Toyota Highlander VS Toyota Grand Highlander comparison // Which one?

This is a Motormouth couple car review comparing the all-new Toyota Grand Highlander to the slightly smaller Toyota Highlander. Both have room for up to 8 passengers, over three rows. The Toyota Highlander and Toyota Grand Highlander share two powertrains, a gas and hybrid. The gas powertrain is a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Highlander has 264 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, the Grand Highlander 1 extra horsepower. Standard AWD in Canada. In the US, FWD and AWD options are available.
The hybrid has a 2.5L 4-cylinder matched to an ECVT with a combined 243 horsepower. In Canada, standard electronic on demand AWD. In the US FWD and AWD options are available.
Where they differ is in the next powertrain, the Toyota Grand Highlander also has a Hybrid Max with a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder, a 6-speed automatic transmission with a combined 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, standard full-time electronic AWD. You can put regular fuel in both the Toyota Highlander and Toyota Grand Highlander.
The Toyota Highlander and Toyota Grand Highlander are 7-8 passenger SUVs. The gas and 2.5L Hybrid models have very similar interiors in both the Grand Highlander and Highlander. We would say they are Toyota grade interiors, the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max more of a Lexus grade interior. However, the Highlander top trim with the caramel leather interior does look quite upscale. The Toyota Highlander comes standard with cloth upholstery, the Grand Highlander SofTex. Higher trims of the Highlander have SofTex upholstery, available leather. The Grand Highlander also has available leather upholstery and exclusive on the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max model leather and faux suede. There’s also a 10-way adjustable driver seat for the Grand Highlander, 8-way for the Highlander. You do get more standard features in the Grand Highlander, but you will pay more for it. To get similar features as the Grand Highlander base XLE model whether it’s the gas or hybrid models, you have to move up to the Highlander XLE. You will only pay an extra $1,000-$1300 in Canada and the US for the Grand Highlander XLE compared to the Highlander XLE. There’s actually pretty good value with the Grand Highlander considering the extra space you get for only a little more money. These numbers are based on the AWD models.
The Grand Highlander has a standard 12.3” touchscreen, the Highlander an 8”, available 12.3”. Some other standard features on the Grand Highlander that are only available on higher trims of the Highlander include, a wireless charger, power rear door, power passenger seat and a heated steering wheel.
There are a few features the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max has that the Highlander does not, they ventilated rear seats and premium leather seats with suede accents.
Andrea Instagram / motormouth_andrea
Zack Instagram / motormouth_auto
0:00 Intro
0:29 Engine options
3:51 Safety differences
4:31 Size difference
4:41 Design
5:47 Added features
6:22 Interior
8:15 Interior differences
9:18 Price difference on XLE
10:06 Dimensions
10:35 Pricing
11:29 Fuel economy
12:19 Final thoughts