Honda HR-V vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Honda HR-V underwent a significant styling transformation, shedding some of its previous quirky charm for a more sophisticated and modern appearance. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing contributed to a sleeker look, with cleaner lines and fewer interruptions. The black molding strips on the roof were removed, and the windshield wipers were discreetly tucked under the hood's lip. The test model, finished in a dusky Nordic Forest Pearl, showcased one of the two new color options. The HR-V's interior followed the refinement trend set by the 2022 Civic, featuring a metal honeycomb grille that concealed the vents, touch-sensitive lights, and a sculptural center console. The EX-L trim, with its perforated leather seats and dual-zone climate control, offered a comfortable cabin that felt premium for its price range.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was notably larger, stretching 201.4 inches in length, and offered a spacious interior. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. Its trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights resembled Toyota's off-roading SUV, the 4Runner. Inside, the Grand Highlander featured Softex synthetic leather on the XLE trim, with real leather available on the Limited and Platinum trims. The Platinum trim offered Portobello upholstery with the top-spec engine. The interior was well-built, with ample headroom and legroom, making it a comfortable choice for road trips.

The 2023 Honda HR-V was powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, an improvement over the previous model. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) featured a Step-Shift function to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds. The HR-V offered Normal, Snow, and ECON drive modes, with Sport mode available for a more engaging driving experience. The HR-V's suspension and widened tracks contributed to its fun-to-drive nature, especially on mountain roads, although it wasn't overpowered. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Ford Bronco Sport offered more powertrain options.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain generated 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. The Grand Highlander was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), with the Hybrid Max exclusively AWD. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration, with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander's size made it less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart, but its brakes felt solid, and acceleration was adequate. Toyota offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, a subcompact SUV, offered a well-thought-out interior despite its compact size. The center console featured a shelf for storing cords and devices, and the rear seats provided a higher seating position for easier entry and egress. The HR-V's cargo space measured 24.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.1 cubic feet with them folded. The interior had 98.7 cubic feet of passenger volume in LX and Sport trims and 97.3 cubic feet for EX-L. Front-row passengers enjoyed improved legroom, while rear-seat legroom decreased slightly.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase. It offered a spacious interior with 97.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. With seats in position, it provided 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander was comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it suitable for adults in the third row.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a tablet-style infotainment system with a physical knob for power and volume control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the lineup, with wireless versions available on the EX-L trim. The EX-L also offered a 9-inch infotainment display, a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad, and an eight-speaker audio system. All HR-Vs came with a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a 7-inch color touchscreen display.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous Toyota interfaces. An intelligent assistant, available via a connected-services subscription, responded to voice commands. The system included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with a three-month trial. Toyota's tech offerings had improved, but shoppers were advised to review subscription options carefully.

The 2023 Honda HR-V came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. New features for 2023 included traffic-sign recognition and traffic jam assist. The HR-V had not yet been crash-tested for 2023, but the 2022 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, and more. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings. The Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested or rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.