Toyota Grand Highlander: The Ultimate Hybrid SUV for Large Families

Are you looking for a hybrid SUV that can fit your whole family and belongings without compromising fuel efficiency, performance, or style? If so, check out the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, the newest addition to Toyota's hybrid lineup.

The Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger and more spacious version of the popular Highlander hybrid SUV, which has been one of the best-selling hybrid vehicles in the US for years. The Grand Highlander offers more room for passengers and cargo and more features and options to enhance your comfort and convenience.

We will tell you everything you need to know about the Grand Highlander, including its specifications, features, pricing, and availability. We will also compare it with other large hybrid SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer Hybrid, the Honda Pilot Hybrid, and the upcoming Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of whether the Grand Highlander is the right hybrid SUV for you and your family.

What Makes the Grand Highlander Different from the Regular Highlander?

The Toyota Grand Highlander is based on the same platform and powertrain as the regular Toyota Highlander, but it has some key differences that make it stand out. The most obvious difference is the size: the Grand Highlander is about six inches longer than the regular Highlander, which translates into more legroom in the third row and more cargo space behind it. The Grand Highlander also has a longer wheelbase, which improves its ride quality and stability.

The Grand Highlander can seat up to eight people in three rows of seats, depending on the configuration. The second row can be a bench seat or two captain's chairs, while the third can be a 60/40 split-folding seat or a 50/50 split-folding seat. The Grand Highlander also offers more headroom and shoulder room than the regular Highlander, making it more comfortable for taller passengers.

The Grand Highlander has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produce a combined 243 horsepower. According to Toyota, the Grand Highlander has an estimated fuel economy of 34 mpg for the front-wheel drive model and 33 mpg for the all-wheel drive model. These numbers are slightly lower than the regular Highlander's 36 mpg and 35 mpg, respectively, but still impressive for a large hybrid SUV.

The Toyota Grand Highlander also offers some features that are not available in the regular Highlander, such as:

• A panoramic moonroof that spans across both rows of seats
• A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and wireless charging
• A head-up display that projects key information on the windshield
• A digital rearview mirror that uses a camera to show what's behind the vehicle
• A 360-degree surround-view camera system that helps with parking and maneuvering
• A 10-inch color headrest-mounted display for rear-seat entertainment
• A JBL premium sound system with 12 speakers
• A hands-free power liftgate that opens with a kick gesture

The Grand Highlander also comes with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of driver assistance technologies, which includes:

• Adaptive cruise control that adjusts speed and distance to the vehicle ahead
• Lane departure alert that warns if the vehicle drifts out of its lane
• Lane tracing assist that helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane.
• Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection that can apply brakes to avoid or mitigate a collision
• Automatic high beams that switch between high and low beams depending on traffic conditions
• Road sign assist that recognizes and displays speed limits and other signs.
• Blind spot monitor with a rear cross-traffic alert that warns of vehicles in blind spots or approaching from behind when reversing.

How Does the Grand Highlander Compare with Other Large Hybrid SUVs?

The Grand Highlander is not the only large hybrid SUV in the market. There are other competitors that offer similar benefits of space, comfort, and efficiency. Here are some of them:

Ford Explorer Hybrid

The Ford Explorer Hybrid is one of the closest rivals to the Grand Highlander. It has a 3.3-liter V6 engine and an electric motor that produces a combined 318 horsepower. It has an estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg for both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. It can seat up to seven people in three rows of seats, with more cargo space than the Grand Highlander. It also has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, which is higher than the Grand Highlander's 3,500 pounds.

The Ford Explorer Hybrid has some features that are similar to or better than the Grand Highlander's, such as:

• A 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and wireless charging
• A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can be customized
• A head-up display that projects key information on the windshield
• A 360-degree surround-view camera system that helps with parking and maneuvering
• A Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assistance technologies, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and more

However, the Ford Explorer Hybrid also has some drawbacks compared to the Grand Highlander, such as:

• A higher starting price of $45,005 for the front-wheel drive model and $46,905 for the all-wheel drive model
• A lower reliability rating from Consumer Reports
• A less refined ride quality and handling
• A less spacious and comfortable third row of seats

Honda Pilot Hybrid

The Honda Pilot Hybrid is another competitor to the Grand Highlander. It has a 3.5-liter V6 engine and two electric motors that produce a combined 280 horsepower. It has an estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg for both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. It can seat up to eight people in three rows of seats, with more legroom and headroom than the Grand Highlander. It also has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, which is higher than the Grand Highlander's 3,500 pounds.



The Honda Pilot Hybrid has some features that are similar to or better than the Grand Highlander's, such as:

• A 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and wireless charging
• A head-up display that projects key information on the windshield
• A Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance technologies, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation system, blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and more

However, the Honda Pilot Hybrid also has some drawbacks compared to the Grand Highlander, such as:

• A higher starting price of $47,720 for the front-wheel drive model and $49,720 for the all-wheel drive model
• A lower reliability rating from Consumer Reports
• A less refined ride quality and handling
• A less stylish and modern exterior design

Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is a new entrant to the large hybrid SUV segment. It is expected to debut in late 2023 or early 2024. It will have a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produces a combined 227 horsepower. It will have an estimated fuel economy of 34 mpg for both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. It will seat up to eight people in three rows of seats, with more cargo space than the Grand Highlander. It will also have a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, which is higher than the Grand Highlander's 3,500 pounds.

The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid will have some features that are similar to or better than the Grand Highlander's, such as:

• A 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and wireless charging
• A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can be customized
• A head-up display that projects key information on the windshield
• A blind view monitor that shows live video of blind spots on the instrument cluster when changing lanes
• A Hyundai SmartSense suite of driver assistance technologies, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane following assist, forward collision avoidance assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, safe exit assist, and more

However, the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid also has some drawbacks compared to the Grand Highlander, such as:

• An unknown starting price and availability date
• An unknown reliability rating from Consumer Reports
• A less powerful engine and acceleration

Is the Grand Highlander Worth Buying?

The Grand Highlander is a great option for large families who want a hybrid SUV that offers more space, comfort, and features than the regular Highlander. The Grand Highlander has a competitive fuel economy, performance, and pricing compared to other large hybrid SUVs in the market. The Grand Highlander also has a high-reliability rating from Consumer Reports and a strong reputation for quality and durability from Toyota.

The Toyota Grand Highlander could be better, though. It has less cargo space and towing capacity than some of its rivals. It also has a lower fuel economy and power output than the regular Highlander. Moreover, it faces stiff competition from other large hybrid SUVs that offer similar or better benefits.

Ultimately, the decision to buy the Grand Highlander depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you value space, comfort, and features over power and efficiency, you might prefer the Grand Highlander over the regular Highlander. You might prefer the Grand Highlander over other large hybrid SUVs if you value reliability and durability over style and innovation.