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Sometimes Toyota isn’t so good at keeping a secret. For months we’ve been hearing about the new Grand Highlander SUV, and all the while, spy photos and information seem to drip out of Toyota City. Officially, Toyota’s holding the new Grand Highlander debut on February 4 to show off the new Highlander. From what we can tell, there are several reasons to wait for the new SUV to hit the market.

What is the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander?

The Grand Highlander is the more grand (grander?) version of the Highlander SUV. In Toyota speak, that means that it’s longer and more luxurious. It’s one of the year’s most anticipated SUVs, and Toyota says it’ll debut next month. The prospect of a roomier Highlander, which is one of the most reliable vehicles you can buy, seems great.

Why is the Grand Highlander special?

Today’s Highlander is a great SUV that seats seven and has a powerful turbo motor. But it has one big, or should we say small, flaw. The back seat exists, but it’s a cramped affair and really only suitable for kids of gymnasts.

The 2024 Grand Highlander should address that by adding some extra length to the back end. Like an 1880s dress bustle, it’ll bring more room for full-sized adults and more luggage. Though it has the same look as a Highlander, you can see a little bit more overhang from the rear wheel to the bumper under the new taillights and stoplight in the one image Toyota released. Toyota says the new SUV will come equipped for family adventures but didn’t elaborate.

The 2023 Highlander has a lot of room, but it could definitely become more grand with a bit more room. It has three rows of seating, but the third row has just 28 inches of legroom, compared to a generous 42 inches in the front. That means the third row is for kids or jockeys only. It also has just 16 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which is about enough for a backpack or three with the seat up. To get more room today, you must purchase the $15,000 more expensive Sequoia SUV.

Toyota needs another seven-seat SUV

A 2023 Toyota Sequoia full-size SUV in Platinum Silver parked outside a luxury brick mansion. The Sequoia will finally have some inner-Toyota competition with the 2024 Grand Highlander.
2023 Toyota Sequoia | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

The Toyota 4Runner, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia, the Highlander, and the Sienna minivan all seat seven. But, the 4Runner’s optional back seat is cramped, and the Sequoia is about $15,000 more expensive than a Highlander.

The new 2024 Grand Highlander will be longer, and that means that many will cross-shop it with the large seven-seater SUVs like the Chevy Traverse. The Traverse, at 17 feet long, has plenty of room and amenities and, in many cases, is a better choice than even Chevy’s Tahoe SUV. It has a powerful V6 and plenty of space. It could also compete with Toyota’s Lexus TX SUV, which shares the same platform.

The new 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L should also compete with the new Grand Highlander. The L means long, and in the Cherokee’s case, the extended wheelbase turns the Cherokee into a full seven-seater with 30 inches of rear seat space. Also, Honda’s Pilot SUV could be considered a competitor, though it is only slightly larger than the current 2023 Highlander.

Related 5 Reasons the new 2023 Toyota Highlander Should Be on Your List

5 Reasons the new 2023 Toyota Highlander Should Be on Your List

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.