MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 31, 2023) Toyota has sold the mid-sized Highlander three-row family SUV for years and it has become one of the most popular crossovers in North America — now in its fourth generation. It's one of the most practical and easiest to drive vehicles in the populated three-row segment. However, if maximum cargo and passenger space is one of your concerns in choosing your next vehicle you will have to move up to the much larger Sequoia or seek another brand.

Hold on — Toyota has a fix to keep people with larger needs in the Highlander family. Meet the 2024 Grand Highlander, which measures 7 inches longer with a 4-inch longer wheelbase. The Grand has 20.6 cubic feet of storage behind the seats, compared to the standard Highlander's 16 cubic feet. But here's the most interesting statistic for those folks who need the third row for passengers — there is 5.5 more inches of legroom.

Yes, indeed, the third row will comfortably accommodate adult passengers. And getting in the back is not much of a chore unless you are old and creaky like us. The Grand can be outfitted with second-row captains chairs or a bench seat that will hold three across. We drove with the captains chairs, and our two adult passengers that accompanied us on a restaurant night out raved about the second-row comfort and the heated seat feature on a cool high-30-degree evening.


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Toyota didn't simply stretch out a regular Highlander, but created a new very conservative (some may say bland) design with Toyota styling cues. An enormous hammerhead grille out front sets the tone and may polarize a few customers. It's flanked by slightly slanted LED headlights placed high up on the fascia. The Limited adds LED daytime running lights and fog lamps to the mix.  Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the base model, with all others getting 20-inch variants. We have no objection to the design.

There are three drivetrain options. We will classify them as (1) traditional for people looking for the lowest price possible, (2) fuel efficient for people looking for the best gas mileage possible, and (3) performance for people looking for maximum power and a healthy towing capacity.



In category number one is the standard setup, a 265-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with either front-or all-wheel drive paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It's the same setup as found in the standard Highlander.

Category number two combines the turbocharged four with two electric motors to make 245 horsepower mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The hybrid, which is the most fuel efficient of the three, is rated at 36 city, 32 highway and 34 combined with AWD on regular gas.

Category number three — called the Hybrid Max — pairs the 2.4-liter gas engine with an electric motor good for 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. It's the quickest with 0-to-60 in 5.6 seconds (Car and Driver numbers) and has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

Being the "Grand" Highlander there's no need for the L and LE trims — the Grand is available in XLE, Limited and Platinum with the XLE, which is well equipped, starting at $44,465. Our Limited with the 245-horsepower, two electric motor configuration carried a bottom line of $52,813 including the destination charge and with no options (no options needed). The Platinum version begins at $54,880.

We found the driving relaxed with enough power to  to merge onto a fast-moving interstate highway without drama. In highway driving we carried no more than two passengers so we can't vouch for sprightly performance under a full load. If you tow big weekend toys and have the need for speed we recommend the Hybrid Max.

Inside, our Grand Highlander had the optional 12.3-inch touchscreen. (An 8-inch screen is standard.) The graphics look sharp and the screen responds quickly to inputs, but some of the menus can be confusing. We like the larger knobs for temperature control, and a smaller volume knob for the audio is in easy reach of the driver. But as in so many vehicles these days there is no tuning knob. That's one component we really miss. It's an extremely convenient feature that has unfortunately escaped modern interior designers.

We found cabin storage plentiful for small items with storage ahead of the gear selector, a storage shelf in front of the front-seat passenger, and large cupholders. The underarm storage is deep and larger than what's in the regular Highlander. The second row gets useful door cubbies as well as a removable center storage area that has space for phones plus a couple of secure cupholders.

All Grand Highlanders come standard with the latest comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids (Toyota Safety Sense 3.0), which is something not all competitors offer. Among other things, we think most of the functions from the adaptive cruise control to the lane keeping assistance are well thought out and helpful in daily driving. And we discovered Toyota's voice recognition system worked well. The system is connected to the web so you can ask for things like the weather forecast.

The Highlander comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile comprehensive warranty.

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander — Limited Hybrid

Essentials
Base price: $44,465; as driven, $52,812
Drivetrain: 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, two electric motors
Total horsepower: 245
Transmission: continuously variable (CVT)
Drive: all-wheel
Seating: 2/2/3
Wheelbase: 116.1 inches
Length: 201.4 inches
Curb weight: 4,710 pounds
Turning circle: 38.1 feet
Luggage capacity: 20.6 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 97.5 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 17.17 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 36 city, 32 highway, 34 combined
0-60: 8 seconds (observed)
Also consider: Mazda CX-90, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot

The Good
• Spacious third-row seating
• Comfortable, composed ride
• Generous standard features
• Excellent gas mileage with hybrid

The Bad
• Bland styling

The Ugly
• Sluggish acceleration