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2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited: Specs, Price, & Interior -Despite the fact that Toyota’s three-row Highlander already pushes the boundaries of what I’d consider a “midsize SUV,” it seems that there was still an opportunity to go much larger. The 2024 Grand Highlander was shown to the public for the first time this week at the Chicago Motor Show. The brand-new model is longer and broader than its predecessor, providing even more space for third-row passengers and the items they bring along with them.
Review
Since the Grand Highlander was developed solely with American motorists in mind by Toyota’s CALTY division, the size of the vehicle was maximized. The overall appearance is consistent with that of the original Highlander, but the “hammerhead” front fascia of the manufacturer and the shoulders of the SUV have been given a more squared-off appearance. The massive wheel arches and sharp lighting give me the impression that they were inspired by the RAV4. According to Toyota, the brand’s most roomy midsize SUV now has the same amount of interior capacity as a full-sized competition.
The majority of the extra space is manifested in the roomier, “adult-sized,” third row as well as the cargo compartment located at the back of the vehicle. As compared to the ordinary Highlander, which has 28 inches of legroom in the third row, the Grand Highlander has about 6 inches more legroom. Even with all of the seats in their upright positions, there is sufficient room for the head, shoulders, and seven pieces of luggage of the carry-on size. When the seats are folded down, the overall volume of the cargo area increases to 98 cubic feet.
On each of the three rows, there are compartments for storing mobile devices like phones or tablets, as well as USB-C charging outlets. There are a total of 13 cup holders and seven USB ports located throughout the interior of the vehicle. That’s a significant quantity of drinks.
Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models of the Grand Highlander will offer purchasers the choice between three different engine choices, which are as follows: The standard engine is a 2.4-liter turbocharged gas unit, while the hybrid version has a 2.5-liter capacity. To produce a total of 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, the top-of-the-line version of Toyota’s Hybrid Max system combines a 2.4-liter turbocharged combustion engine with two electric motors. The Max comes standard with all-wheel drive, and it has a claimed acceleration time of 6.3 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour and a towing capability of 5,000 pounds.
Starting with the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited trim level, both of the hybrid cars come standard with a 1,500-watt AC power socket that can both power and charge various electrical devices or gaming consoles. The plug for the nonhybrid vehicle is rated at 100 watts.
The Grand Highlander comes standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment display, which is the same system as the one found in the new Tundra and the regular Highlander. This display can be seen on the dashboard at the front of the vehicle. It comes standard with wireless connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Toyota’s suite of 4G LTE connected services, which include cloud navigation and destination search, a Wi-Fi hotspot, over-the-air updates, and more. Moreover, it supports over-the-air upgrades.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will be available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trim levels. It will come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which is a driver assistance suite, as well as the new Proactive Driving Assist, which provides braking or steering support to assist drivers in navigating curves while also enhancing the standard adaptive cruise control. Later this year, pricing information, further precise specifications, and an on-sale date will be disclosed.
Exterior
The team at Toyota’s Calty Design Studios in California was responsible for the design of the company’s latest SUV, which has a more boxy and straightforward appearance than its smaller brother, the Highlander. It has smooth surfaces all over the body, which convey a basic but tough design, and it has rear pillars that are the same color as the body to give the impression of sturdiness and strength.
The Grand Highlander may be obtained with wheels ranging in diameter from 18 inches all the way up to 20 inches, and it is offered in three different trim levels (XLE, Limited, or Platinum). There is also the option of a panoramic moonroof.
The design of the Grand Highlander is based on the form of the well-known Highlander, but it has been modified to have a trapezoidal and hammerhead front grille in addition to a sharper bumper at the rear. All of the models have roof rails and rear pillars that match the body color, and the wheels on the basic model are 18 inches in diameter.
The 20-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights and fog lamps, and power-folding exterior mirrors are standard on the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited trim levels that are in the middle of the range. Standard equipment for the highest-end Platinum versions is a panoramic moonroof. The Hybrid MAX lineup has twin exhaust outlets and front and rear bumpers that are uniquely designed for each model.
The Grand Highlander has a rugged appearance overall, with powerful proportions and a confident front posture that sets it apart from other vehicles. Due to the fact that a sloping roofline would compromise the Grand Highlander’s use, the focus placed on size and space does not result in the vehicle has one.
The squared-off look, especially when viewed in profile, may be unoriginal, but the Grand Highlander isn’t intended to be a fashionable accessory. Because the Grand Highlander doesn’t need to yell about its comfort, space, and practicality, the design is straightforward while still being aesthetically pleasing.
