2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Gains Size, Engine Options

The Highlander is one of Toyota's best selling models in the United States, falling just behind the Rav4 in terms of the brand’s highest volume SUVs. In an effort to further serve our appetite for large SUVs, Toyota just rolled out the 2024 Grand Highlander. Far from a stretched take on the familiar model, this upsized SUV brings chassis tweaks, new powertrains, and a sizable bump in interior volume. Here’s everything you need to know.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is based on Toyota’s versatile TNGA-K platform, which currently underpins models such as the Avalon, Highlander, Rav4, and Sienna. Toyota didn’t just stretch that platform for this truck however, with additional spot welds and adhesives coming in to improve rigidity and reduce vibrations. The truck’s multilink rear suspension has also been entirely reworked to improve ride comfort, while also increasing space in the third-row. Measuring in at 201.4 inches long, the Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer than the standard Highlander. It's also two inches taller and 2.3 inches wider than the Highlander, with four extra inches of wheelbase bringing the total up to around 116 inches. For reference, the Grand Highlander still measures nearly 7 inches shorter than the larger Sequoia SUV. Toyota intends for the new Grand Highlander to slot between its two existing offerings in the market.

Toyota will offer three different powertrain options. The entry-level is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, which provides 265 horsepower in Highlander trim. The engine comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. An efficiency-focused 2.5-liter hybrid with two electric motors should bring around 243 horsepower and fuel economy ratings around 34 MPG combined thanks in part to its CVT gearbox. Figures for those familiar powertrains should mirror the standard Highlander, albeit with some required tuning adjustments. Both powertrains will be available in either front- or all-wheel drive configurations.

Toyota will also be rolling out the new 2.4-liter Hybrid Max, which is reportedly good for 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque in this application. This motor comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, just like what we’ve seen from the Crown sedan. The Hybrid Max powertrain brings a 5000 pound maximum towing capacity along with it, which might prove tempting for those with toys to haul around.