LOOKS

The exterior design of the Grand Highlander features a bold front grille and sharp headlight design up front. It’s not the most standout design in the segment, but still holds its own and doesn’t completely blend in like some vehicles can.

My test vehicle featured a Coastal Cream paint job, and sat on 20-inch alloy wheels (note: 18-inch wheels come standard). It featured LED headlights and taillights, heated power outside mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate and rain-sensing wipers.

Moving inside the Grand Highlander, your first thought will be to marvel at just how roomy the vehicle is, especially in comparison to the Highlander. You’ll find that the third row, typically reserved for small children in most three-row SUVs, is capable of fitting a tall adult comfortably.

You’ll notice that the cargo space is massive, with a whopping 97.5 cubic feet of room with the two rear rows down, 57.9 cubic feet with the rear row down and 20.6 cubic feet with all rows up. So you’ll have plenty of room for your luggage and other goodies on the next road trip.

Materials used are not luxury level, but still on the premium side of things compared to rivals. Seating is truly comfortable, and captain’s chairs are offered in the second row. For many people, this level of upscale will do just fine and there won’t be a need to even consider stepping to the Lexus and its premium costs.

The Grand Highlander offers a great overall design for families. Not only is it roomy throughout, but you get some classy wood trim and lots of unique small storage shelves and cubby holes. Its versatile design allows for massive cargo transport or comfy seating for 7 or 8 (depending on configuration).

The leather seating in my test vehicle featured heated and ventilated front seats; as well as a heated steering wheel and heated second row outboard seats, and three-zone automatic climate control. And there are nice touches like ambient interior lighting and a panoramic sunroof.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is powered by a 2.4-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Output is a respectable 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

Buyers seeking a more green option have a choice of two hybrid versions of the Grand Highlander, including an impressive option that delivers 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet.

Lower trim levels come with FWD standard, and AWD as an option. And the top Platinum level comes standard with AWD.

Maximum towing capacity on the Grand Highlander is 5,000 pounds, which is comparable to most of its rivals.

My test vehicle featured AWD with multi-terrain selection. It offered one-button selection for many drive modes, including: Eco, Sport, Snow, Normal, Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Hill Descent.

The Grand Highlander is a large vehicle, so going from 0-to-60 took me over 7 seconds. The more powerful hybrid version comes in around 6 seconds by comparison.

In my experience, the Grand Highlander handled great and responded well to input, so much so that you will forget you’re in a vehicle this large. I found it offered one of the best driving experiences in this segment, absorbing the imperfections of the road and limiting the entrance of road noise.


TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Tech is another highlight in this vehicle, as the 2024 Grand Highlander features one of the most user-friendly tech/Infotainment setup in its class of SUVs.

Voice commands worked effectively without any hiccups, and the touch commands on the 12.3-inch center screen are easy to learn. There’s also a customizable info screen in front of the driver.

Sound comes through clearly via an 11-speaker JBL system, and music can be streamed wirelessly via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

A wireless smartphone charger is featured, along with 7 USB ports throughout the vehicle to serve the entire family’s needs.

Moving on to safety, all Grand Highlanders feature the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system, which continues to see quality upgrades to its cameras and sensors.

Features include:
— Pre-collision system, to help mitigate frontal collisions with vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists by warning the driver and providing brake assist
— Lane Departure Alert, which will warn if you leave your lane and even push you back into the proper lane
— Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which maintains proper distance during use of cruise control, with multiple distance preferences offered
— Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Proactive Driving Assist

Blind spot warnings were also helpful when making lane changes, and the excellent, optional panoramic view camera proved to be essential in parking situations by showing the entire view surrounding the car.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the Grand Highlander I tested were: 20 city/26 highway/22 combined. I averaged a bit under those numbers, landing at 19 mpg in my real world testing. Front-wheel drive models will bump up the averages by a few mpg.

For more eco-minded people, hybrid versions of the Grand Highlander are available and will bump up those numbers significantly, to as high as 36 combined mpg.  

PRICE

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 4WD Limited that I tested was priced around $54K, and the base price starts around $44K.

Three trim levels are offered — starting with XLE, and moving up to Limited and finally Platinum. Limited pricing starts around $49K, and Platinum pricing starts around $55K.

This pricing is somewhat competitive considering the size of the Grand Highlander and what it will cost to get into key competitors. And most people will be plenty happy with the base XLE model. — which is full of comfort, tech and safety features.

Toyota's warranty coverage is decent but not spectacular — with 3 years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 5 years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, as well as two years of scheduled maintenance.

BOTTOM LINE

The Grand Highlander is a strong addition to the Toyota SUV lineup, and a perfect fit for families who want more room for passengers and cargo than the regular Highlander will provide, plus strong tech features and an excellent driving experience.

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