Up Close With the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: Grander in Every Way
The Toyota Highlander has long been one of the smaller three-row SUVs in its class, with third-row seating and cargo space that work in a pinch, but aren’t really optimized for carrying large families (and their stuff) in comfort. It’s a shortcoming that’s become even more apparent in recent years as competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Volkswagen Atlas have hit the market with roomier interiors and cargo areas.
Well, Toyota now has something for shoppers who like the Highlander but wish it was a bit bigger overall: the 2024 Grand Highlander three-row SUV. We had a chance to see it for the first time ahead of the 2023 Chicago Auto Show and judge just how grand it really is.
Related: More 2023 Chicago Auto Show Coverage
While the new Grand Highlander is bigger on the outside than the regular Highlander, it’s not some mega-SUV that’ll leave you wondering whether it’ll fit in your garage. Toyota says it’s about 6 inches longer, 2 inches wider and 2 inches taller than the regular Highlander. It’s a large SUV, but not excessively so, and it still offers easy entry and exit like other car-based SUVs.
The Grand Highlander has a family resemblance to the regular Highlander, but the new SUV’s design is less about bulging styling elements and more about sharper angles and straighter lines. The overall look is stately and understated, and its boxy shape is in keeping with the trend of the three-row SUV class.
Did It Work?
Inside, the Grand Highlander’s extra size is put to good use, with good comfort for adults in all three rows of seats. The driver’s seat is comfortable, and forward visibility is good thanks in part to thin front roof pillars. The available second-row captain’s chairs are set high enough that they offer a natural seating position with good thigh support.
The third row represents the biggest improvement over the existing Highlander. Where the regular Highlander’s third row is confining for adults with limited headroom, the Grand Highlander’s is reasonably comfortable with enough headroom for taller passengers. If second-row passengers are willing to share some of their legroom by sliding their seats forward, the third row is even more accommodating. Cargo room behind the third row is decent by three-row SUV standards, and Toyota says this area has 4.6 cubic feet of additional space compared with the regular Highlander.
Standard Features, Pricing and Release Date
The base Grand Highlander comes in XLE form, which is a mid-range trim level in some other Toyota models, and it has a number of welcome comfort and convenience features. Heated front seats, second-row sunshades and a power liftgate are standard, and the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system is mounted high on the dashboard in easy reach of the driver. There’s also standard wireless device charging, so you don’t have to worry about draining your phone’s battery when using wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s also good to see that, right below the screen, there are physical knobs and buttons for the climate control system rather than some touch-sensitive nonsense.
Toyota says pricing for the 2024 Grand Highlander will be released in the summer, which is when the SUV hits dealerships. That will no doubt be a critical piece of the puzzle for families comparing three-row SUVs, but from what we know so far, the Grand Highlander looks to be a good choice for families.
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