2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Platinum
08/06/2024
Shahed Hussain
As SUVs have become the default new family vehicle for customers, Toyota has added a crucial model between the Highlander and the Sequioa. Enter the Grand Highlander, slotted above the smaller Highlander in size but overlapping in price. Toyota offers seven versions of the Grand Highlander in both front and all-wheel drive drivetrains. The base Grand Highlander XLE starts at $43,320 and ranges up to $58,475 for the top Hybrid MAX Platinum.
We tested the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Platinum with no options. The total including $1,395 delivery fee added up to $59,870. Notable standard equipment includes leather and Ultrasuede seats, power driver and passenger's seats, heated and ventilated front and 2nd row seats, heated steering wheel, tilt/slide panoramic roof, 12.3-in infotainment display, panoramic view monitor, navigation, 4G hotspot, 11-speaker JBL audio system, 20-in. alloy wheels, and power liftgate.
Toyota equips the Grand Highlander with one of three powertrains: 2.4L turbo (265-hp), 2.5L hybrid (187-hp) and 2.4L turbo hybrid (362-hp). The Hybrid MAX gets the 2.4L inline-4 turbo and hybrid system. Dual variable valve-timing and direct-injection yield 265-hp @ 6,000 RPM and 332 lb.-ft. @2,000-3,000 RPM from the gas engine. Total system power including the electric motor output is 362-hp @ 6,000 RPM and 400 lb.-ft. @ 2,000-3,000 RPM. A 5.0 Ah NiMH battery pack powers the permanent magnet synchronous 288V AC motor. A 6-speed automatic is coupled to a full-time electronic AWD system. Fuel consumption is rated at 26/27 MPG (city/hwy.). We achieved a less impressive 23 MPG in mixed highway and urban driving conditions. Toyota claims 0-60 MPH is 6.3 seconds for the Hybrid MAX. Other Grand Highlanders accelerate to sixty MPH in 7.5-7.8 seconds.
The Grand Highlander's suspension has the typical MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar in front. At the rear is a multi-link setup with coil springs, dampers and stabilizer bar. Brakes are vented discs: 13.38-in. front and 13.3-in. rear rotors. Continental Crosscontact LX20 255/55R20 all-season tires are mounted on 20-in. aluminum wheels. An electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion system is geared for 2.9 turns lock-to-lock. Grand Highlander curb weights range from 4,300 lbs. (XLE FWD) to 4,920 lbs. for the tested Platinum Hybrid MAX AWD. Towing capacity is 5,000 lbs. for the gas and Hybrid MAX powertrains.
Toyota designed a functional interior as befits a practical family SUV. Dash, door panels, and center console surfaces are padded. Matte aluminum trim on the steering wheel, vents and shifter endows the Grand Highlander with a premium feel. A fully digital cluster display has a speedometer and a powertrain mode indicator. The display can be customized to show other vehicle functions and system status. The leather-wrapped steering wheel has integrated audio, cruise and phone controls on the spokes. Stacked on the dash center is a 12.3-in. infotainment display. Aside from the rotary volume knob, all other infotainment settings are accessed using the touchscreen. The dual-zone climate control panel also includes front seat heating and ventilation settings. A stubby electronic shift lever controls the 6-speed automatic. A rotary knob on the center console selects between the Eco, Normal and Sport powertrain modes. Three terrain settings: Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow are available. Dual USB-C ports and wireless charging pad on the center console enable convenient mobile phone charging. A 120V power outlet is inside the center console, plus another 120V outlet in the rear console. Two USB-C ports are also available for 2nd row passengers.
A midsize SUV aimed at families must be spacious and comfortable. The Grand Highlander delivers with exceptionally supportive seats and interior space. Front and 2nd row headroom is acceptable for occupants up to 6 ft. tall. Second-row passengers also benefit from extra thigh support and ample legroom. The third-row seats are best reserved for children, although the cramped accommodations are tolerable for short trips.
Some Toyota owners may miss the 3.5L V-6 that powered previous Toyota midsize SUVs, but the 2.4L turbo hybrid delivers exceptional torque at low to midrange RPM. Engine noise rises to a mild rumble under hard acceleration, but the hybrid powertrain responds like a gas V-8. Steering wheel-mounted paddles enable manual shifting as desired, but we rarely needed to do so. Most of our driving was in the Normal powertrain mode, which balances acceleration and fuel consumption. As a fuel-saving measure, the engine turns off at a stop, and the powertrain operates in EV mode up to about 10 MPH after which the engine restarts. The transition from EV to gas engine operation is seamless, although the gas engine startup is audible.
At highway speeds, the Grand Highlander tracks accurately, requiring minimal steering correction. Despite its nearly 2.5 -ton curb weight, this Toyota drives like a smaller SUV. Credit the quick turn-in response and moderate steering effort for the above average handling. The chassis engineers tuned the suspension for firm damping, but even on patched road surfaces the Grand Highlander delivers a compliant ride. Subjective braking performance is better than average, aided by a firm pedal and progressive actuation.
As Toyota continues to expand its SUV lineup, the Grand Highlander aims at its American competition from Ford and GM. Offering four hybrid models differentiates the Grand Highlander from other midsize SUVs. We expect that many current Highlander and new customers will step up to the new Grand Highlander.
