Toyota conceived this vehicle from the ground up to be a more spacious proposition, enabling customers to carry passengers and cargo in comfort and luxury.
Being equipped with state-of-art tech features, the Grand Highlander should be a great companion whether you need to ferry kids to school, head out on an adventurous road trip, or run a few errands around town.
In line with modern times
Photo: Toyota
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform, which provides a solid foundation for the vehicle. This platform allows for a lower center of gravity, making the car more stable and comfortable to drive, especially on longer trips. The Grand Highlander has been designed as a family cruiser that can easily take you on short trips or long drives.
The TNGA-K platform is the foundation for the Grand Highlander, providing a versatile and stable base for this active family cruiser. It is a product of the Japanese brand’s innovative design philosophy, called the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA).
This formula is applied to a wide range of vehicles in the D-segment, E-segment, compact/mid-size crossover SUV, and even large MPVs. It is designed to support both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations and a wide range of wheelbase lengths from 2,690 to 3,060 mm (105.9 to 120.5 in), but it only works when paired with a transverse-mounted engine.
A stylish proposition inside and out
Photo: Toyota
The front fascia takes obvious inspiration from the Highlander. Still, it distinguishes itself thanks to the trapezoidal, hammerhead front grille and available 20-inch wheels that give it an elegant and bold appearance.
The sleek side profile features flowing lines connecting the front and rear, giving the Grand Highlander a sporty and dynamic look. The rear bumper is sharp and stylish, adding to the overall design aesthetics.
With its available 20-inch wheels and dual exhaust in the Hybrid Max variant, the Grand Highlander is a head-turner from every angle.
Photo: Toyota
Inside, the Grand Highlander offers a spacious and functional design, with an attention to detail that exudes luxury and refinement. The soft-padded instrument panel is paired with elegant wood-effect ornamentation that extends into the door trims, creating a seamless and cohesive look.
The console is sturdy and stylish, resembling a finely crafted sofa that adds to the comfortable and inviting interior space. The driver and passenger side armrests on the instrument panel provide a functional and ergonomic touch, making it easy to use the features regardless of whether the console lid is open or closed.
The Grand Highlander also offers a level of comfort that surpasses expectations, with available leather-trimmed seats, a 10-way power-adjustable for the driver, and an 8-way for passengers in the Limited and Platinum grades. The Hybrid Max variant can also be fitted with Ultrasuede and leather-trimmed seats with bronze-colored accents, adding a touch of sophistication to the interior.
Practicality is king
Photo: Toyota
The Grand Highlander’s spacious and functional interior makes it the perfect vehicle for any adventure. Thoughtful storage areas can be found throughout the cabin, providing easy access for all passengers. With room for seven carry-on suitcases behind the 3rd row and around 98 cubic feet of space (2775 liters) with the seats folded down, you won’t have to worry about leaving anything behind.
The major highlight of the Grand Highlander’s interior is the standard 12.3-inch multimedia display, conveniently surrounded by most of the essential driver controls. The configurable center console can even fit a full-sized tablet while still offering a wireless charger, two USB ports, and three cup holders. A sliding console cover is available, allowing the armrests to be used without hindrance.
In the second-row seats, air conditioning controls and separate left/right USB ports are placed within easy reach of second-row passengers. Additional cup holders and a smartphone storage slit are available on the center armrest in the case of bench seat configurations.
Photo: Toyota
In contrast, a multi-purpose tray, cup holders, and additional water bottle storage can be found on the rear console for captain’s seat configurations. The door trim layout is well organized to offer a multi-purpose tray as well as water bottle storage.
Third-row passengers can enjoy individual USB ports, smartphone/tablet storage space, and cup & bottle holders, all located on the deck side of the vehicle. A support grip is available during ingress when the driving situation gets tricky. Not least, a hand support space is provided during egress to ensure maximum passenger comfort and safety.
Across all three rows, the Grand Highlander offers a “grand” total of 13 cup holders and seven USB-C charge ports, ensuring everyone is fully charged and road-trip ready. Available conveniences such as a heated steering wheel, power-folding mirrors, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, 1,500-Watt power outlets, and a hands-free power back door make the Grand Highlander the ultimate vehicle for any journey.
