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Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander: Is It Worth $40,860? My In-Depth Guide to Its Upsides & Downsides
I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when the Toyota Grand Highlander debuted a couple of years ago. In my mind, I thought that the regular Highlander was enough for the masses and their love for all things SUV. After all, the reliable people hauler has grown over the years and now comes in both regular and hybrid flavors, so what more could people want? Apparently, they want just a little more. Typical Americans. But after spending a few days in the 2025 Grand Highlander Hybrid, I came away impressed with everything it had to offer. Yes, that includes the added space that the "grand" in the moniker entails. For the record, the Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer, 2.3 inches wider, and two inches taller than its non-grand stablemate. That makes it 201.4 inches long compared to the standard Highlander's 194.9 inches, so you'd better measure your garage space before signing the dotted line for one of these things. Since the Grand Highlander I drove was a hybrid model, it had plenty of low-end power with its electric assist while churning out some surprising fuel efficiency numbers. Needless to say, by the end of my time spent with the three-row SUV, I was pretty much sold. It's too bad I don't have a family to cart around, or much of a need for a large SUV, in general. However, despite everything I liked about the SUV, I noticed there were a couple of cons. As such, here are three pros and two cons I found during my few days with the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid. Toyota has stepped up its game in the past five years by giving its vehicles more appealing and comfortable cabins, and the Grand Highlander is no exception. Keeping with the "grand" theme, the plus-sized Highlander boasts 149 cubic feet of passenger volume, which is 8 cubic feet larger than the regular version. It's also 8 cubic feet larger than the Mazda CX-90's interior, which is its closest competitor. My tester for the week also came equipped with second-row captain's chairs, which cut down the seating capacity to seven from eight. If you don't need eight spots, then this configuration works well as the two lucky passengers in the second row will be treated to plenty of space, their own climate controls, heated seats, and a couple of cupholders. The third row is large enough for tall passengers as well, but the middle seat is better reserved for short ones or children. In addition to a host of driver-assist features, the Grand Highlander Hybrid has all the in-cabin tech features that drivers want. This includes a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen with an intuitive interface, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a premium JBL sound system featuring 11 speakers. There are also plenty of comfort features to keep everyone happy, including a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and rear window sunshades to keep the sun from intruding into the cabin. Lastly, a 12.3-inch digital dash display sits in front of the driver to keep them informed of the car's vitals, and there are seven USB-C ports around the cabin to keep everyone's phones charged up. The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid's two main competitors include the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the Mazda CX-90 plug-in hybrid. The Santa Fe Hybrid offers slightly better gas mileage (36 mpg combined) and a lower starting price point, but the Highlander Hybrid offers a little more in its standard form, which could justify its higher $40,860 starting price. The Mazda, on the other hand, has a starting price of $49,945 and does not offer the same type of fuel economy as the Toyota. However, it does have an all-electric driving range of 26 miles, which could be useful for some commutes. Regardless, the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is priced well in the weird three-row hybrid SUV segment and provides a middle-of-the-road choice for buyers looking for a balanced and well-priced family hauler. There are two different engine choices for the Grand Highlander Hybrid: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a HybridMax turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. Both engines are connected to a pair of electric motors, but the former produces 245 horsepower while the upgraded version produces 362. Don't get me wrong, the base engine does a great job at pulling the SUV around town just fine, but it's a little sluggish when accelerating and can feel a little slow during passing maneuvers. In that case, I would recommend the up-level engine if power is more important than gas mileage, as the larger engine will dip fuel economy into the high 20-mpg range. Although Toyota has stepped up its game when it comes to the interiors of its vehicles, the Grand Highlander doesn't feel as premium as its competition. I liked the soft faux leather and soft-touch materials on the dash and door panels, but the Mazda CX-90 and Hyundai Santa Fe's interiors are a little nicer and most lavishly laid out. Ultimately, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is an excellent choice in the three-row SUV segment. After spending time with it, I came away thoroughly impressed with its fuel economy, interior space, and well-mannered driving dynamics. It might not be the cheapest or most-premium-feeling kid on the block, but if you need a large SUV to tote around your family and their stuff in a fuel-efficient manner, the Grand Highlander Hybrid is worth checking out. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Toyota Sienna: Which Hybrid is Best for Families?
