Toyota 4Runner vs Toyota Grand Highlander

Toyota's 2024 Grand Highlander presented itself as a sizeable, comfortable crossover that filled a unique space in Toyota’s SUV lineup. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its structural foundation with models like the regular Highlander and RAV4, making it a true crossover rather than a body-on-frame SUV like the Sequoia. This design limited its towing capacity to 5,000 pounds, despite its substantial size.

Indeed, "big" aptly described the Grand Highlander, which stretched 201.4 inches in length and had a 116.1-inch wheelbase—both larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride. Its 8-inch ground clearance was suitable for light off-road trails, but this three-row crossover was tailored for paved roads. The styling of the Grand Highlander drew inspiration from more rugged vehicles, featuring a blockier design reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, yet it maintained a conservative aesthetic. Its front featured a trapezoidal grille with a horizontal slit above, flanked by narrow headlights, echoing design cues from Toyota's off-roading 4Runner.

Available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, the Grand Highlander’s interior showcased light gray or black Softex synthetic leather upholstery for the XLE, while moving up to the Limited or Platinum trims upgraded occupants to real leather. Top-tier Platinum models even offered Portobello (brown) upholstery for those opting for the premium engine. The standard 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats ensured comfort, with further luxuries like ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel in higher trims.

The Grand Highlander interior was thoughtfully designed, providing standard second-row sunshades and a removable center console with second-row captain’s chairs configurations. A notable feature was the built-in step for easy third-row access. Overall, the cabin impressed with its quality materials, well-fitting pieces, and generous storage including 13 cupholders and seven USB-C ports. This three-row crossover excelled in offering a comfortable, reliable option for family road trips.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner, in contrast, remained a quintessential reflection of its rugged roots. Although its last major redesign was back in 2010, this midsize SUV had received minor updates over the years. Its boxy shape continued to provide a stable and capable off-road persona, augmented by flared fenders lending it a robust stance.

Front the front, the 4Runner's chunky grille and distinctive beveled shapes coupled with underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires in the TRD Pro trim added a serious off-roading demeanor. It even featured a tubular roof rack for enhanced utility, prepared to take on challenging terrains.

However, the 4Runner's age was more apparent inside. The analog instrument panel and outdated eight-inch infotainment screen harked back to earlier automotive eras, appealing to some via nostalgia, but appearing antiquated to others. Hard plastics dominated the cabin, although frequently touched surfaces got cushioned panels that approximated leather. Interior space was more utilitarian than luxurious, with the vehicle built to endure tough conditions.

Despite an aged aesthetic and heavy reliance on older technology, the 4Runner didn't shy away from its off-road DNA. It remained faithful to its identity as a rugged, reliable all-terrain vehicle, ready to conquer environments where comfort often took a back seat to capability.

The 2024 Grand Highlander offered a trio of engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Another option was the 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid developing a combined net output of 245 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Top of the line was the Hybrid Max powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system to produce an impressive 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.

Drive configurations included front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) for the gas and hybrid models, while the Hybrid Max was exclusively available with AWD. While non-sporty in nature, the Hybrid Max could achieve a swift zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds.

The Grand Highlander, primarily featuring the 2.4-liter turbocharged gas engine, accounted for most sales. It was noted for its size which, unlike the more compact Highlander, made it more challenging to maneuver in tight spaces. The Grand Highlander showed some body roll in corners and had a somewhat disconnected steering feel. Nonetheless, its brakes provided a reassuring linear response, and acceleration from the turbocharged engine was notably adequate, if not sporty.

Special drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—helped customize the ride, with AWD models adding off-road-specific modes like Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow, though these latter ones weren't deeply tested. In sum, the Grand Highlander managed to be a more capable and well-rounded performer for most driving scenarios, excelling in comfort more than nimbleness.

The 2024 4Runner came standard with a 4.0-liter V6 engine across all trims, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Despite not trailing far behind in power compared to competitors like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, the 4Runner's performance was marred by an outdated five-speed automatic transmission. Competitors benefited from more advanced ten-speed or eight-speed gearboxes, enhancing acceleration response and fuel efficiency.

For hardcore off-road enthusiasts, the TRD Pro model came equipped with standard four-wheel drive (4WD) and a two-speed transfer case, while most other trims offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) with optional 4WD. On-road, the 4Runner felt slow, often requiring heavy-footed throttle inputs to merge onto highways. Its soft suspension, optimal for off-roading, resulted in rear-end squat during acceleration and a significant nose lift. The loud engine and sport exhaust added a grating, almost cumbersome auditory experience.

