The Toyota Highlander has been a constant success
The Highlander has been a money printer for Toyota ever since it was introduced in 2001. It’s been a hybrid 3-row SUV since 2006, and ever since, people have made the same complaint: the third row is just too small. The same “but” factor rang true into the 2020s, so Toyota decided to bring in the Grand Highlander–a larger, more spacious alternative to the Highlander that could keep minivan haters away from the Sienna if they weren’t ready for that #vanlife (or grandparents that didn’t want to buy a minivan for the occasional visit, either).
Kristen Brown
I had the chance to put my two toddlers in a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade Hybrid for a week. I very quickly understood why they’re becoming more and more popular despite only being in their second model year. A full-sized family-hauling AWD hybrid SUV getting 30+ miles to the gallon for under $60,000? It seems almost too good to be true. And while it’s an amazing car, there were a few things that made me question the price. Here’s what my week-long review brought to light.
As a van-sized SUV, it was easier to drive than I assumed it’d be
Aside from the Toyota Sienna, the Grand Highlander was the largest car I’ve reviewed so far. The Grand Highlander was a whopping 201.4 inches long, very wide, and very tall. I have a standard two-car garage, and I was worried that it wouldn’t fit, just because of the length and height. Because of its size, a few assumptions came to mind: it would be difficult to navigate through the sometimes narrow roads of my mountain town, it would handle like the school buses my dad drove when I was a kid, and parking would be more of a chore.
Kristen Brown
But I was wrong. Very wrong. On the first day that I had it to review, I went to pick up my husband’s and my dinner, and the only parking spot available was between two large work trucks that were very close to their spots’ borders. I decided to challenge myself and back into the spot, and was able to park the Grand Highlander without issue in just a few seconds, using just my side mirrors. Driving was even easier, since the hybrid battery is what gets it going from a stop, so it’s surprisingly agile, and very easy (and fun) to drive around. I often forgot how big it truly was until I saw it in my driveway next to my tiny Subaru Forester.
Mileage was fantastic, but no one’s shocked by that
The Nightshade Hybrid I drove featured Toyota’s standard hybrid system, which included a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 243 horsepower combined. At first, I felt that the number was a bit too low for a 4,620-pound SUV, but it was no slouch. Though if I were in the market for a large 3-row, I’d probably spend a bit more to get the Hybrid Max version (only in two trims, and of course, they’re the most expensive), which pairs a 2.4-liter turbo four with a hybrid battery to make 362 combined horsepower. This not only makes it faster, but also improves the towing rating from 3,500 lbs to 5,000 lbs.
Kristen Brown
With that said, I regularly saw over 30 miles to the gallon driving around town and on the highway. Granted, a majority of my time with it was spent running errands and driving around town, so I know I would have seen higher numbers on the freeway. The amount of money you’d save on gas is incredibly fair, especially since even in the Hybrid Max version, premium fuel isn’t required. With a 17.2-gallon tank, that means an average combined range of closer to 500 miles. That’s worth a pretty penny right there, especially when you’re hauling kids and gear around (and AWD!).
There was plenty of room for my kids, plus a whole lot extra
The passenger space in the Grand Highlander was astonishing. Installing their car seats was easy, and there was tons of legroom, even with the seats pushed all the way forward to increase legroom in the third row. Both captain’s chairs have the tilt and slide feature, so anyone can squeeze into the third row, even with a car seat installed. With the captain’s chairs, though, there’s plenty of room to crawl in front of the second row and get through the middle–something that’s a little hard to find in most 3-row SUVs.
Kristen Brown
There was also a surprising amount of cargo space behind the third row (20.6 cubic feet, to be exact), which was always just enough for groceries, a diaper bag, and maybe a single stroller. I could see storing luggage if all the seats were occupied being a challenge, but it’s nothing a cargo box, basket, or a hitch cargo carrier couldn’t solve.
For the price, you get a lot more than you bargained for
What I found most interesting is how closely the Highlander and Grand Highlander are priced. At the top of the line, the Highlander Hybrid Platinum starts at $54,475 (excluding any optional extras). The top-of-the-line trim, with the standard hybrid system, the Nightshade, starts at $53,190. The one I drove had every option available, so the suggested retail price came to $56,810, which is still only $2,335 more expensive than the normal Highlander Platinum. So, for that much extra, you get 4.5 more cubic feet of space behind the trunk, and 5.5 more inches of legroom in the third row, and all-wheel drive without sacrificing mileage by too much? Sounds like a bargain.
Kristen Brown
Even the Hybrid Max versions aren’t that far out of reach. The Hybrid Max Limited starts at $55,190, and the Platinum trim starts at $59,275. The Limited trim is still only a tad more than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum, but you get 362 horsepower instead of 243. That’s the real bargain right there. Of course, that’s not factoring in any packages or add-ons–but still. You get a lot for the money.
Final thoughts
With a resounding yes, I’d say the Grand Highlander is worth the money, especially compared to its competitors like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Night, or its industry fraternal twin, the Lexus TX. Although I have two kids, I felt that the Grand Highlander was a bit too big for my own needs, but someone with three kids would adore it, especially since the added legroom in the third row means more space for car seats. Alternatively, it would be ideal for grandparents who want to upgrade to something that can handle more than two grandkids when they visit, as the third row can fold, creating more cargo space than they can likely handle.
About the author
Kristen Brown
Contributing Writer, Autoblog