The three-row SUV market is crowded. When it comes to the powertrain, you can choose gasoline, electric, plug-in hybrid or regular hybrid. The regular hybrid is for those who probably will not remember to plug in every night but still want to keep fuel economy numbers up—and gas station visits down. This is where the hybrid Toyota Grand Highlander shines. The Grand Highlander is not marketed to scatterbrains, but as a rational and reliable choice for savvy consumers. Moreover, it uses Toyota’s excellent infotainment and safety suite. Need a three-row comfortable and luxurious workhorse? The Grand Highlander is a great answer. With the MAX hybrid powertrain, speed and towing are even part of the equation!
Three Powertrains?
You can get the Grand Highlander with a regular gasoline powerplant, a hybrid powerplant, or the Hi-Po MAX hybrid option. According to Toyota, the gas engine has 265 horsepower and a 0–60 time of 7.5 seconds (FWD); the hybrid powertrain has 245 horsepower and a 0–60 time of 7.8 seconds (AWD); and last, but certainly not least, the Hybrid MAX powertrain makes Grand Highlander the most powerful midsize SUV Toyota has ever built, with an impressive performance off the line thanks to 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This gives MAX powertrain buyers a 0–60 time of 6.3 seconds. All three powertrains come with three selectable Drive Modes: Sport, Eco, Normal. There are also three Multi-Terrain Select modes: Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, Snow. They can help get you through the rough stuff.
Looks That Kill
Well, maybe the Grand Highlander isn’t the subject of a Mötley Crüe song, but the exterior looks great. The grille has a wide aperture mouth that makes it look aggressive. The dual exhaust setup on my MAX tester looks like it could be on a performance car with nice round exhaust tips. To get kids into the third row easier, the rear doors were designed with a wide opening angle. Nice 20-inch wheels set off the exterior while not being too large to preclude light off-roading.
On the Inside
I really like all the soft-touch components on the Grand Highlander’s interior. The soft-padded instrument panel floats above a carbon fiber effect ornamentation that continues into the door trim, with a functional tray shape that is seamlessly integrated between them. The center console offers a great deal of storage, with both driver and passenger side armrests. There is another exposed storage bin located above the glove compartment. Next to it is a thoughtfully placed USB port for the passenger’s smartphone. High-quality stitchwork expresses refined elegance. In the second row, an air conditioning control panel with separate left and right USB-C ports is placed within easy reach of passengers. The only tricky thing was figuring out how to fold the second-row seats. There is a separate hidden lever located at the bottom of the seat. For those choosing the Platinum model, electric folding seats would have been nice, but once you find the levers it is no big deal to tumble the seats for more cargo space.
Drive Itself
I like that Toyota does not claim the Grand Highlander to be a self-driving car, but it will help you out in the most frustrating commutes! It is equipped with the latest and greatest tech from Toyota, including Toyota’s Traffic Jam Assist technology. Traffic Jam Assist is a radar- and camera-based system that helps ease the burden of stressful stop-and-go traffic on limited access roadways by operating the steering, acceleration and braking functions at speeds up to 25 MPH. It can be a godsend when you can’t even see the flashing lights of emergency vehicles for miles. For safety, the Emergency Driving Stop System has been added to Lane Tracing Assist. Its design helps detect a driver who is inattentive or non-responsive, such as during a medical emergency. This feature can bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver doesn’t respond to alerts to take control.
On the audio front, the JBL Premium Audio system features 11 speakers and does a good job of soundstaging. The subwoofer is located on the driver’s side of the cargo area and could use a little more oomph. Luckily, there is plenty of room for a real subwoofer in the cargo area. Your local mobile enhancement retailer can show you how to integrate real bass into the system. The JBL system is standard on the Limited and Platinum grades. It uses Harman’s Clari-Fi technology to enhance low-resolution sources. Toyota says the system can breathe life into compressed digital music formats, enhancing the audio experience. The JBL audio system is a good start for quality audio.
The Grand Highlander is a great choice for a three-row SUV as it does everything well, with good gas mileage to boot—especially if you are a person without access to a charging station to top off a high-voltage battery at night. You still get the benefits of good fuel economy and Toyota’s robust safety suite. The price is good for the technology and luxury you get, coming in fully loaded at $60K. There is a reason why Toyota’s resale value is strong.