'Seats seven,' the TV ad says. You look at your partner and ask if they mean the seven dwarves from Snow White or if they've got the crazy contraption from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on board cause it sure doesn't look like that SUV you just saw on your screen could hold seven adults. But that was before the words 'grand' was added to the SUV's name, leading me to believe it would be both bigger and better. So, can an extra-long mid-size SUV really compete with a minivan? I had the opportunity to compare the Toyota Grand Highlander to the Toyota Sienna and see for myself which of these 7-passenger Toyotas won the prize. This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Both the Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Sienna we test drove were hybrids, and both came with AWD but are available as FWD only. Both the Grand Highlander Hybrid, which starts at $45,380, and the Sienna Hybrid, with a starting price of $39,185, had USB ports in every row, hands-free lift gate opening, and all of the Toyota safety features we love. But what are the major differences between the two? We found out during our week driving them side by side. Related: No Minivan Shame: 6 Reasons Why Minivans Are the Best Thing Ever The Grand Highlander we drove for this comparison had the 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid engine, making it both fuel efficient and comparable in power to the Toyota Sienna minivan with the same engine. The Grand highlander is powered by a 4-cylinder hybrid engine that generates about 245 HP and averages about 34 MPG, vs the Sienna, which generates 245 HP and averages about 36 MPG. The Grand Highlander is also available with a less efficient all-gas 4-cylinder turbo engine that generates 265 HP and averages about 24 MPG, and the Max Hybrid which is a performance hybrid that generates 362 HP and averages about 27 MPG. The all-gas and hybrid max Grand Highlander models do have a larger towing capacity of about 5,000 lbs. vs 3,500 lbs. for the hybrid, which could make a difference for those wishing to haul a small camper or boat. Related: Toyota Grand Highlander: Roomy, Luxe, Easy on the Gas Trying both of these vehicles in the same week for a road trip gave us a really good look at how child car seats would fit in each and how teens and adults would fit in the third row. For reference, I have a 16-year-old who is 6' 2', and for this trip, he and his 12-year-old brother would need to sit in the third row with their 3-year-old sister, who is in a front-facing booster seat. This would allow for the grandparents to sit in the second row. Whichever vehicle we didn't choose would be driven by my husband's brother with his wife and their two kids as passengers. So, we tried putting all three of our kids across the 3rd row of the Grand Highlander Hybrid and the 3rd row of the Sienna Hybrid. In the Grand Highlander, the boys' shoulders couldn't relax, and they had zero spare room. So, while all three kids fit, they weren't comfortable enough for a long ride. The Sienna's back seat is obviously wider because the boys had hip and shoulder room, and both of them were able to use their laptops for homework on the trip. Related: A Mom's Take on Why the Toyota Sienna is so Popular Either vehicle would be great for multiple child seats and easy to install and access in the second row. But if you need to have child seats in the third row, consider how many you'll need and if a kid will need to sit between the two seats. In the Grand Highlander, that could be a tight squeeze. In either model, captains chairs make 3rd row access easier, though so do the slide-and-tilt center row seats that can move to allow access even with a child car seat installed (forward facing or rotating seat, that is). For families that need a center row bench, this is how you'll access the 3rd row. For rear-facing seats, I would prefer the Sienna because the sliding doors mean easy access for everyone. And, you can kick under the door to open it hands-free when your arms are full of baby, seat, diaper bag. You know the drill. Our second test was getting the grandparents in and out of the vehicles. We found ease of entry into the Sienna Hybrid won, hands down, thanks to the low ground clearance and the sliding doors. It's just harder to get mobility-challenged people into an SUV with swinging doors. The final test was luggage space. While the Grand Highlander's luggage space is larger than the original Highlander, it still does not compare to the Sienna, thanks to the minivan's deep cargo well behind the 3rd row vs. the Grand Highlander's flat cargo space. The 3rd row seats in the Grand Highlander Hybrid fold completely flat for a nice big cargo space, and the second row also folds, but you'll end up with a little void where the space between the captains chairs, though it'll be flat in center bench-equipped models. The Sienna's 3rd row folds down, then flips back into the deep cargo well, creating a nice flat loading area for cargo, too. Then, depending on whether you have a bench or bucket seats, you may end up with a void when the 2nd-row seats are folded. Overall, though, the Sienna wins the space race with 193 cubic feet of volume (so, the entire cabin) versus the Grand Highlander, which has about 149 cubic feet of space. Here are the basics about the Toyota Grand Highlander: MPG: Up to an EPA-estimated 34 MPG Combined Rating (37 Highway, 34 City) Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs. Cargo space behind the 3rd row: 20.6 cu. ft. Multimedia system: 12.3-in. multimedia touchscreen Ground clearance: 8' Starting MSRP: $45,380 Here are the important facts about the Toyota Sienna: MPG: Up to an EPA-estimated 36 MPG Combined Rating (36 Highway, 36 City) Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs. Cargo space behind the 3rd row: 33.5 cu. Ft. Multimedia system: 9-in. touchscreen; higher trims feature a 12.3″ dispslay Ground Clearance: 6.37' Starting MSRP: $39,185 There is a difference between road-tripping and daily life, and when I'm thinking about something to buy, I want something that serves me daily, something I enjoy driving, and something I feel safe in. For daily use, I think we could live with the Grand Highlander Hybrid. It wouldn't be often that the grandparents would be with us, and for short drives to town and back, the boys could handle being a little close. Plus, we wouldn't need luggage space for seven around town. The Grand Highlander won me over with its handling, updated multimedia system, and bolder exterior design. I felt like I could get everyone where they needed to go without settling for the family van, and I really liked the way it looked. But if travel were something we did often or if I had babies in rear-facing seats, we'd have to choose the Sienna Hybrid for its ease of loading, added cargo space behind the 3rd row, and comfort for the 3rd-row passengers. And when it comes to minivans, the Sienna really does have some advantages in the option of all wheel drive and standard hybrid fuel economy, which is significantly improved over the all-gas model. And for 2025 Toyota added new features including a cool box an d vacuum to the Sienna, giving it even more lure for families. And, it has good pep on the road. This is one I never mind driving because there is nothing sluggish about it! More must-reads: The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Gives Us Spacious Spa Vibes The Chevrolet Silverado EV May Be the Most Incredible Pickup Truck Ever
