Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Highlander: What’s the Difference?

The Toyota Highlander has helped define the car-based midsize SUV segment that buyers can’t seem to get enough of today. Offered since 2001, the family-friendly crossover has steadily evolved over the years, so much so that Toyota eventually expanded the nameplate with the introduction of a new, three-row Grand Highlander for the 2024 model year. At the time of its launch, the Grand Highlander was thought of as little more than a larger version of the original, but there were key differences beyond that. Now, with the introduction of the all-new 2027 Highlander, they’re farther apart than ever. How much? We outline the key differences between the two Highlanders below.

When the Grand Highlander was first introduced, it came equipped with the same 2.4-liter turbocharged I-4 that was also used in the Highlander at the time. Things have changed dramatically since then, however, as the 2027 Highlander is now an all-electric three-row SUV. The new Highlander is offered in single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD forms, ranging from 221 horsepower driving the front wheels to 338 hp driving them all. Power comes from a choice of either a 77.0-kWh battery pack or a 95.8-kWh pack, with up to 320 miles of Toyota-claimed range to a single charge, depending on battery choice and trim.

The Grand Highlander, meanwhile, is still equipped with that same 2.4-liter base engine and a choice of FWD or AWD, but it’s also available with a version of Toyota’s 2.5-liter I-4 hybrid powertrain or the Hybrid Max 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid. Output ranges from 265 hp without electrification to 362 combined horsepower with the Hybrid Max system. The standard gas-only FWD model can deliver up to 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined, and the Hybrid Max AWD can deliver up to 26/27/27 mpg, but the real mileage star is the 2.5-liter Hybrid XLE FWD at 37/34/36 mpg. Even the Hybrid Limited AWD will net up to 35/31/33 mpg.

As the latest and greatest of the two vehicles, the Highlander EV is available with the newest version of Toyota’s Audio Multimedia and Safety Sense 4.0 systems. Its all-electric nature also allows it to offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. When equipped with the bidirectional charger, the Highlander can work as a backup power source for emergencies or as a power source for external devices while tailgating through its NACS charging port, which also allows for easy access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

Inside, the 2027 Highlander EV comes with dual wireless phone chargers for the front passengers, electronic latches operated by flush-mounted exterior door handles, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel that can display full-screen turn-by-turn directions, and Toyota’s all-new 14.0-inch infotainment interface. Nearly everything is controlled using the larger screen, but there are still some physical touchpoints, such as the volume knob and temperature controls. It also offers 5G network connectivity through AT&T, can connect wirelessly to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and there’s an optional 11-speaker JBL premium audio system.

The Grand Highlander is a generation behind the new Highlander, with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and Audio Multimedia. It also uses a standard 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the Limited trim and above. While it doesn’t have fancy EV tech like V2L, the Grand Highlander does offer a 120-volt outlets good for 100 watts on the standard gas engine and up to 1,500 watts for both versions of its hybrids. The Grand Highlander also gets a standard wireless charging pad and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system.

Both vehicles feature Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of safety tech, but the all-electric Highlander’s 4.0 version has several improvements, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, advanced adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high-beams, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and proactive driving assist. It can also receive over-the-air (OTA) updates and allows for limited hands-free driving in stop-and-go traffic with its proactive driving and lane tracing assists.

The Grand Highlander’s 3.0 version isn’t anything to sneeze at, though; it offers many of the same capabilities, but it’s more reactive than predictive. As such, it doesn’t have the capability to make an emergency stop, it can’t receive OTA updates, and it requires you to always keep your hands on the wheel.

Both vehicles come standard with three rows of seating, and that marks the Highlander EV as Toyota’s first three-row all-electric vehicle. The Highlander can seat up to seven people in a two-three-two layout or six with second-row captain’s chairs, while the larger Grand Highlander offers seating for up to eight people with the LE and XLE trims’ second-row bench seat, or seven with the Limited and Platinum trims’ second-row captain’s chairs.

For an electric vehicle, the 2027 Highlander EV offers decent cargo volume for a three-row SUV. With the third row deployed, you can stuff your stuff into 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 45.6 cubes when that row is folded down. If you don’t need the second row, total cargo volume grows to 80.0 cubic feet when those seats are folded away.

Compared to the Grand Highlander, however, those numbers are on the small side. With the third row in use, you get 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space and up to 57.9 cubes when it’s stowed away. But if you want to move as much stuff as possible, the Grand Highlander offers up to 97.5 cubic feet of total cargo volume when both the second and third rows are folded away.

Size-wise, the Highlander remains the smaller of the two SUVs, but it’s catching up with its Grand sibling dimensionally. Its overall length is 198.8 inches, and it sits on a platform with a 120.1-inch wheelbase. Its overall width is 78.3 inches without the exterior mirrors, and its overall height is 67.3 inches.

The Grand Highlander isn’t all that much longer, with an overall length of 201.4 inches, although its platform uses a shorter, 116.1-inch wheelbase. At 70.1 inches, it’s the taller of the two, but its width is the same as the Highlander EV at 78.3 inches.

To be spoiled for choice when it comes to trims, you’ll want to have a look at the Grand Highlander. Not counting its three powertrains, it offers five different grades starting with the LE. From there, you move up in standard features, options, and pricing with the XLE, Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum. The all-electric Highlander, however, offers just two trim choices at present: the XLE and Limited.