The Highlander has long been a popular three-row SUV in Toyota’s lineup, offering great comfort and space for family and gear. Even so, it needed more rear space to accommodate larger families, leading us to the 2024 Grand Highlander. It brings fantastic interior space, upscale accommodations, and a range of efficient powertrain options.

What’s New for the 2024 Grand Highlander

The Grand Highlander is a new model for Toyota in 2024. It brings an extended third-row seat, more cargo space, and a more upscale interior than the standard Highlander model. It shares much of its underpinnings with the also-new Lexus TX.

Design

The Grand Highlander is similar to the standard model’s styling, but with a few touches of its own. It features a large grille and sharp headlights, and top trims add tasteful chrome trim and large wheels. Toyota stretched the SUV without making it look awkward or ungainly, and there’s little indication of the luxury that lies inside.

Powertrain

Toyota offers three powertrain options for the 2024 Grand Highlander. The base gas engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The available hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor making 245 horsepower. The Hybrid Max system uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor for a combined 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Gas models come standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the hybrids bring all-wheel drive (AWD). An eight-speed automatic comes with the gas engine, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) comes with the hybrid and a six-speed automatic comes with the Hybrid Max. Towing maxes out at 5,000 pounds with the gas and Hybrid Max engines.

Interior

Synthetic leather upholstery comes standard, and higher trims get genuine hides. Heated front seats and power adjustments also come standard. The Grand Highlander is all about interior space, and there’s great room in the first two rows. The third-row seat is easily accessible, and offers decent space for adults, even on longer trips.

Technology

Toyota equips a 12.3-inch touchscreen with every Grand Highlander. It brings wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging, several USB ports, and more. Higher trims add a JBL premium audio system and ambient interior lighting. Toyota’s infotainment system is much improved over previous versions, making it much easier to use while driving and less distracting overall.

Safety

The Grand Highlander is too new as of this writing to have received crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it comes standard with a long list of driver-assist features, including forward collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, and more.

Pricing

As of this writing, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander gas model starts at $43,070. The Grand Highlander Hybrid starts at $44,670, and the top Hybrid Max starts at just over $54,000. Pricing tops out at nearly $60,000.