Is the standard Highlander not big enough for you and your family? Toyota has the answer with the larger and longer 2024 Grand Highlander that is making its debut at the Chicago Auto Show. A mid-size family SUV that sits on the same platform as the smaller Highlander, it is offered with two hybrid powertrains, three rows of seats that can fit up to eight passengers, and everything else you need for a long-distance road trip. Toyota will offer three powertrains with the Grand Highlander. Although not all details are available yet, the automaker has revealed that the base model will be offered with a 2.4-liter gas engine, and a 2.5-liter hybrid will also be available. Both can be had with either front- or all-wheel-drive.
The highest-trim models will get Toyota’s
Hybrid Max drivetrain. First introduced with the Crown, the hybrid setup makes
30 more horses for this large SUV, churning out at total of 362
hp and 542 Nm of torque. Although mileage figures
have not yet been shared for any of the models, Toyota does say that the Grand
Highlander Hybrid Max will be able to accelerate to 96 km/h in just
6.3 seconds and will tow up to 2,268 kg.
The Grand Highlander’s purpose isn’t
really to set 0–60 times; it’s to be big. And, indeed, Toyota promises that the
SUV will offer up to 2,775 liters of volume with the seats
folded down, about 396 liters more than the Highlander. Even
with the third row seats occupied, the automaker says that the trunk will be
large enough to fit seven carry-on suitcases. The automaker claims, too, that
the last row of seats is large enough for adults to sit in comfortably, and
those who are in it will each get a USB port, a place to store a smartphone or
a tablet, and two cupholders. In all, the Grand Highlander comes equipped with
13 cupholders and seven USB-C ports for all your charging needs. Second-row
passengers will also get an air-conditioning control panel, and the Grand
Highlander can be equipped with either captain’s chairs or a bench.
Finally, the front seat passengers get a
12.3-inch infotainment screen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as
standard, as well as a configurable center console, which is large enough to
fit a tablet, and features two wireless chargers. Heated and ventilated front
seats are available on higher trim models, as is a heated steering wheel, a
1,500-Watt power outlet, and a hands-free power lift gate. Toyota says it
designed the Grand Highlander to be as comfortable as a living room, with soft
materials on the instrument panel, “wood-effect” trim, and a soft armrest that
is intended to feel like a “finely crafted sofa.” Leather-trimmed seats can
adjust in 10 directions for the driver (eight for the passenger) and the Hybrid
Max model gets exclusive Ultrasuede and leather trimmed seats with bronze
colored accents.
Toyota has equipped the Grand Highlander
with the ability to be updated over the air. That means that smart features
like the voice assistant will stay up to date with the latest innovations and
improvements. In addition, a host of connected services are available. Buyers
are offered a 10-year trial of services such as Toyota’s emergency assistance
service, 24/7 roadside assistance, a stolen vehicle locator and more. Vehicle
health reports, maintenance reports, and more can also be accessed with a
separate 10-year trial. Pre-collision warning, lane departure alerts, adaptive
cruise control, lane tracing assist, road sign detection, automatic high beams,
and proactive driving assist are all available as standard. The Grand
Highlander will also offer buyers a one-year free trial of Remote Connected
Service, which allows owners to activate the headlights, start the vehicle,
lock the doors, and more through the use of their smart device.
In terms of in-cabin toys, the Grand
Highlander can be turned into a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices. The
soundtrack will be provided by an up to 11-speaker JBL sound system. A heads-up
display, a panoramic view monitor, and Toyota’s advanced driver assistance
system, Traffic Jam Assist, are also available. Visually more boxy and simple
than its little sibling, the Highlander, Toyota’s new SUV was designed by its
team at Calty Design Studios in California. It features body-color rear pillars
to suggest robustness and strength, while smooth surfaces throughout the body
express a simple, rugged design. Offered in three grades (XLE, Limited, or
Platinum), the Grand Highlander can be had with wheels ranging from 18-inches
to 20-inches in diameter. A panoramic moonroof is also available.
Toyota will build the Grand Highlander at
its plant in Princeton, Indiana, as a model year 2024 vehicle. Pricing and a
production timeline will all be announced this summer, Toyota says.
