2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUVOTY Review: Why More Is More
Toyota gave its family SUV more length to make it a more competitive hauler.
Pros
- Larger third row than the Highlander
- Wide range of powertrains
- Supple suspension
Cons
- Harsh braking
- Unimpressive materials quality
- Design lacks personality
This review was conducted as part of our 2024 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.
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The Highlander has been a popular SUV for Toyota, but it needed a larger third row to be truly competitive in the marketplace. Problem solved with the 2024 Grand Highlander, which is not merely a stretched Highlander but taps into the nameplate's cachet. With 4 inches of additional wheelbase and overall length, plus being wider and taller, this seven- or eight-passenger SUV offers a more comfortable third row and more cargo space.
The new Grand Highlander is available with several powertrain choices: a turbocharged I-4, a hybrid using Toyota's traditional Hybrid Synergy Drive, or a Hybrid Max that uses front and rear motors for a range of 619 miles. The gas and Hybrid Max can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Pricing ranges from about $44,600 to just shy of $60,000 for a Platinum Hybrid Max, and you can get the hybrid for about $1,500 more than the base XLE. But more premium materials are needed at the top end, buyer's guide director Zach Gale said.
The exterior lacks personality, associate editor Alex Leanse noted. "It looks like Toyota cut some bits from a 4Runner, borrowed some cues from the RAV4, mushed them together, then diluted the result," he said.
Notably, the Grand Highlander is a big vehicle and not at all fun in terms of handling. The gas engine can get loud, and we wish the eight-speed shifted smoother. Some judges preferred the gas Grand Highlander for its lighter weight, while others embraced the hybrids for their extra boost. "Definitely quicker to squeal its tires, but there's just a sense of this being a heavier vehicle," technical director Frank Markus said of the latter. The suspension performed well on poor surfaces, courtesy of Toyota's well-engineered TNGA-K platform. Judges were divided on whether they liked the light steering.
A firm brake pedal was difficult for some judges to modulate; Mexico editor Miguel Cortina reported he had to really step on it to come to a full stop when driving with five passengers. We'd like to see Toyota retune the brakes, stat.
Grand Highlander interiors are bland, the best being found in the Hybrid Max Limited where rosy gold trim works to liven the black-on-black throughout. But the Grand Highlander drips with cupholders, USB outlets, and handy storage spots, including a shelf for the front passenger's phone and glasses. Screens are a decent size, but the central one is poorly integrated into the dash. Features editor Scott Evans was bothered by the inscrutable rocker switches for climate control, as well as the backup camera's fisheye effect.
You can remove the center console between the second-row captain's chairs to provide walk-through access to the third row, or just grab the latch on the shoulder of the seat to pull it forward. It creates decent space to get to the third row, but the latch is clunky and requires force to pull the seat forward. The seats are comfortable—heated and (optionally) ventilated up front. Second-row passengers can get heated seats, and they get HVAC controls, too.
Overall, the cabin feels airy but needs better content to justify the top-trim price. This includes a desire for doors that don't sound tinny when you close them. Ultimately, the Grand Highlander is a solid family vehicle, and our judges all had different favorite versions, which speaks to the power of choice.
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Behind the Scenes
Alisa Priddle joined MotorTrend in 2016 as the Detroit Editor. A Canadian, she received her Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and has been a reporter for 40 years, most of it covering the auto industry because there is no more fascinating arena to cover. It has it all: the vehicles, the people, the plants, the competition, the drama. Alisa has had a wonderfully varied work history as a reporter for four daily newspapers including the Detroit Free Press where she was auto editor, and the Detroit News where she covered the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies, as well as auto trade publication Wards, and two enthusiast magazines: Car & Driver and now MotorTrend. At MotorTrend Alisa is a judge for the MotorTrend Car, Truck, SUV and Person of the Year. She loves seeing a new model for the first time, driving it for the first time, and grilling executives for the stories behind them. In her spare time, she loves to swim, boat, sauna, and then jump into a cold lake or pile of snow.
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