Automakers can’t have one three-row SUV anymore. They need to have multiple options that fill in the tiny gaps within their lineups. For Toyota, there was a substantial hole between the midsize Highlander and the large Sequoia. With the launch of the all-new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, Toyota has filled that gap. For consumers who think the Highlander isn’t big enough, but the Sequoia is too big, the Grand Highlander could prove to be the perfect fit and it doesn’t cost much more than the Highlander, either with a starting price tag of $44,405 ( with destination).
That figure is for the base XLE trim with front-wheel drive. The most expensive gas-powered Grand Highlander is the Platinum trim that’s only available with all-wheel drive and starts at $54,880. Pricing for the Grand Highlander Hybrid ranges from $46,005 for the XLE trim up to $59,460 for the MAX Platinum. That price highlights the massive $15,055 price difference between the base and the range-topping trims.
What does that extra money get you? Well for one, there’s the powertrain. Toyota is offering the Grand Highlander with three different engines. The standard setup is a turbo 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 265 horsepower. The Grand Highlander Hybrid comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired with two electric motors for 243 hp. The Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Limited and Max Platinum get the automaker’s extra powerful hybrid powertrain which consists of a turbo 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor for 362 hp.
Beyond the 362-hp hybrid powertrain, the Grand Highlander MAX Platinum doesn’t add much in the way of features over the gas-powered Platinum. The MAX Platinum trim has 20-inch wheels, dual exhaust outlets, dark gray exterior trim, bronze dashboard trim, and two 120-volt outlets. So, from what we can see, it certainly looks like Toyota is charging an extra $4,580 for its MAX Hybrid powertrain over the base turbocharged four-cylinder engine when you compare Platinum trims to one another.
Regardless of whether you get the turbocharged engine or the MAX Hybrid powertrain, the Platinum trims come well-equipped and have some high-end touches. Standard exterior features include goodies like LED lighting, acoustic glass, a wireless charging pad, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather-and-Ultrasuede upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, a panoramic roof, and a foot -activated lift gate. On the tech front, the Platinum comes with a 10-inch head-up display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, an 11-speaker JBL audio system, a 360-degree camera, traffic jam assist, profile face identification, and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. These features represent a large step up in quality and convenience compared to the base XLE.
Seeing an SUV from Toyota that isn’t the full-size Sequoia costing nearly $60,000 may seem incredibly high, but it’s on par with what we’ve seen from newer models. The Mazda CX-90 tops out at $61,325, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L can reach $71,985, the range-topping Kia Telluride tops out at $54,350, the Honda Pilot goes up to $53,725, the Volkswagen Atlas can reach $53,635, and the Nissan Pathfinder goes up to $51,405.
If there is some good news, it’s that the entry-level Grand Highlander isn’t a massive increase in pricing over the base Highlander. The larger Grand Highlander is an extra $1,050 when you compare XLE trims to one another.
Pictured: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
Explore the Cheapest SUVs to Lease