Despite the harshness in some driving conditions, the 4Runner excelled in off-road situations where its powertrain specs were sufficient and suspension articulation was beneficial. Road behaviors felt compromised with considerable body roll during cornering and a pronounced floatiness over bumps when unloaded. However, once loaded, the vehicle’s behavior settled somewhat.

For those needing a robust, all-terrain performing vehicle where road comfort takes a back seat, the 4Runner remained a considerable choice.

The Grand Highlander was notably larger than its standard sibling and stood out against its competitors with its expansive dimensions. Measuring 201.4 inches in length and resting on a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it surpassed the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride in size.

This additional length translated directly to more storage space with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. This was about 10 cubic feet more than what a Kia Telluride offered. With all seats upright, it provided 20.6 cubic feet of storage, expanding to 57.9 cubic feet with the second row folded down. These stats made it a viable alternative to minivans like the Toyota Sienna.

Spaciousness was a hallmark of the Grand Highlander, comfortably accommodating passengers in all three rows. The vehicle provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room, ensuring comfort for passengers, even in the third row. Overall, the Grand Highlander excelled in form and function, providing an ideal combination of space, comfort, and practicality.

The 4Runner, though showing its age in design, retained a practical layout with its rugged roots. Capability-focused, the interior design was straightforward with easily accessible large climate control dials and protruding driveline levers, functional even with gloves on. Sturdy handles ensured passengers stayed in place during rough rides, a necessity for an off-roader of its caliber.

Visibility was excellent from the driver’s seat, enhanced by front roof pillars pushed forward, beneficial for tackling obstacles. The front accommodated larger passengers well, but the steering wheel had limited telescoping adjustment for taller drivers. The second row had ample legroom and toe space under front seats, albeit with limited headroom due to higher seat elevation for a stadium seating effect. Some trims featured a third-row, useful but limited in space.

Road trips in the 4Runner were made convenient with thoughtful storage solutions around the center console and deep door pockets. For cargo, the 4Runner offered 47.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 89.7 cubic feet when the rear seats were stowed. The seats didn't fold flat automatically, requiring manual steps, though the nearly flat load floor was practical for cargo or even sleeping arrangements. Unique features included a sliding glass rear window and a robust hitch receiver with a seven-pin harness, boasting a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

In this comparison, the Grand Highlander provided superior cargo capacity and passenger space, making it suitable for larger families and all their gear, whereas the 4Runner embodied practical off-road utility.

The 2024 Grand Highlander came standard with a large, visually appealing 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This modern interface was a significant improvement over old Toyota systems but required an additional subscription for full functionality.

The intelligent assistant, activatable by “Hey Toyota,” handled numerous voice-activated tasks such as adjusting climate settings or tuning the radio. This feature, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance, was part of a connected-services subscription.

Standard technological offerings included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims saw the inclusion of an 11-speaker JBL stereo, which provided balanced sound quality. Additional entertainment options like Sirius XM and integrations for Apple Music and Amazon Music were available through Toyota’s Wi-Fi Connect package.

The advanced tech features of the Grand Highlander represented a marked improvement, yet prospective buyers needed to be aware of the subscription model for some services.

The 4Runner's infotainment system was more basic, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen that struggled with usability while driving. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, but the system lacked off-road-specific apps and gauges offered by competitors like the Bronco or Wrangler.

The TRD Pro trim included a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, which, despite its high-quality sound, was overshadowed by engine and road noise under normal driving conditions.

Controls for terrain management, such as Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select, were located in the headliner console, accessible but requiring familiarization through the owner's manual. These dials helped optimize off-roading experiences, though they were not intuitive at a glance.

Overall, the 4Runner’s technology was serviceable but outdated, focused more on essential functionalities rather than advanced technological integration.

Due to its newness, the 2024 Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by either the NHTSA or the IIHS. Nevertheless, Toyota equipped it with an impressive suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) labeled Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 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. Additionally, the updated lane-departure alert system could now identify three-dimensional objects like guard rails. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, featuring the added benefit of four following-distance settings.

For the 2024 4Runner, the NHTSA gave it a four-star rating for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars for rollover evaluations. The IIHS provided mixed results, with the 4Runner receiving a "Good" rating for moderate frontal overlap and side protection, but concerning "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in the small overlap frontal test.

Safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims like the TRD Pro and Limited also offered a surround-view camera system, though only the Limited trim came with parking proximity sensors.

Though the safety systems were comprehensive, the 4Runner’s systems tended toward sensitivity, particularly the lane-departure warning and forward collision alert. Adjustments to these sensitivities could be made, partially alleviating the issue.