For the better part of two decades, the midsize three-row SUV market has been booming, but in the last five years, the segment has really taken off with the introduction of a number of new models that provide competitive pricing, practicality for larger families, a long list of desirable features, and usually upscale appointments. In the last five years, vehicles like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, forthcoming Mazda CX-90, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L have been released, greatly raising consumer expectations of a higher-riding family hauler. These cars offer a wide range of options for individuals looking for a midsize SUV that can still transport up to eight passengers, joining reliable models such as the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and others.
Toyota’s Highlander, a stalwart in the same market as the smaller RAV4, is a major sales success. The Grand Highlander is now an alternative for individuals who want greater inside room but don’t want to buy a full-size SUV like the Toyota Sequoia. Due to its larger dimensions, the 2024 Grand Highlander provides more space than the Highlander does, and the “grand” part of the equation refers to its more luxury features. The Grand Highlander, which will make its 2024 model year debut in February, has the following advantages over its midsized three-row SUV rivals.
Compared to the regular Highlander, the Grand Highlander is larger.
You’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference in size between the Grand Highlander and its shorter brother unless you showed up at a dealership with a tape measure. The Grand Highlander is only two inches taller and broader than the ordinary model, and it is only 6.5 inches longer than that vehicle. Yet, the Grand Highlander’s increased interior proportions are undoubtedly one of its biggest selling points in a market where size really does matter.
The Grand Highlander offers up to 33.5 inches of extra legroom in the back row thanks to an additional 5.5 inches of space. As a result, the Toyota’s third-row legroom surpasses that of the Pilot (31.9 inches) and Telluride (31.4 inches), and it trails only the upscale Buick Enclave or large SUVs like the Sequoia or GMC Yukon XL. In addition, the Grand Highlander has five more cubic feet of storage behind the back row, for a total of 21 cubic feet. The Grand Highlander has a massive 98 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats.
Toyota’s Hybrid MAX Engine Is Offered For The Grand Highlander
The Grand Highlander will have three powertrain choices: a 2.5-liter hybrid with a claimed combined fuel economy of 34 mpg, a 2.4-liter turbocharged ICE engine, or the most notable of the bunch, Toyota’s Hybrid MAX. The Hybrid MAX engine will have an impressive 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, which makes it the most potent mid-size SUV engine currently offered by Toyota. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and tow up to 5,000 pounds.
It is the only information Toyota has provided on the engine, which is also offered in the Toyota Crown made in the United States.
The Crown combines a 2.4-liter turbo hybrid engine with the dual electric motors and Toyota’s eAxle (a combo of an electric motor, inverter, and transaxle) for all-wheel drive, while we wait to see the final numbers for the engine that has been modified for use in the significantly larger Grand Highlander.
It Has A Wide Range Of Connections.
The Grand Highlander boasts a long list of the newest technology and connection features, which is one method to differentiate itself in the crowded three-row midsized SUV market. Standard features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a seven-inch digital gauge panel, and a fully digital unit is also available. It will include standard wifi Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi network, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and an Integrated Streaming capability to connect independent Apple Music and Amazon Music subscription through the SUV.
In order to “access a wide range of upgraded available connectivity and easy features,” the Grand Highlander will also allow over-the-air updates. The SUV is offered with the Connected Service Drive Connect option, which employs a “Hello Toyota” feature similar to Mercedes’ MBUX system for voice controls and to search for directions, sites of interest, or to alter settings like the climate.
Conventional are synthetic leather seats, and captain’s chairs are also available.
The bigger Highlander will be offered with synthetic leather seats as standard equipment to further distinguish it from the ordinary model. For comparison, the two Highlander base trims have fabric seats. The new three-row SUV’s Softex-trimmed seats will increase its “grandness,” and they can either fit seven people in the second row in captain’s chairs similar to those in a Sienna or eight passengers in the middle and rear rows on benches.
