2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: 5 things to know about three-row SUV

• Real third-row room for adults
• Just a bigger Highlander?
• Engine lineup
• Three trims for 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
• Pricing
• The bottom line

Toyota introduced the 2024 Grand Highlander just ahead of the Chicago Auto Show. At first glance, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander just looks like a longer version of the Toyota Highlander, and while that statement is pretty accurate, there is a lot more to this large SUV, including a variety of hybrid powertrains

Real third-row room for adults

Toyota already teased the adult third-row seating. So, besides that, there are comforts like USB chargers, storage for tablets and grab handles that helping make getting into the third-row much easier. Plus, there’s room for seven carry-on suitcases behind the third row, creating a total of 98 cubic feet of cargo volume with the seats folded flat.

Just a bigger Highlander?

The exterior profile of the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander sure looks like the regular Highlander, and the two SUVs even share the same TNGA-K platform. However, there are some differences.

Starting with the front, the most obvious difference is going to be the grille. This new grille is a “trapezoidal, hammerhead” design, according to Toyota, which, in addition to 20-inch wheels, should make it obvious the Grand Highlander is not the Highlander. This translates into a more blockish and larger grille compared to the shorter and more stylish Highlander grille.

Additionally, the Grand Highlander rear bumper is larger and more vertical looking with vertical lights rather than the smaller and horizontal lights found on the Highlander.

Engine lineup

Powering this large SUV will be three different engines with both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The base engine is the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine — this is the lone gas-only option on the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The mid-level powertrain is a 2.5-liter hybrid, which will have a manufacturer-estimated 34 MPG in combined driving. The Hybrid MAX rounds out the powertrain list, delivering 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. This last one is AWD only.

All powertrains come with a variety of drive modes like Sport, Eco and Normal, while the multi-terrain select systems offers three modes (Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, Snow) for gas AWD and Hybrid MAX powertrains.

With the Hybrid MAX powertrain, the Grand Highlander will be the most powerful mid-size Toyota SUV with a 6.3-second 0-to-60-MPH time. It will also offer a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

Three trims for 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will be available in three trim levels: XLE, Limited and Platinum. Each will get the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, a configurable center console wide enough for a tablet and a wireless charger. The console will have a Tundra-esque design, allowing it to be opened while the armrests are in use.

Because we figured you might want a complete breakdown of what each trim includes, we did a quick cut and paste from the press release:

XLE Grade

Exterior:

• 18-inch Alloy Wheels
• Black Painted Grille
• Roof Rails
• Heated Outer Mirrors

Interior:

• Softex-trimmed Seating
• 10-way Power Driver & 8-way Power Passenger Seats
• 7-Passenger Capacity w/ 2nd Row Captains Chairs or 8-Passenger Bench
• Heated Front Seats
• 2nd Row Sunshades

Multimedia/Technology:

• Digital Key (requires active Remote Connect trial or subscription)
• 12.3-inch Touchscreen
• 7-inch MID
• 6 Power USB / 1 Media USB
• Wireless Charger

Safety & Convenience

• TSS 3.0
• Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• 5 Door Smart Key
• Power Liftgate
• Garage Door Opener
• Auto-dimming Mirror

Limited Grade

Exterior:

• 20-inch Alloy Wheels
• LED DRL
• Power Fold Outer Mirrors
• LED Fog Lamps
• Leather Seating
• Heated & Ventilated Front Seats
• Heated 2nd Row Seats
• Memory Seat function for 1st row
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Power outlet (100W Gas) (1500W HV/Hybrid MAX)
• Ambient Lighting
• Removable 2nd row center console storage
• 12.3-inch Premium Multimedia w/ 11 Speaker JBL Audio
• 12.3-inch Full Digital MID
• Parking Sensors w/ Automatic Braking
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Kick Power Liftgate
• Puddle Lamps

Interior:

• Multimedia/Technology:
• Safety & Convenience

Platinum Grade

Exterior:

• 20-inch Clad Alloy Wheels

Interior:

• Heated & Ventilated 2nd Row Seats
• Panoramic Moonroof
• Paddle shifters (AWD Gas and Hybrid MAX)
• Dial Multi-Terrain Select (AWD Gas and Hybrid MAX)

Safety & Convenience:

• Head Up Display
• Puddle Lamps
• Panoramic View Monitor
• Digital Rearview Mirror
• Traffic Jam Assist (requires active Drive Connect trial or subscription)
• Front Cross Traffic Alert

Also worth noting: The XLE and Limited options include a bench seat and Panoramic Moonroof, while the Limited adds the option of a Panoramic View Monitor.

For interior color options, the 2024 Grand Highlander is offered in:

• XLE and Hybrid: Softex-trim in Light Gray or Black
• Limited Gas and Hybrid: Leather-trim in Light Gray or Black
• Platinum Gas: Leather-trim in Portobello, Light Gray or Black
• Limited Hybrid Max: Ultrasuede-and leather-trim in Light Gray or Black
• Platinum Hybrid MAX in Ultrasuede-and leather-trim in Portobello, Light Gray or Black

There are a total of 13 cup holders and seven USB-C chargers throughout the vehicle, making it a good option for road-tripping families.

Pricing

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will be built at Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant and will be on the market later this summer. That means no pricing has been announced yet. Expect it closer to launch. However, The current 2023 Toyota Highlander has a base MSRP of $36,420 while the top-tier Platinum starts at $49, 075, with AWD adding $1,950 for the higher trims, $1,600 for the lower trims.

You can expect the Grand Highlander will be at least a few thousand dollars more than the Highlander.

The bottom line

We’re excited to get a closer look at the third row of the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander and make some comparisons to the Highlander. But on paper, we like the fact that this is a true three-row unibody SUV. In addition to more legroom and cargo volume, the unibody structure allows for the better ride quality found in the Highlander versus the body-on-frame three-row Sequoia, which is really more suited for more adventurous terrain.

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