We are unsure of the exterior color options that will be available for the Toyota Grand Highlander, but the photographs that we have seen reveal a distinctive shade of blue that falls between Moon Dust and Blueprint and is similar to the hue of the standard Highlander. It’s probable that Toyota will keep offering its top color, Wind Chill Pearl.
The ordinary Toyota Highlander has a length of 194.9 inches and a width of 76 inches; the Grand Highlander will easily surpass those proportions. Official specs for the Toyota Grand Highlander have not yet been announced, but the regular Highlander’s measurements can be found here. It’s possible that the figures will be a bit taller than the existing Highlander, which measures 68 inches.
It is only natural that the Grand Highlander will be heavier than the existing Highlander Hybrid, which has a starting weight of 4,155 pounds and can reach approximately 4,600 pounds in its highest trim level. One should anticipate a number closer to 5,000 for the newbie.
Interior
The Grand Highlander’s primary objective is not to record the fastest 0–60 times; rather, it aims to make a great splash. In point of fact, Toyota claims that their next SUV will have a maximum cargo capacity of 98 cubic feet (2,775 liters) when all of the seats are collapsed, which is around 14 cubic feet (396 liters) more than the Highlander. Even with all of the seats in the third row used up, the manufacturer claims that there will still be sufficient space in the trunk to accommodate seven carry-on baggage.
The car manufacturer also claims that the seats in the far back row are spacious enough for adults to sit in them comfortably and that each passenger in that row will have access to a USB connector, a storage compartment for a smartphone or tablet, as well as two cupholders.
The Grand Highlander has a total of thirteen cupholders and seven USB-C connections, so it can accommodate all of your charging requirements. In addition, an air-conditioning control panel will be provided for passengers seated in the second row of the Grand Highlander, which may be configured with either captain’s chairs or a bench seating option.
The final feature is that the front seat passengers are provided with a configurable center console that is large enough to accommodate a tablet and features two wireless chargers in addition to the standard 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless connectivity.
On vehicles with higher trim levels, additional features such as heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power outlet with a capacity of 1,500 Watts, and a hands-free power liftgate are available.
Toyota claims that it built the Grand Highlander to be as comfortable as sitting in a living room, with soft materials on the instrument panel, “wood-effect” trim, and a soft armrest that is supposed to feel like a “finely constructed couch.”
The driver’s leather-trimmed seats can adjust in 10 directions, while the passenger’s seats only adjust in eight directions. Additionally, the Hybrid Max model receives exclusive Ultrasuede and leather-trimmed seats with bronze-colored accents, which can be seen above. The seats in the Hybrid Max model can adjust in 10 directions for the driver and in eight directions for the passenger.
The Grand Highlander from Toyota is capable of receiving software updates wirelessly. This capability is included with the vehicle. This ensures that all of the intelligent features, like the voice assistant, will always be current with the most recent developments and enhancements.
In addition to that, a wide variety of associated services may be used. A free 10-year trial of several services, including Toyota’s emergency help service, roadside assistance available around the clock, a stolen car tracker, and more, is provided to purchasers. Access to vehicle health records, maintenance reports, and other information, as well as additional reports, are also available with a separate 10-year trial.
All of the following safety features are included as standard equipment: pre-collision warning, lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, lane tracing aid, road sign identification, automatic high lights, and proactive driving assist. In addition, buyers of the Grand Highlander will be eligible for a free trial of Remote Connected Service for an entire year. This feature gives owners the ability to start the vehicle, turn on the headlights, lock the doors, and perform a variety of other functions remotely using their mobile devices.
In-car entertainment on the Grand Highlander has the capability to transform the vehicle into a Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to five separate electronic gadgets. An up to 11-speaker JBL sound system will be responsible for providing the musical accompaniment. There is also a heads-up display, a panoramic view monitor, and the most recent generation of Toyota’s driver-aid technology, which is called Traffic Jam Assist.
Price
While the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will have more capacity than the standard Highlander and the Highlander Hybrid, its MSRP is likely going to be more than either of those vehicles’ starting prices, which are $36,420 and $40,220, respectively. This information has not been made public. The Grand Highlander lineup should be able to cover a wide range of price points, as it is offered in three trim levels and with three different powertrain options.
A lower-end price tag of approximately $40,000 is a reasonable expectation, but the Hybrid MAX will likely begin at approximately $5,000 more. While the most luxurious Platinum versions of the standard Highlander Hybrid already cost more than $50,000, you should plan to spend a few thousand dollars in addition to that amount for an increased level of comfort.
It would put it at a price point that is higher than its two South Korean competitors, the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade. The former begins at a price of $35,890 for basic versions, while the latter begins at a price of around $53,000 for the most luxurious variant. The competitor offered by Hyundai is just a few hundred dollars less expensive at the base level, but it begins at less than $50,000 for the most expensive trim level.