When it debuted in 2000, the Toyota Highlander was sold as a mid-size SUV, which would later be classified as a crossover. At the time, it was unique in that, unlike standard SUVs which were built on a truck chassis, the Highlander was built on a car chassis. This gave it the utility and space of an SUV while having better gas mileage and providing a smoother ride. It was essentially a family minivan with some off-road capability.
Over the years, the wheelbase and width of the Highlander have increased with almost every generation of the vehicle. However, Toyota has now decided just to make an entirely new model, the Grand Highlander. Like the standard-size model, this SUV features three rows of seating, with the addition of the back row becoming more spacious for adult passengers as well. With a 116-inch wheelbase (almost 4” longer than the regular Highlander), the Grand Highlander boasts 97.5cu.ft of interior space with the seats folded down.
As for the powertrain, there are three options, the 2.4L turbo 4-cylinder gas engine, the 2.5L hybrid engine, and the Hybrid MAX found in the most recent generation of the Toyota Crown luxury car. The Hybrid MAX features a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder with an electric motor, giving out 362hp and 400lb.ft of torque. Other features include the 12.3-inch multimedia display, Traffic Jam Assist, a head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror.
No price has been given yet, but the Grand Highlander will be ready for the 2024 model year. You can sign up for updates on Toyota’s website.
