2025 Toyota Grand Highlander review
The Toyota Grand Highlander is a midsize SUV with three rows of seating and space for up to eight people when an available second-row bench seat is ordered. Otherwise, the Grand Highlander has room for seven with its standard second-row captain’s chairs. As its grandiose name suggests, the Grand Highlander is a bigger and roomier version of Toyota’s popular Highlander SUV. Stretching about six inches longer than the Highlander, the Grand Highlander offers significantly more cargo space and an adult-friendly third row with 33.3 inches of legroom. For comparison, the Highlander’s third row offers 28 inches.
The base powertrain consists of a turbocharged four-cylinder that sends power to the front wheels courtesy of an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available. There are also two choices of hybrid drivetrains, including the Hybrid Max unit found in the Crown sedan and full-size Tundra pickup truck. Direct competitors include the Kia Telluride, Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer, and Subaru Ascent.
Explore the evolution of the Toyota Grand Highlander
Get our expert take on used Toyota Grand Highlander models, or view year-by-year changes.
First generation Toyota Grand Highlander
The first-generation Grand Highlander arrived for the 2024 model year and instantly made a name for itself as a more cargo- and passenger-friendly version of the regular Highlander. It doesn’t hurt matters that Toyota equips the Grand Highlander with a host of comfort, tech, and driver-assist features. Standard on all trims—LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum—is the Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 bundle of driver aids. This consists of automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, and more.
The entry-level 265-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets the job done for routine driving needs. Acceleration is modest, however, and highway passing power is limited when the Grand Highlander is fully loaded. If you don’t mind the price premium, stepping up to one of the two available hybrid drivetrains nets better fuel economy and stronger performance. Having just made its debut for the 2024 model year, changes to the 2025 Grand Highlander consist of a new entry-level LE model, and the black-trim-themed Nightshade edition based on the Limited trim.
Model highlights
Turbocharged four-cylinder
Two available hybrid powertrains
Front-wheel drive; available all-wheel drive
Second-row captain’s chairs standard on XLE and higher
Second-row bench seat available (except for Platinum trim)
Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0
Eight-inch touchscreen is standard; 12.3-inch touchscreen is available
Standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2024 - present
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander
Highlights
Entry-level LE trim added
Nightshade Edition available on the Limited trim
Learn more
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
Highlights
All-new addition to the Toyota lineup
Longer version of the Highlander midsize three-row SUV
Learn more
Nick Kurczewski has been writing about cars for more than 20 years, and his enthusiasm for journalism has led him to cover auto-related stories around the world. From blasting down the German autobahn to covering every major auto show, his stories have appeared in the New York Times, Car and Driver, U.S. News & World Report, Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com and the New York Daily News, where he served as head editor. Having once aspired to be a Formula One racer, Nick discovered sharing his passion for cars as a journalist is just as thrilling as dreaming of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.
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