- The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander gets a new, more affordable trim level
- Pricing starts at $42,210 including destination charge | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Toyota Grand Highlander models for sale near you
The Toyota Grand Highlander really lives up to its name as it’s quite literally a grander version of the standard Toyota Highlander. Like its namesake, the Grand Highlander is a 3-row midsize SUV. But as its name can’t help but imply, it brings more to the table. Now in its second year, Toyota elected to add a new entry-level version — with a lower price — to broaden its appeal. The LE does come with some standard goodies, but what you cannot have is second-row captain’s chairs; it’s a bench seat only. If you want more features and more seating, the second-row bench is optional in the XLE and Limited trims.
The Grand Highlander’s larger exterior size correlates with more interior space, which correlates with greater passenger comfort and more room for cargo compared to the Highlander and competitors in the 3-row midsize SUV segment. And it’s a tough arena in which to compete, as it wrangles with the likes of the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Chevrolet Traverse. There is a hybrid version that we tackle in a separate piece.
Let’s take a look inside the new 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander
Passenger Room and Comfort
All Grand Highlander models come with three rows of seats. The Grand Highlander can seat up to eight passengers with a second-row bench. Second-row captain’s seats are also available. This choice lowers the total seat count to seven but makes the middle row an even nicer place while providing easier access to the back row. As for that back row, with 33.5 inches of legroom, there is enough room for adults to be comfortable for short trips.
This big, family-friendly Toyota comes with tri-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims bring some truly premium features like heated and ventilated front- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.
The Grand Highlander intends to make hauling the family easier. That means keeping everyone connected and powered up. We used to count a family SUV’s merits by its number of cup holders — 13 in this case — but today, it’s the number of USB ports that counts. In the Grand Highlander, you’ll find seven standard USB-C ports and two available 120-volt outlets.
Features and Technology
The Grand Highlander comes loaded with technology. A 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless charging pad are standard. Higher trims have a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch head-up display that we found super helpful in keeping our eyes where they needed to be: on the road. There’s even an available system called “User Profile Face Identification” that can keep an eye on you to make sure your attention hasn’t drifted. All models include 4G Wi-Fi with a free 30-day subscription.
In addition, all models come with a one-year trial subscription to Toyota’s Drive Connect suite of technologies. It includes the Intelligent Assistant, which can help you with a variety of tasks and respond to voice commands, the most obvious being “Hey Toyota.” It can adjust the cabin temperature, change the radio station, etc. Additionally, Cloud Navigation uses the latest map, traffic, and routing information, including a POI search powered by Google, to get you where you want to be quickly and efficiently. Drivers can also use Destination Assist, which provides 24/7 access to live agents.
Then, there are the details that seem small until you use them, and then you wonder how you ever lived without them, like a standard power tailgate and second-row retractable window shades.
Materials and Design
The Grand Highlander’s base trim is now the all-new LE. It comes with fabric-trimmed seating for all three rows. Move up to the XLE — the former base model — and Toyota’s SofTex faux leather, plus heated and power-operated front seats, is the standard. Genuine leather upholstery comes on higher trims.
An optional enormous panoramic glass roof truly brings the outside in. And no matter which row you sit in, there’s a place for your stuff in the Grand Highlander’s bevy of storage spots. We’re particularly fond of the shelf above the glove compartment with an adjacent USB port for juicing up a phone or tablet.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The Grand Highlander doesn’t just have more room for people. Enhanced cargo space is part of the deal. Behind the rear seats is a highly usable 20.6 cubic feet of space. Need to carry even more gear or goods for that weekend project? Keep folding seats, and you get 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row or a seriously spacious 97.5 with both rear rows folded.
Toyota says it offers enough space for seven carry-on suitcases behind the third row. While we’ve not put that to the test, with two rows of 60/40-split seats or a second row of captain’s chairs, there’s more than enough flexibility to get all the people and stuff you need to where it needs to go.
Build and price your own version of the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander to see this week’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, or check out Toyota Grand Highlander models for sale near you.
