Trademark applications discovered in both US and Canadian intellectual property offices show that Toyota is claiming ownership over the name “Grand Highlander.” Although the applications offer little more information than that, the trademarks – first highlighted by gr86.org – suggest that a new SUV is on its way.
Naturally, the name reminds us of the
Toyota Highlander, a midsize crossover built on the same platform as the Venza.
Upmarket of the Rav4, but less capable than the 4Runner, the Sequoia, or the
Land Cruiser, the Highlander occupies a happy mid-point in the Toyota lineup.
The addition of the “Grand” prefix would seem to suggest that Toyota is
planning on adding some square-footage to the SUV.
The discovery follows reports from January
2020 that the Sequoia would go out of production in 2022, with its Princeton,
Indiana plant being retooled to allow for Highlander production. Those reports
also suggested that Sequoia production would move to Toyota’s San Antonio
plant. That facility produces the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, and it
is expected to end Tacoma production there (moving it to another plant) in
order to accommodate the Sequoia.
The current generation Sequoia started
production in 2008, so it’s more than due for a refresh. Recent reports have
suggested that the Land Cruiser, whose latest update was a year earlier, is
getting a generational update in the very near future.
Exactly what Toyota’s plans for its SUV
lineup are at this point isn’t exactly clear, but America’s SUV market is
ravenous. The brand could simply be looking to add a new, large, unibody
crossover into its lineup for those who don’t want a Sienna but also don’t want
the comfort compromises of a body-on-frame SUV. Whatever Toyota decides to do
with the Grand Highlander name, the Grand moniker is deeply associated with
SUVs thanks to the Jeep brand and the word’s association with scale.
