First Look: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV Makes Canadian Debut
Toyota’s first-ever three-row Highlander SUV makes its national debut at the 2023 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. We got up close and personal with the 8-passenger family hauler – here’s what you can expect before it arrives late summer 2022.
We North Americans can’t get enough of plus-sized SUVs it seems. Just when you think we might have reached market saturation, a whole new segment springs forth offering more room, more gadgets, more power, and especially, more size.
The Grand Highlander, Toyota’s newest SUV, isn’t just a stretched-out version of the existing Highlander – despite the shared nameplate. Rather, it's a completely new vehicle designed to compete against other three-row behemoths like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
The regular Highlander is already one of Toyota’s top sellers (Canada Drives ranked it number 2 in our Best Mid-Size SUVs in Canada list) and the Grand Highlander should nicely fill the space between it and the full-size, redesigned Sequoia.
Shopping for a previous generation model? View all our used Highlanders here, all with a 7 day return policy and fully certified before it arrives at your door.
A bigger, grander mid-size Toyota SUV
Going by the numbers it does exactly that. Although they are built on the same TNGA-K platform, it’s been stretched, reinforced and made more rigid, with a new rear suspension setup designed not only for a more comfortable, compliant ride, but to optimize rear cargo space.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV debuts in advance of the 2023 Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) in Toronto | Photo: Lesley Wimbush
From nose to tail, the Grand Highlander is 201.4 inches long: making it 6.5 inches longer than the regular Highlander and slightly shorter than the Sequoia. At 116 inches, the wheelbase is 4 inches longer than the smaller Highlander, and has a 2.3 inch wider stance. The Grand H. Is also two inches taller than the regular Highlander.
Grand Highlander’s chiseled looks and interior features
Design-wise, the Grand H really doesn’t share any sheet metal styling with the regular variant. Instead of the puckered front fascia the Grand Highlander boasts a stronger dual-grille set-up more closely related to the 4Runner. There are fewer design flourishes in the side sheet-metal, and the result is a squared off, solid but handsome family vehicle.
“Adult-sized” third row
The cabin features the same basic layout as the regular variant, but of course the big news is the “adult-sized” third row. While most of these are cramped afterthoughts best left to little people or short trips, Toyota claims their third row was designed with full sized adults in mind. The third row gains 2 inches of shoulder space, one inch of headroom and 5.5 inches of legroom.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV | Photo: Lesley Wimbush
Sure, there’s ample head and legroom, but they still haven’t addressed one of the biggest drawbacks inherent in third row seating: adequate padding and deeper footwell space. As with most of these to date, the Grand Highlander’s third row is somewhat flat and bench like, and longer-legged passengers will still have to adopt a knees-up position. However, the third row does make up for it with a USB-C port, a pair of cupholders and an easy one-touch flip-forward access.
Accommodates up to eight passengers & plenty of cargo
With a second-row bench seat, the Grand Highlander can accommodate up to eight passengers. Top-spec Platinum trims can also opt for a pair of second row ventilated captain’s chairs – a feature unavailable in the regular Highlander.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV | Photo: Lesley Wimbush
Toyota boasts room for seven carry-on suitcases behind the third row. Fold down the second and third row, and it has a total of 2,775 litres of cargo space. Although that’s about 600L less than the full-size Sequoia, it’s 400L more than the regular Highlander, or competitor Hyundai Palisade.
A premium family SUV with no base-model
The Grand Highlander will target a more premium demographic than the regular variant, offering only loaded top-spec trims and no base model. Standard are heated and ventilated leather front seats, heated rear seats, power tailgate, 18” rims, and heated steering wheel. Options include a digital rear mirror, head-up display and a panoramic moonroof.
All Toyotas are well-equipped with their bundled driver assistance and safety package, and the Grand Highlander comes standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 package with adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane keeping assist, collision detection with automatic braking, and road sign recognition. It also comes with Toyota’s new Proactive Driving Assist, which helps maintain distance between vehicles and obstacle avoidance.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV | Photo: Lesley Wimbush
The 12.3” infotainment system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, and there’s an on board, subscription-based 4G wifi hotspot. The multimedia system includes voice commands for audio, nav and climate settings with over the air updates. There are seven USB-C ports in total, and a wireless smartphone charge pad.
Standard all-wheel drive with two hybrid powertrain options
While all Canadian Grand Highlanders come with standard all-wheel-drive, there will be a choice of three powertrains: two of which will be hybrids. Toyota hasn’t released exact figures for these as yet, but we expect that the gasoline engine will be the same 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque turbo-charged four cylinder from the regular Highlander, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Also borrowed from the smaller Highlander, the 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid combined with two electric motors for a combined output of 243 hp. It comes paired with a continuously variable transmission.
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV | Photo: Lesley Wimbush
Hybrid Max
Exclusive to the Grand Highlander is the “Hybrid Max” that’s reportedly a retuned version of the powertrain found in the Crown Sedan. It combines a 2.4L turbo four-cylinder with two electric motors for a combined 362 hp and 400 lb-ft. of torque. Equipped with this powertrain, Toyota claims the Grand Highlander can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds, and boasts a max 5,000 lb. towing capacity.
Toyota has yet to release any fuel economy numbers or prices – expect to see those sometime before the vehicle’s late summer arrival date.
Next up, check out our rankings for the Best 7-Seater SUVs in Canada: Our 10 Top Picks.
Ready to buy a used Toyota Highlander?
There's a reason this mid-size SUV is so popular, including older models with the hybrid powertrain. View our used Toyota Highlanders currently in stock. Each one passes a minimum 150 point inspection, comes fully certified before delivered to your door, and you’ve got a 7 day return policy for an added layer of confidence when buying a used vehicle from us.
