2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will take family road trips to the next level

The all-new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is set to arrive this summer, just in time for family vacations and road trips. And if it’s half as good as it looks, you’ll wonder how you ever got around without it. KSL Cars gathered all the details on the new midsize SUV at the Denver Auto Show, and it’s pretty clear that this thing is going to make a lot of people happy.

Not just a bigger Highlander

First, don’t make the mistake of thinking that the Grand Highlander is simply a stretched out version of the regular Highlander. According to Toyota product specialists, the two cars are similar, but the Grand Highlander is unique. Toyota found that more families were hankering for a midsize SUV with “spacious seating and ample room for gear.” The Grand Highlander addresses that need and more. See all Highlander and Grand Highlander listings

Eye-catching design

As a new model, the Grand Highlander will have some distinctive features that will make it easy to identify. The hammerhead front, flared fenders, 20-inch wheels and bronze trim elements all signal something a little more modern than what Toyota’s done in the past. The style updates carry over to the interior, where you’ll have available wood-effect ornamentation, bronze-colored accents and high-quality leather stitchwork. 

Passenger-focused cabin

If you’re the type of traveler who likes to have both water and soda handy in the car, you’ll love this feature. Taking a cue from the Sienna, Toyota decided to make the Grand Highlander even more passenger-friendly by including 13 cupholders. The product specialists also pointed out that there’s plenty of space to store and charge all of your connected devices. Keep your iPhones, tablets and other devices out of sight when the car is parked, and enjoy easy access to USB-C charging ports in all three rows. 

More spacious 3rd row

Midsize SUVs aren’t known for roomy third rows, but the Grand Highlander is here to change that. Not only do you get six more inches of legroom in the third row over the traditional Highlander, but the windows are bigger, too. That should help ease any potential car sickness on long drives. Toyota also included reclinable seats and a multipurpose tray with a dedicated storage area for tablets on both sides of the third row.

Three Different Grades 

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander comes in three different grades: XLT, Limited and Platinum. The grade determines which kind of powertrain is available. The three different powertrains include:

• 2.4-liter turbocharged gas engine (FWD/AWD)

• 2.5-liter hybrid (FWD/AWD) – manufacturer estimated 34 mpg combined 

• 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid MAX (standard AWD) 

XLE 

The XLE is available with a gas or hybrid powertrain and comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, roof rails, heated outdoor mirrors and Softex trim in light gray or black. It seats between seven and eight passengers and has a 10-way power driver seat and an 8-way power passenger seat. See listings

Limited

The Limited is available with the gas, hybrid or Hybrid MAX powertrain. It comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, LED daytime running lights, power fold outer mirrors, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and an available hands-free power back door, among other features. See listings

Platinum

The Platinum is available with the gas or Hybrid MAX powertrain. It comes with 20-inch clad alloy wheels, heated and ventilated second-row seats and a panoramic moonroof. The Platinum grade is the only one to offer a brown-colored interior called Portobello. You can get paddle shifters on the all-wheel drive gas and Hybrid MAX powertrains; a hands-free power back door is also available. See listings

Technology

If you’ve driven a 2023 Tundra, Highlander or Sequoia, the tech in the Grand Highlander should feel familiar. You’ll find a standard 12.3-inch touch screen display, a 12.3-inch digital multi-information display, navigation, voice recognition, music, messaging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

The XLE gets a six-speaker audio system while the Limited and Premium grades have an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system. And since you’ll have adults sitting comfortably in the third row — and possibly limiting visibility — a digital rearview mirror will help you get a crystal clear view out the back. In-car Wi-Fi will also be useful on those long road trips

See Highlanders and Grand Highlanders for sale

Safety

In addition to being equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Grand Highlander will include features to give you some peace of mind.

• Pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection

• Lane departure alert with steering assist

• Lane tracing assist

• Blind spot monitoring

• Panoramic view monitor

• Road sign assist

• Full speed dynamic radar cruise control

• Automatic high beams

A new safety feature is Proactive Driving Assist, which provides gentle braking on curves and helps you maintain a safe distance between other cars on the road.  

Convenience 

A feature to ease the stress of stop-and-go traffic is the Traffic Jam Assist function. This allows you to let go of the steering wheel, gas and brake if you’re driving below 25 mph. The Grand Highlander will drive itself until it reaches 25 mph, and then it will tell you to take control of the vehicle again. Toyota product specialists were quick to reiterate that this doesn’t mean the car is taking control — the driver still has to maintain visual focus and concentration on the road. Browse Grand Highlanders

2024 Grand Highlander release date and pricing

As of the time of this writing, Toyota has not yet announced an official release date or pricing information for the new Grand Highlander. Car and Driver estimates that the price will start around $43,000. It’s expected to arrive sometime in the summer.   

To be one of the firsts to know when it arrives, sign up for Grand Highlander updates on the Toyota website. Need a new or used midsize SUVs right now? Find it on KSL Cars.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.