Toyota took the U.S. Army commercial from the 1980s seriously. Hours before the Chicago Auto Show opened, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander made its world debut. This new Toyota SUV could be the best family SUV for the upcoming year model year. The early morning debut shows that Toyota “gets more done before 9 am than most people do all day,” which could be a new theme for the Grand Highlander.

Where does the new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander fit in the lineup?

The debut of this new Toyota SUV shows that Toyota is tired of seeing competing models such as the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade touted as useful midsize family SUVs. The new Grand Highlander will compete directly with these Korean models.

This new Toyota SUV might be the best family SUV in the class. The Grand Highlander takes the admirable qualities of its namesake a little further by including three adult-sized rows of seats. Toss in the hybrid powertrains developed by Toyota, and this new SUV certainly has a strong argument for being the best option for most families.

How much space does this new Toyota SUV offer?

If passenger space and cargo room are important to your family, the new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is here to deliver the goods. This new Toyota SUV is built on the TNGA-K platform to be a great SUV for family driving.

The Toyota Newsroom reports this SUV has enough space for seven carry-on suitcases behind the third row and 98 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded down. This signals ample cargo room for a large family. As promised, the third row brings adult-sized seating, which could make this the best family SUV in its class.

How does Toyota make the new Grand Highlander comfortable for all?

Each row of this new Toyota SUV brings a distinct level of comfort and convenience for the whole family. Here’s what passengers in each row will find:

Front Row

The driver and front passenger in this new Toyota SUV are met with an impressive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. You’ll also find wireless charging, two USB ports, and three cupholders. One of the cupholders is large enough for a large water bottle. The front passenger can use the side pocket to hold a small bag, which makes it a convenient place for small items.

Second Row

Toyota offers two configurations for the middle row in the Grand Highlander. Models with the bench seat have cupholders in the armrest, which is also the rear of the center seat. All models have air conditioning controls and separate left/right USB ports. Driver opting for the captain’s chairs in this row will see a multi-purpose tray and a rear console between these seats.

Third Row

Passengers relegated to the third row no longer need to feel slighted. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander includes individual USB ports, smartphone/tablet storage areas, and two cupholders for the rearmost row. There’s also a support grip to make entry and exit much easier for passengers in this area.

What are the three powertrains offered in the new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander?

The talk of the town for this new Toyota SUV is the new Hybrid Max powertrain. This impressive system is still under wraps, but Car and Driver tells us it makes 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This should be enough power to rocket this SUV to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and provide enough power to tow more than 5,000 pounds.

While the Hybrid Max is the top powertrain, the new Grand Highlander offers two other choices. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine mates with an 8-speed automatic transmission delivering 265 horsepower for the drive. A second hybrid powertrain is also offered. This system is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors to offer 243 horsepower and up to 34 mpg combined.

All versions of the Grand Highlander are available with FWD or AWD.

Will this be the best new family SUV?

The new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander could be the best family SUV when it arrives. This SUV brings the desired spaciousness and advanced Toyota hybrid powertrains to deliver what many families search for in their SUVs.

Next, check out the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, or learn more about the new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander in the video below: