GRAND HIGHLANDER IS BETTER THAN THESE 3-ROW SUV FROM TOYOTA, INCLUDING 4RUNNER, SEQUOIA & HIGHLANDER 

As a senior citizen, I’ve driven a lot of cars in my lifetime. I’ve had my Grand Highlander for 7 weeks now, and there is nothing I don’t love about it. Definitely, my all-time favorite car. (I got the Limited, all gas, second row captains chairs.)

I have had my Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max for a month now. I took some of my friends on a mini trip and they were very impressed by the great ride and almost limousine quietness and comfort. We took turns driving and I have never had such a unanimous favorable response of a vehicle that I've owned. These guys are all car enthusiasts and are usually very hard to please. I was very surprised by their like for this car. We averaged over 26 mpg on the trip which to me is impressive for the torque and power this vehicle has. Well done Toyota!!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I bought mine 50 days ago, I was complaining about the noisy engine, thinking there was something wrong with it. After watching your video, now my love for this car goes from 99% to 100%. I used to drive a 2011 Highlander, I tried the 2015, the 2022 one, but this model, the GRAND Highlander, is really impressive. The suspension is completely different, beside the interior design, the comfort, the features on this SUV (even on the base model) are mind-blowing. Sensors on every seatbelt, USB-C port everywhere for the kids' electronics. The center console makes me feel like a jet pilot, with all the buttons switch under my palm. And believe it or not, this engine is so powerful associated with the comfortability that on the highway, more than once, I realized I was going more than 25 miles over the speed limit, after passing all the other cars and I know I'm not a speedy driver. This car is just flying. Every traffic sign on the road shows up on the dashboard, pedestrians' crosswalk, sensors everywhere, lane change assistance, brake assistance (at any sudden obstacle on the way, the car slows down itself). Last week my daughter, opened her door to get out, and I heard "watch for moving vehicle" and I said "wait", then we saw that cyclist who was less than 10 feet away, passing next to us. I have the XLE model, I can't imagine the PLATINUM package.

David, After listening to this comprehensive analysis and grand praise for this Grand Highlander, I suspect many owners of ordinary Highlanders are having serious second thoughts about their purchase. I want to offer those people a honourable 'way out'. Anyone who is now too embarrassed to be seen in public with a not-so-grand Highlander can leave it parked outside my house. Just leave the keys and paperwork in my mailbox and I will take care of the rest of the details. 😉😉🤣

Sequoia should have been a few inches longer and contain a more spread out battery pack to keep the interior space usable

I love it but I wish they offered 8 seats in the platinum trims and the infotainment setup should be more different than the normal highlander

I love your straight forward reviews. Thanks for a great review. I actually own this 2024 Hybrid Max. There are features that even dealers don't know about. One feature is that the car reminds (with a long sound) that you left your phone inside your car. This SUV is no joke in terms of power especially when going up mountain roads - fully loaded. Hybrid Max runs on Full-Time Electronic All-Wheel Drive (AWD) which gives it an advantage compared to others. Looking forward this winter on how it performs with Nokian HAKKAPELIITTA 10SUV tires.

This should be called the grand RAV4. It takes most of his styling cues from it and it looks awesome.

LOVED the inside knowledge about the assembly plant and the gap analysis - big perk to go with the GH

Really enjoy your reviews. Thank you.

I agree. I think this design is one of the best to come out of Toyota. I'm not sure about the value of the Hybrid Max over the regular hybrid, though. I think the Hybrid Max is actually designed to go with the solid state batteries, and they're using it now as a half step, getting it out in the market as an incremental improvement, and getting it tested in real world conditions, before switching to the solid state batteries. If we had the solid state batteries now, I'd definitely go with the Hybrid Max.

I guess that's why the Century SUV is based on this same platform as Grand Highlander.

Thanks David, I was looking forward to when this video was going to come out! Really enjoyed your review, I'm looking forward to when my GH arrives!

OMG 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Excellent review through and through Well explained , thorough and straight to the point The best video review I’ve seen by far…. Good job !!! Only one question Will you be able to start the engine with the key fob? Or do you need to buy a certain package to do so?

