Yahoo Autos How the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Compares with the Highlander
Toyota is expanding its SUV lineup for 2024 with the new Grand Highlander, a roomier alternative to the three-row Highlander that has been on sale in its current form since 2020. While the two models may share a name, there are plenty of distinguishing features that set the new Grand Highlander apart from its smaller sibling.
Exterior
The most obvious difference is the design. Not only is the Grand Highlander larger—stretching 6.5 inches longer, 2.0 inches taller, and 2.3 inches wider—but the new crossover also benefits from unique styling. The slicked-back front end of the Highlander has been swapped for more upright, boxier looks dominated by straight lines and sharp angles. The rear end is also fresh, with a D-pillar and taillights more reminiscent of the compact RAV4 than the mid-size Highlander. While the regular Highlander has a trendy blacked-out A-pillar and a slight slope to the roofline, the Grand Highlander model sticks to a more traditional roofline.
Interior
An extra four inches in the wheelbase improves interior space, with the third row adding 5.5 inches of legroom, an inch of headroom, and more than 2 inches of shoulder space. Not only is the third row actually comfortable for adults now, but the rearmost passengers are also treated to a USB-C port, absent in the standard Highlander. Both crossovers feature dual cupholders in the third row.
The Grand Highlander also distinguishes itself by offering ventilated captain's chairs for the second row in the top Platinum trim. The Grand's added length is a boon for cargo space as well, with five more cubic feet behind the third row or an extra 14 cubic feet with the the two rear rows folded away.
The dashboard has been tweaked with a more streamlined design, but like the more expensive trims of the Highlander, the Grand has both a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Just as with the standard Highlander, you'll have to upgrade to the top-of-the-line Platinum model if you want goodies like a head-up display and a digital rearview mirror.
