Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a larger and more spacious alternative to its smaller siblings. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models, but it was not a body-on-frame vehicle like the Sequoia. This design choice limited its towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. The Grand Highlander was notably larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, with a length of 201.4 inches and a wheelbase of 116.1 inches, providing a roomy interior. Its styling was inspired by rugged vehicles, featuring a blockier design with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights reminiscent of the 4Runner. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered three trims with varying levels of luxury, including Softex synthetic leather and real leather options, along with a host of comfort features like heated and ventilated seats.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class retained its iconic boxy design, tracing its heritage back to the original G-Wagen of 1979. Despite subtle styling updates, the G-Class maintained its distinctive flat hood, prominent corner lights, and beefy doors. Functional changes included a repositioned rearview camera and new A-pillar trim for the G 550 models. The G-Class offered a range of wheel options, with AMG G 63 models featuring larger wheels and carbon-fiber trim. Inside, the G-Class boasted a luxurious cabin with a sci-fi aesthetic, featuring large round vents, ambient lighting, and metallic trim. The AMG models had sportier steering wheels with additional controls. Mercedes' Manufaktur program allowed for extensive customization, offering over a million combinations of exterior and interior options.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. At the top of the range, the Hybrid Max powertrain combined a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with hybrid technology, producing 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration, with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes for AWD-equipped models. While the Grand Highlander excelled in comfort and braking, its steering feel was somewhat numb, and it was less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class lineup included the gasoline G 550 and AMG G 63 models, along with a new all-electric G 580 variant. The G 550 featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, while the AMG G 63 retained its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. Both models included a mild-hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic transmission with permanent four-wheel drive. The G 550 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, while the G 63 achieved the same in 4.2 seconds. The AMG G 63 featured a new AMG Active Ride Control suspension system, enhancing both off-road and on-road performance. Despite its truck-like feel, the G-Class provided a comfortable ride with low wind and tire noise.

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

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, while not small, was more compact than other luxury SUVs. It was nearly nine inches shorter than a standard-wheelbase Range Rover, with a wheelbase about five inches shorter. This resulted in a tall-yet-short passenger compartment with plenty of headroom but less legroom than expected. The G-Class had a maximum towing capacity of 7,716 pounds, slightly less than some competitors. Its side-hinged tailgate facilitated loading and unloading, but cargo space was limited to 22.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place. Despite its size, the G-Class offered good forward visibility and was easier to park than larger rivals.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available through a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with additional subscription options for enhanced connectivity.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It boasted dual 12.3-inch screens, creating the impression of a continuous display across the dashboard. The G-Class included an off-road menu with useful information and a "Transparent Hood" feature for improved visibility. Notable MBUX features included augmented reality navigation and advanced voice recognition. A Burmester 3D surround sound system was standard, with options for a dashcam and rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with an impressive suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) under Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. This included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class had not received safety ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA, typical for low-volume luxury models. Standard driver-assistance features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, park assist, a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, and traffic sign recognition. The G-Class also featured Mercedes' Pre-Safe system, which prepared the vehicle for an imminent crash. New features for 2025 included route-based speed adaptation, automated lane centering, and an emergency-stop feature.