Thanks, David! This was an excellent presentation of the Grand Highlander. The hybrid version has impressive mpg for such a large vehicle. 👍

Awesome this video has helped me alot!! Btw do the foglights have option to change to yellow?😮

I do love Toyota, I do own 2012 Corolla and 2010 Prius right now. And recently bought a 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited as a replacement for 2018 Camry Hybrid. I am glad you’ve mentioned built quality like gaps. So here is what mine GHHL has. 1. Hatch closes flush on the left side not on the right side 3,5mm; 2. Rear fender flare gap is more on the left side. top LH side 5,2mm, RH side - 4,2mm. Bottom: LH side - 2.8, RH side - 3,2mm; 3. Gap between the fender and the hood. Top: RH side - 2,3mm, top LH side - 4mm, bottom: RH side - 3,5mm, LH side - 4,5mm 4. And the hood and headlamp is more on the left than on the right. Top: RH side - 3mm, LH side - 4,7mm. Middle: RH side - 3,5mm, LH side - 6mm. Bottom: RH side - 3mm, LH side - 4,5mm. The numbers might not look big on paper but when you actually look at the car - it doesn't look good; 5. Not mentioning that the hood and sides of the vehicle have scratches from the day one, like it went through the auto car wash right at the factory or at dealership.

Great Video, I agree with your assessment of the Grand Highlander How long does it take to order the hybrid model, I live in Ontario Canada,thanks again

The all-new, 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander HybridMax is now one of my favourite three-row full-size crossovers, which is AWD and it only seats seven passengers.

David, what do you think of the reliability and longevity of the 2.4 l turbo gas engine?

Good review and straight on point.

I have a gas GH with 8 seating and large pan panoramic sun roof. Only problem is the A/C is undersized for southern hot weather. The head room area is always hot because the Roof insulation is insufficient to stop the greenhouse effect and there are no vents on the dash to direct toward the roof to cool it.

Thanks for shedding some light 😊

Awesome review!

Thanks for such a Thorough Review. 👍🙏

Which trim level would you recommend for value ?

David the 3rd row and large cargo area in the Grand Highlander would be great for traveling, and long trips.

great insight. Thanks for doing it.

I love my 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum in Wind Chill Pearl, even my brother is very much impressed! I love its riding comfort, reputation in terms of realiability, spacious, good fuel efficiency considering its size! ❤

Great video !

Really enjoy my hybrid max! Very quiet, easy to drive, great accelleration. Enjoy all the cargo space for dogs, kids, and stuff.

At MSRP this is a good value. Unfortunately everyone around me is advertising it for thousands over which kills the value proposition. Hopefully as the supply goes up that problem goes away.

Does it comes with adaptive headlights?

This is an incredible review! Thank you

Great insights!

I bought my wife a Lexus NX and the lack of physical buttons did have me pause, but overall, it's such a great vehicle.

It is an impressive SUV. I love mine. We took it on a round road trip from MD to FL and was surprisingly very comfortable. However, Toyota has yet to address its software issues. One buyer I know is already in the process of lemon law with less than 500 miles on her GH.

Excellent review!

The new turbo 2.4 engine is very impressive. I work at a Toyota dealer and the new engines that Lexus smoothness to it that the 2.5 NA engines were sorely lacking. Lots of torque and 95% of that V6 smoothness is perfect. If it's as reliable as the good old 2gr, then it'll be a top 10 all time Toyota engine for sure.

This was a very informative video. You covered a little more as far as the handling and the ease of the command center. We currently have a 2022 Highlander Hybrid Platinum. This will be our next vehicle in in the Platinum Max. The extra towing capacity is why we are going to upgrade. We need to be able to tow our boat and that is right around 3800#. The 2022 can only tow 3500#. They still can’t give me an assembly date, therefore, we don’t know if we will get the 2024 or the 2025. I can’t wait to get it.

great review!

This guy knows his stuff .. great video

I don't think you said this specifically but you think it is worth the additional price and giving up about 10mpg from the GH regular hybrid for the Max? I know I know depends on priorities or what you are solving for but in general and balanced value equation?

I have a 21’ Sienna XSE. We have no children but 2 seventy pound dogs. The room in the Sienna is going to be hard to beat as we have the super long slide seats there. I would likely need a bench seat in the second row. Our Sienna averages 34 mpg in very hot and humid SWFL. And the power is adequate for a hybrid. I wish Toyota would invest in a nav screen upgrade for the Sienna. I would get a new one. The styling is great too. Can you review a Sienna?

I want to thank you for your honesty about the new grand highlander pro max platinum. I’m in the market for a new car. I’m going to see if there are any available at the Toyota dealership. I appreciate your video

Toyota performed an excellent execution on the Grand Highlander. This model will really fit many customers needs.

Thank you for your video.

Excellent, thorough review. I have some back problems. So, I'm curious to know how comfortable the leather seats are in the Grand Highlander. Sometimes leather seats can be overly stiff, and some of them never really break in much over time. We have only been able to test drive the fake leather/vinyl seats in the XLE so far and have found them to be sticky and sweaty at times, though not stiff.

That front end is beautiful 😍 It’s very simple but very strong and bold

Maybe you can do a video detailing the driver's experience with a suspension that has "adaptive variable suspension" (e.g. Toyota Crown) versus those without. The upcoming Lexus TX 500h F-Performance has this feature and your past reviews of the Toyota Crown suggest it greatly improves ride and handling qualities.