Genuine leather is used on the Limited and Platinum trim levels, while synthetic leather is used on the base XLE model. The front seats in all variants will be heated and include an eight-way and ten-way power adjustable driver’s seat, respectively.
The second-largest Toyota SUV Comes With A Digital Key
The Grand Highlander’s owners can use an encrypted smartphone app to remotely start, stop, or unlock the vehicle thanks to Toyota’s Digital Key technology. This makes it possible to leave the Toyota’s key fob at home if you want to travel light for the day or if your toddler opts to toss the fob into a wooded area where it can’t be found.
It’s crucial to remember that only Grand Highlander models with Remote Connect will come equipped with the Digital Key. With three options for connectivity, the monthly membership fee is $15. The “Go Anywhere” membership offers the most recent navigation and support, while the “Music Lover” subscription adds Remote Connect and enables on-the-go Apple Music/Amazon Music account connectivity.
It has the 3.0 Toyota Safety System.
The Toyota Safety System 3.0, a collection of driver assistance tools and safety measures, will come standard on the Grand Highlander. The system comprises a lane departure alarm with steering assistance, automatic high beams, a pre-collision system with pedestrian recognition, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, full-speed dynamic cruise control, and the new Proactive Driving Assist.
The latter feature applies “soft braking and/or steering” to maintain a safe gap between vehicles, people on foot, and bicycles. It does this by using the onboard camera and radar system to “gently” brake into curves. The Grand Highlander will include rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring as standard features, which will enhance the system. Higher versions will be equipped with head-up displays, panoramic view monitors, front cross-traffic alerts, digital rearview mirrors, and parking systems with automatic braking.
It has a second-row console that is optional and a configurable centre console.
Trucks have adjustable centre consoles for years, but Toyota has added a novel feature to its newest SUV. With the internal tray removed, the front console of the Grand Highlander may be set up to hold a tablet. The front console has a covered sliding console that may be reached while using the armrests.
Moreover, the console has a middle-row passenger air conditioning control panel with two USB ports. The Grand Highlander’s top trim comes with a multi-purpose tray for the captain’s chairs and a detachable second-row centre console storage with a smartphone storage “slit.”
There are numerous creature comforts and conveniences included.
All Grand Highlander vehicles will be equipped as standard with a power liftgate, garage door opener, and auto-dimming mirror in addition to the features noted above. In addition to ambient lighting, a “kick power” liftgate, puddle exterior lamps, and rain-sensing wipers, Limited trim models add vented front seats, a first-row seat memory feature, a heated steering column, a power outlet (in Hybrid Max vehicles), and these features.
The second row of seats on Platinum-level cars are heated and ventilated, and paddle shifters are also included. The pricing for the 2024 Grand Highlander has not yet been disclosed, so we will have to wait to find out how much more expensive the mid-range and top-spec models are than the base model. Of course, the choice of engine will also influence the cost.
Offered is Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select.
The full-size, off-road, and opulent hero of the Toyota portfolio is no longer available to brand devotees thanks to the Land Cruiser’s removal from the American market. The Grand Highlander Platinum offers Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select for people who don’t quite need as much capability off the beaten path, but the Toyota 4Runner is still accessible for those who still require a third row and true off-road prowess. When the road gets tough, the system offers driving modes for mud/sand, rock/dirt, and snow. It will be available on Grand Highlander models with all-wheel drive and those with the Hybrid MAX powertrain.
It has seven USB ports and 13 cup holders.
When taking a road trip, it can be amazing how much space an SUV must have for seemingly inconsequential items, and more recently, how much juice children in the backseat require to charge their phones or tablets. As a result, there are 13 total cupholders, which could result in numerous additional stops on road trips if they are full with drinks. Additionally, there are seven charging USB ports distributed over all three rows to keep electronics charged.
If that occurs, the Grand Highlander is equipped with a support grip for navigating the third row as well as cupholders on the armrests of the captain’s chairs in the second row.
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