Capable powertrains and class-leading technologies
Photo: Toyota
Another standout feature of the 2024 Grand Highlander is the variety of powertrain options available to future customers. They can choose between three options on offer, including front-wheel- as well as all-wheel drive, suiting every possible need.
The base 2.4L turbo gas engine provides a well-balanced blend of performance and efficiency with its 265 available ponies on tap. At the same time, the 2.5L hybrid delivers impressive fuel economy without any sacrifices to performance whatsoever. The Hybrid MAX powertrain is the one for those seeking the ultimate driving experience.
Its impressive 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet (544 Nm) of torque make the Grand Highlander the most potent mid-size SUV ever built by Toyota. Believe it or not, this powerplant can shuffle this enormous barge from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. It also has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs (2,270 kg), making it an excellent choice for towing heavy loads.
All three powertrain options come equipped with three drive modes (Sport, Eco, Normal) catering to every road condition or driver mood. For motorists seeking even more capability on and off the road, the gas AWD and Hybrid MAX models are fitted with the Multi-Terrain Select system, which features three selectable modes (Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow).
Photo: Toyota
The 2024 Grand Highlander is not just a spacious and powerful SUV, it’s also loaded with the latest technology from Toyota. The standard 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system is designed by Toyota’s Connected Technologies team and comes with Over-the-Air updates for even more features.
The system is controlled by intuitive touch and voice activation controls, with Connected Service Drive, Connect offering drivers and passengers access to Intelligent Assistant, Cloud Navigation, and Destination Assist. Intelligent Assistant allows voice-activated commands to find directions, adjust audio controls, or change cabin temperatures, among other features.
Cloud Navigation utilizes the cloud to provide drivers with the latest available maps, traffic, and routing information, while POI search is provided by Google Points-of-Interest data. Destination Assist gives access to 24/7 live agent assistance to help locate the next destination.
The Grand Highlander also has dual Bluetooth phone connectivity and supports standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
For an enhanced audio experience, the Grand Highlander offers an available JBL Premium Audio system with 11 speakers and Clari-Fi technology. The system can also breathe life into compressed digital music formats, enhancing the audio experience.
Photo: Toyota
The SUV also comes with a host of additional available Connected Services, including Safety Connect with an Emergency Assistance Button, a 24/7 available Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Locator, and Collision Assistance with up to a 10-year trial. In addition, the Service Connect feature allows drivers to receive vehicle health reports, maintenance alerts, and other reminders for up to 10 years.
Using the Toyota app, users can stay connected to their Grand Highlander with a 1-year trial of the Remote Connect service. It enables the vehicle can be remotely started, and the doors can be locked or unlocked, among many other features.
The Grand Highlander has seven USB-C ports in the cabin, with a wireless charger for the driver and dedicated USB ports for the front seat passenger. Second-row passengers get two Type-C USB ports, and third-row passengers get a USB port at each outboard seating position.
Safety features are also included, such as a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking functionality fitted to the Limited and Platinum variants, alongside a Panoramic View Monitor.
The production of the 2024 Grand Highlander is set to commence at Toyota’s vehicle manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana. Official pricing information is not yet available but is expected to be announced later this summer.
A “One More Thing” moment
Photo: Toyota
The Chicago Auto Show was the perfect setting chosen by Toyota to announce an exciting collaboration with Nintendo, bringing even more fun and entertainment to families on the road inside the upcoming 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. They proudly showcased a special promotion where 500 lucky customers will receive a Nintendo Switch – OLED Model system and a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model features a more extensive, vibrant 7-inch screen with vivid colors and crisp contrast. Families can enjoy playing on the TV and share the detachable Joy-Con controllers for multiplayer fun or take it on the go to enjoy its portability.
To celebrate the partnership, Toyota has customized a 2024 Grand Highlander with a special Mario Kart 8 Deluxe-themed wrap and installed a Nintendo Switch OLED system inside the vehicle. Attendees of the Chicago Auto Show experienced the spaciousness of the Grand Highlander while playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the large screens and speakers installed in the vehicle.
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