Great tutorial

Would you upgrade from a 2022 regular highlander? And give up the V6? Trying to decide if it’s worth the upgrade since it will cost a lot

Great job

Excellent review overall.

Between the cx90 & the GH, id go with the GH. Hybrid in particular. that 30+ mpg is just solid.

What is the cargo cover that has a Toyota logo and covers the 3rd row seats when they lie flat?

Where are the 3rd row weather back matts from?

Looking to this or the TX. Replacing a 22 gx that my family has outgrown faster than I’d hoped.

Have to watch out for safety ratings! I thought sienna would have the best ratings but driver safety rating was only 3

David, the highest trim levels are almost always going to get the most love. What about the regular GH hybrid with E-CVT? What are your thoughts on that vehicle with respect to engine, power, performance, and practicality?

Great review! I am inclined to get it.

Are you say that the Indiana build is comparable to Tahara plant build of Lexus/4Runner?

Now that the Lexus TX is out - would you recommend the GH or the TX?

I thought the backend design is a bit dull. The TX looks a lot better from the back. And second, this applies to almost all 3row SUVs, top trim doesn't have bench seat option. I just don't need the captain seats for the child car seats!

I bought a grandhighlander xle awd with 2.4 turbo!! No market adjustment!! Im happy with this car

David, how about the gas mileage, we have a 2020 GX460 and we are thinking of that one or the TX, but where we live we have to travel to Edmonton to get the Gx fix, need your help. I did buy the TRD pro and best truck on gas.

What do you think of the regular hybrid, not the max?

In Canada, if one wants to get a sunroof on the hybrid model, he has to pay more than 70K all in for limited trim, vs. xle trim on regular highlander for just 61k. Huge miss!

I have the 2024 Palisade Calligraphy in Steel Gray and Beige interior and absolutely love this car but what the Palisade Calligraphy is lacking: wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel- it is manual, automatic door locks when you walk away, power folding mirrors, motion activated rear lift gate - has automatic proximity instead but I don’t like that as it can lift when you don’t want it to. What it has that others don’t and are really nice: massaging drivers seat, heated and ventilated 2nd row, heated 3rd row, power down and up 3rd row, seat change on sport mode or high speed driving- side bolsters squeeze in and seat bottom also adjusts, acoustic laminated glass all around. For the cost it is great, hope the reliability is good and have no problems with warranty support as I have heard may be a problem. The finance person highly recommended the additional warranty company as he stated it would be great to have in case Hyundai refuses a warranty claim for some reason and I have since read that is common with Hyundai, time will tell.

what do you say about Toyota Mark X ?

Can you comment on the thickness of the metal sheet the car is built with? How solid the doors close?

David, do you think there will be a XSE version of the grand Highlander? I saw other reviews stated that it is pretty floaty to drive and passenger, especially those sitting third row will get car sick. I hope the XSE will have sport tuned suspension that will somewhat fix this

Great review. Will be curious how this will go against the upcoming Land Cruiser. I am looking for my last car before I retire and die. Wondering if this will be the car. My worry is I tow a 3500lb boat and over the years the salt and all the dings from towing will wear it down. Not sure if the shocks will make it rugged enough when I hit curbs or go on dirt remote roads with the boat. May go with the Land Cruiser because of my reckless driving and abuse when towing the boat as the trailer will put a lot of weight on the hitch to slant the backend down.

ii like the regular highlander ,the design is not boring but i also like this one. i like that there is options

I’m happy with my highlander platinum glazed caramel interior. ❤️ Now I got my eye on that 2024 first edition Land Cruiser 😂

Just picked up my GH a week ago. Very fun drive.

agree just saw one, really like it same with the crown , id put sequoia last place fold down 3rd row takes up to much space when folded down

I currently have a 21’ Sienna XSE. We love it! I wonder if I would regret getting a Grand Highlander. We don't have kids but two seventy-pound dogs. The efficiency and room on the floor in the second row have completely spoiled us. Maybe I'll wait for a Sienna refresh with updated tech. The Hybrid system in the Sienna is perfect!

From outside maybe looks so good. But for me GH just too pricey for what u get. Same prime mark at $53k between GH limited and Honda Pilot elite. See the interior and you can tell the difference. I’ll definitely go for Honda Pilot.

Great review. I agree; the hybrid turbo 4 engine is a fantastic idea for this vehicle and I suspect it will be proven very reliable. The only real downside is towing but as a family hauler, this is more appealing than Toyota’s minivan or Sequoia. I love what Toyota has done with the interior design and space usability. My wife’s 2016 RAV4 will soon need an upgrade and this is now on the top of our list of vehicles under consideration. Thank you!

