Toyota Highlander vs. Grand Highlander: What's The Difference?
What's the difference between the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander? We compare the two when it comes to performance, passenger capacity, exterior, price, and more.
When you imagine three-row SUV selections, the Highlander might be one of the first selections to appear in your mind. It’s the ultimate family vehicle and has been around for more than two decades. Now, there’s not just the Highlander - there’s the Grand Highlander. Which is better looking at the Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander?
Though the Toyota Highlander and Ground Highlander sound similar in name, they aren’t the same. It’s vital to carefully consider your choices beforehand to ensure you’re picking the right three-row SUV for your life. Read on to better understand what separates the Toyota Highlander from the Toyota Grand Highlander.
Toyota Highlander vs. Grand Highlander: What’s the Difference?
There are ample similarities between these cars when looking at the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander. They are on the same base and have the same general structure. However, that’s about where most of the similarities end.
You’ll get a completely different experience in areas like:
- Performance and handling
- Interior features and styling
- Price point
They vary here and for a reason.
The most significant differences exist in the availability of different powertrains, technology, safety systems, capacity, dimensions, trims, and the number of rows in the system. Let’s dive into some specific sections to help you make the right choice for your three-row SUV selection.
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Performance and Handling: Tie for Gas, Grand Highlander for Electric
When looking at the performance and handling of the gas powertrain versions of each vehicle, they are very even in competition. Both vehicles have a 2.4-liter turbocharged I-4 engine, which allows the same basic amount of power in the system.
You’ll get the following power from this engine system:
- 310 pound-feet of torque
- 265 horsepower
That’s solid for such a large vehicle.
The fuel economy is where there’s a slight differentiation since the Grand Highlander is larger. The Highlander gets 22 in the city and 28 on the highway. The Grand Highlander gets slightly less than this number.
When electric powertrains enter the picture, the Grand Highlander easily pulls away. The Grand Highlander brings two electric powertrain options, all based on the 2.5-liter hybrid setup. There’s also a Hybrid Max powertrain selection like in previous selections, such as the Toyota Crown.
Cargo and Passenger Capacity: Toyota Grand Highlander
When considering the Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander, it’s vital to consider how much stuff and how many people each of these vehicles can carry. With a vehicle like the Highlander, the more people you can fit inside, the better.
According to motortrend.com, here are the stats for cargo and passenger capacity for the Toyota Highlander:
- 20.6 cubic feet of storage behind the last road
- Maximum cargo capacity at 97.5 cubic feet
- Space for seven or eight passengers
- 37.2⁄33.5 inches of headroom/legroom
There’s plenty of room for people and their stuff here.
Here are the same statistics for the Highlander:
- 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the last row
- Maximum cargo capacity at 84.3 cubic feet
- Space for seven or eight passengers
- 36.1⁄28 inches of headroom/legroom
The space in this vehicle is slightly less.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger vehicle, and it was designed that way to provide more room for an interested investor than the Highlander. If you must fit ample people and things often, we recommend the Grand Highlander over the traditional Highlander.
Exterior: Toyota Grand Highlander
The exterior of a vehicle makes a difference. The wider a vehicle on the road, the larger a stance it will have. Also, larger exteriors mean larger interiors.
Here are the dimensions for the Toyota Grand Highlander:
- Length: 201.4 inches
- Width: 78.3 inches
- Height: 70.1 inches
It’s a solid vehicle.
On the other side, here are the dimensions of the Toyota Highlander:
- Length: 194.9 inches
- Width: 76.0 inches
- Height: 68.1 inches
It’s slightly smaller than the competition.
If you’re someone who doesn’t want to drive around a massive vehicle, we don’t recommend the Grand Highlander. However, for those who love a powerhouse of a machine, the Grand Highlander is the best. The extended exterior dimensions provide a significant appearance on the road and make more room inside than other selections.
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PROS & CONS
If you’re interested in this vehicle, it’s helpful to consider the features. You might wonder - what are the Toyota Highlander pros and cons?
Price Point: Toyota Highlander
The price point is another consideration to consider in the Toyota Highlander and the Toyota Grand Highlander. Although the Toyota Grand Highlander is larger and offers more space, that doesn’t mean the price point is better. The Toyota Highlander is a much more affordable selection for those who want to save some money.
The Toyota Highlander has a starting price of around $38,000, while the Toyota Grand Highlander starts closer to $44,000. The higher the trim level, the more money it will cost. Of course, price might not be a consideration for too many people.
Infotainment and Technology: Toyota Grand Highlander
Finally, let’s look at the infotainment and technology when considering the Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander. While the Highlander is filled with plenty of details, the Toyota Grand Highlander still wins out in this category.
Here are the features found in the Highlander:
- 8.0-infotainment touchscreen
- Higher-end 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Five USB ports
- Optional wireless charging pad
These are significant contenders.
Here are features found in the Toyota Grand Highlander:
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Seven USB ports
- Wireless charging pads
There are more standard upgrades in the Toyota Grand Highlander.
If you want more features, you need the Toyota Grand Highlander. The Highlander doesn’t quite measure up.
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Which Vehicle Is the Winner?
We’ve discussed ample parts when considering the Toyota Highlander versus the Grand Highlander. Each has benefits and drawbacks, contrasting with each other and even acting very similar in many ways. There’s another question to consider. Which vehicle is worth the investment? Which is better?
While there are significant benefits to the fuel economy and price point of the Toyota Highlander, we’d recommend the Grand Highlander as the overall better selection. It’s much longer and provides more technology for the price point. If you can afford it, the Toyota Grand Highlander is a better selection overall.
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