Kelley Blue Book's video: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander First Drive

For the latest Toyota Grand Highlander pricing and information: https://www.kbb.com/toyota/grand-highlander/ The Toyota Grand Highlander is a 3-row midsize SUV. Even though it’s built on a different platform than the existing Toyota Highlander, the Grand Highlander is kinda the same thing …but with more room for people and cargo. Starting in the front, there are independent armrests with a separate console lid. There’s a passenger-side dashboard tray with an adjacent USB port. There are also 3 cupholders for front occupants including a big one that can house hefty water bottles. Poke around and material quality is fine, but this is not a premium product. If you want premium vibes, look to the upcoming Lexus TX, whose underpinnings are shared with the Grand Highlander. Maximum occupancy for the Grand Highlander is 8 though that drops to 7 in higher trims thanks to 2nd-row captains’ chairs. For cargo space, the Grand Highlander offers a healthy 20.6 cu-ft behind the 3rd row. Nearly matching the Kia Telluride’s 21 cu-ft figure and exceeding the standard Highlander by 4.6 cu-ft. If you need more cargo space and fewer seats, dropping the 3rd row can be frustrating. I swear I’m not trying to make this look harder than it is. Finicky 2nd and 3rd-row seat operation is a trait the Highlander and Grand Highlander share. On a more positive note, we have infotainment. The Grand Highlander offers a standard 12.3” touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto, over-the-air updates, and voice control via the “Hey, Toyota” prompt. It’s the same system we’ve seen in other modern Toyotas and I find it easy to operate. Front-wheel drive comes standard with the base and hybrid models. All-wheel drive adds $1,600 to the price tag. Move to the most powerful Hybrid Max powertrain and all-wheel drive comes standard. That hybrid Max option is the same powertrain I drove in the Toyota Crown, which I described as “Spunky”. Beyond simply being more powerful, I enjoy the familiar acceleration feel delivered by the Max’s inclusion of a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission. Regarding price, the base XLE trim costs $43,070 plus destination and includes power heated front seats, smart key access with sensors on all the doors, a power liftgate, plus blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, full-speed dynamic cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorcyclist detection, and a feature that’ll bring the Grand Highlander to a safe stop if the driver is incapacitated. Unlike the smaller Highlander that’s offered in cheaper L and LE trims, the Grand Highlander has ditched those lower trims, skipping right to the well-equipped XLE. For perspective, the regular Highlander XLE starts at about $42,000. So, depending on which trim you're comparing, the Grand Highlander is anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 pricier than its OG Highlander equivalent. Roomy 3-row midsize SUV alternatives include the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Chevy Traverse, and perhaps the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The nagging question for me is whether the Grand Highlander can justify its elevated base price versus the competition. Sure, the Grand comes well-equipped. But for buyers who want a comparatively simple yet roomy 3-row SUV, there are cheaper choices. 00:00 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 0:30 Interior 4:11 Engine Options 5:05 Driving Impressions 7:46 Exterior 8:09 Cost 9:28 Competitors