Other than space, is there any other advantage of GH vs CX 90? Ride quality, comfort, gas mileage? Is grand highlander really cushy and soft compared to cx 90?

Do you think we need a side runner step for Grand highlander? How will it improve your car entry.

Can you do a comparison between Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot? My three biggest compliant with GH is 4 cylinder engine verses the old V6, No bench seat for Hybrid Max trim, and the Brown color seats are not available in the Limited trim. Love the V6 engine in the Honda Pilot but it has a belt vs chain timing belt. The Pilot had alot problems with their 9 speed transmissions so now they have a 10 speed transmission. Not sure how reliable that is. Would for you to do a comparison of the 2 suvs

What is the fuel consumption rate? What is better in terms of fuel consumption: Limited or Platinum? thank you❤

Hello: I have the new Lexus LX600... I love it except the ride is not like car like, due to body on frame design. I wonder what your thoughts are for the new upcoming Lexus TX vs Lexus LX600. Best to you!

It's a beautiful design. Much better than those of the Ford, GM etc. I'm not fond of 4 cylinder turbo but I'll take your word on it's performance. I'm old, so I have a soft spot for my 5th gen 4Runner. It's a truck for sure and very rugged and capable. Good video and I very much enjoy your channel.

Thank you for this very informative review. I've watched at least 15 Grand Highlander reviews in the last few weeks. Yours is far and away the most in-depth, practical, and comprehensive. Over the years I've owned multiple Toyota vehicles, including 2 Tacomas and three 4 Runners. I just traded my 2024 Sequoia Hybrid Capstone for the 2024 Grand Highlander Platinum. I purchased the 2024 Sequoia last November and drove it almost 5000 miles, mostly highway. I do like it, but found the cargo storage and limited space of the third row seating area very inconvenient. When I purchased my Sequoia I did not think that would matter much since my kids are adults and I've never sat in the third row. But after a couple of trips to drop my daughter's family at the airport (including my 2 teenage grandkids traveling with more luggage than anyone would ever need) and a long road trip with my wife and our 145 lb mastiff, it mattered. But the really difficult thing to reconcile was the gas mileage and tank capacity. Although it was rated at 19 and 22, I never broke 16.5 combined city and highway. Even worse was the range-average of 304 miles to the tank! I waited 9 weeks for the Sequoia. I've been waiting 6 weeks and counting for the Grand Highlander. After watching your video I am convinced the wait will be well worth it. Thank you again!

I like the title. That’s what I’ve been saying that since it’s reveal.

First time seeing the grand highlander. It does not seem to have a roof rack despite being a platinum level. Also, I did not see that it can tow (maybe hidden). Maybe those are add on options. But for a basic people mover for a large family it seems great, though the style to me is bland. I wonder what the mpg is for the platinum. I assume the Lexus version will have tighter steering and more style but be a close cousin. Thank you

I think you gave a good review on this new grand highlander. I think toyota hit it out of the park with the grand highlander.

Got mine 1 mo ago! Limited hybrid with moonroof and 360 camera. I bought the pearl white with blackout package. Still can't figure out how it boasts 17.2 gallons. I took it down to 40 miles to go and filled it up. Only could get 11.6 gallons and it was full. The buttons for the power (eco, sport, etc) is inconvenient. My palm constantly hits the sport button when I get my water out of the cup holder and I don't realize it. I think the plastic is cheap and scuffs easily. Love the height that the GH gives. I did not pay any markups. I did order it with all the extra lights like puddle lights and hatch light etc. I get 35-40 mpg but I love driving it conservatively. I did not get the platinum because I did not want or need the max. I would sacrifice fuel economy for a little more power and noisiness. I came from a Nissan Armada so I'm impressed with the engine. Sure, not the power of a V8 but I'm saving around 300 bucks in gas/mth.

Hi David, The grand highlander is a fine SUV🇯🇵❤️🤍

Being practical just doesn't do much for the senses, though. I saw one of this last weekend sitting a on a dealer lot with a sold tag. The wheels and front clip are what attracted me, but the rest is very conservative and, in my opinion, that that interesting.

Anyone have experience with this compared to a Subaru Ascent?

In my opinion, the Mazda CX90 is a beautiful and elegant vehicle. However, its 3rd row floor space is awkward and limited.

Please upload daily

David, you mentioned the turbo4 being really nice but you are driving the Max version. What about the base gas turbo 4 version? Will it have enough power when packed up for a long road trip?

Well, now you can get it as a $170,000 Century SUV.

I really like the sequoia but this so practical

Great review. Let me know if you want to sell it. 😅. Looking for exactly that for my daughter with twin girls.