First Drive: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Shines Brightest With Hybrid Max Engine
New, larger three-row SUV is better positioned to face competitors than regular Highlander
Update: Since this first drive was originally published in August, 2023, we finished testing the Toyota Grand Highlander. Read the complete Grand Highlander road test.
Toyota is expanding its model line to address the insatiable market demand for all things SUV. With the Grand Highlander, Toyota is positioning itself to stave off growing competition in the midsized three-row SUVs class, such as the redesigned Honda Pilot and new Mazda CX-90, as well as against the compelling Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride rivals, all of which are roomier and more feature-laden than the Highlander.
The Grand Highlander fits between the current Toyota Highlander and the larger Sequoia—all three-row SUVs. It has more traditional, boxy styling than the Highlander. The Grand Highlander’s added 6 inches of length aids interior space, access for passengers, and room for rear cargo over its long-running sibling. It shares a turbocharged four-cylinder and hybrid powertrain with its namesake while borrowing a performance-oriented turbocharged hybrid from the Lexus RX and Toyota Crown. In this application, that 362-hp Max engine is a true highlight.
