There was this thought that came in mind when I had the opportunity to drive the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: “Top notch car” I had doubts during my first driving experience, since I have had enough driving test with other Toyota SUVs. After it was all done, I realized how wrong my doubts were.
Just as with every product, when designing a car there is the need to consider your targeted customers, their expectations and how to satisfy or meet their expectations. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was purposely designed with a family as a target, though not every car seems like having a designated target audience.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is a functional car which can be used to serve most desired family purposes.
The Fundamentals
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is built using the GA-K front-wheel-drive technology. The extra space interior design makes it fully unique. Comparably, the Grand Highlander is different to the normal Highlander with regards to hybrid engine system.
There is a 12.3-inch infotainment screen featured just like most Toyota models. There is nothing pioneering about the vehicle itself, although it has nice and unique interior make up. Driving or using the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander comes with enough space and with stellar seats which prevents stress and fatigue during longer driving hours.
The Ups and Downs
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander stands above other vehicle models with its unique feature of hybrid powertrain. This feature doesn’t only come with fuel efficiency but also has an easy transition from gas to electric. The vehicle swaps to electric when you stop during driving, and that is a notable feature to go with.
Nothwithstanding all the above remarkable features, the Grand Highlander has few negative attributes. The Off-road driving settings of the vehicle are among the strangely crafted inside controls I have come across, and its somewhat jolting ride may be a touch frustrating. Other than those minor issues, there’s little to criticize.
Features and Options
Three different powertrain options are available for the 2014 Toyota Grand Highlander: a gas-only engine, a traditional hybrid, and the Hybrid Max that is being tested here. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor combine to produce 245 horsepower in the basic hybrid. The 362-hp Hybrid Max, which has a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and costs around $10,000 more, is, in my opinion, worth the extra cost because of its more modern and powerful powertrain.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L and the Mazda CX-90 PHEV, in my view, are the two main competitors of the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. They are the only hybrids in this price range that provide a matching level of convenience and space. However, the Jeep is advantageous when it comes to off-road capability.
I would set it nearly exactly like my test car if it were my Grand Highlander. The Hybrid Max is the topmost model in the series since it merges the most powerful drive system with enough elegance to justify the title “Grand.” The Hybrid Max trim levels are made up of Limited and Platinum, and since the Platinum only costs an additional $4,000 each month, I would think it’s worth it. I like blue color so think I would stick to that. even so, I would go for the same black interior design used during the test drive.
Fuel Efficiency
On an average in-town driving throughout the week, and considering how big the SUV is, I got about 23 mpg which I think is not bad. The speed at which the Hybrid Max system could drain and renew its battery surprised me. When the SUV was working silently on electric power in stop-and-go traffic, the little battery indicator on the instrument panel would drop promptly; once there was swap to the petrol engine, it would rise equally quickly. To enhance fuel economy, the system repeatedly swaps between power sources.
Verdict
Usually, I would give reasons that $60,000 is not worth a price for an extra-large Highlander, but there are two things that keep me from doing so. First and foremost, modern cars are simply costly. For less than $30,000, you can’t even pay for a good Honda Accord.
If you don’t want something beyond sporty, the Grand Highlander is the best option. Moreover, when you combine it with the Hybrid Max drivetrain, you have both the economy to prevent you from having a bad feeling about it and the power to satisfy drivers who desire a little extra speed.Â
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander isn’t spectacular, but that’s not its purpose. In the same way as a great instrument, it gains popularity by doing precisely what it is meant to do—and doing it very well.
