive list of safety features and driver-assist technology.
Enhancements over previous versions of TSS include additional sensors for improved forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking performance at intersections. The lane-keeping assist system can detect roadside objects, such as guardrails, to ensure the vehicle remains in its lane. In addition, the lane-centering assist receives new updates to enable the SUV to give more space within its lane when passing a car in an adjacent lane.
Toyota also recalibrates the adaptive cruise control system for more linear speed adjustments when changing lanes. An emergency driving stop feature monitors driver attentiveness and can bring the vehicle to a gradual halt if the driver becomes unresponsive. The traffic-sign recognition system adds intersection and pedestrian warning signs to existing speed limit notifications.
Finally, a new Proactive Driving Assist automatically provides gentle braking for curves.
Ron Sessions
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Specs
The new Grand Highlander offers you a choice between three powertrains: a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid, and a "performance" gas-electric hybrid dubbed the Hybrid Max.
Toyota doesn't specifically list the power output for the Grand Highlander's base engine. However, in the existing Highlander, the same 2.4-liter turbo-four makes 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Also shared with the Highlander, where it supplies 243 horsepower, the Grand Highlander's 2.5-liter hybrid drivetrain delivers a Toyota-estimated 34 mpg in combined driving.
The Grand Highlander's Hybrid Max powertrain cranks out an official 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Toyota estimates the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max's zero-to-60 mph time is 6.3 seconds, and it provides up to 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity.
Ron Sessions
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Price and Competitors
Toyota will disclose 2024 Grand Highlander prices before the SUV's summer 2023 release date. The new model will slip into the lineup between the smaller Highlander, which currently starts in the high $30,000s, and the full-size Sequoia, priced at around $60,000. Alternatives to the Grand Highlander include larger midsize SUVs such as the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Kia Telluride, and Volkswagen Atlas.
