2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Gains Size, Engine Options
The Highlander is one of Toyota's best selling models in the United States, falling just behind the Rav4 in terms of the brand’s highest volume SUVs. In an effort to further serve our appetite for large SUVs, Toyota just rolled out the 2024 Grand Highlander. Far from a stretched take on the familiar model, this upsized SUV brings chassis tweaks, new powertrains, and a sizable bump in interior volume. Here’s everything you need to know.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is based on Toyota’s versatile TNGA-K platform, which currently underpins models such as the Avalon, Highlander, Rav4, and Sienna. Toyota didn’t just stretch that platform for this truck however, with additional spot welds and adhesives coming in to improve rigidity and reduce vibrations. The truck’s multilink rear suspension has also been entirely reworked to improve ride comfort, while also increasing space in the third-row. Measuring in at 201.4 inches long, the Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer than the standard Highlander. It's also two inches taller and 2.3 inches wider than the Highlander, with four extra inches of wheelbase bringing the total up to around 116 inches. For reference, the Grand Highlander still measures nearly 7 inches shorter than the larger Sequoia SUV. Toyota intends for the new Grand Highlander to slot between its two existing offerings in the market.
Toyota will offer three different powertrain options. The entry-level is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, which provides 265 horsepower in Highlander trim. The engine comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. An efficiency-focused 2.5-liter hybrid with two electric motors should bring around 243 horsepower and fuel economy ratings around 34 MPG combined thanks in part to its CVT gearbox. Figures for those familiar powertrains should mirror the standard Highlander, albeit with some required tuning adjustments. Both powertrains will be available in either front- or all-wheel drive configurations.
Toyota will also be rolling out the new 2.4-liter Hybrid Max, which is reportedly good for 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque in this application. This motor comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, just like what we’ve seen from the Crown sedan. The Hybrid Max powertrain brings a 5000 pound maximum towing capacity along with it, which might prove tempting for those with toys to haul around.
The Grand Highlander is slated to be offered in XLE, Limited and Platinum trims. Regardless of which model you choose, every Grand Highlander interior will feature a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen. This system comes equipped with both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Limited and Platinum models also pick up an additional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, while the Platinum receives a digital rearview mirror and heads-up display. Softex trimmed seats are standard on XLE, while leather seating is included with the higher trim levels. Limited and Platinum models also receive heated and ventilated front seats, as well as heated rears. Most of the additional interior volume is dedicated to the third row, where passengers get 5.5 extra inches of legroom compared to Highlander. There’s even an inch of additional headroom and two inches of shoulder space to work with back there.
Whether you have seven or eight passengers on board, the Grand Highlander offers 21 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third row. With the seats folded, that figure jumps up to 98 cubic feet. Those figures represent gains of five and 14 cubes over the Highlander, respectively. The Grand Highlander comes backed with the entire suite of Toyota advanced safety systems, including adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Toyota says that we can expect the Grand Highlander's price and on-sale date to be announced this summer. The entry-level Highlander currently starts around $36,420, so we wouldn’t be shocked to see this thing start a bit over $40,000. It will be interesting to see how the new model impacts sales of both the existing Highlander and Sequoia offerings.
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