Is The Hybrid Max Worth It? Driving All 3 2024 Grand Highlander Powertrains 

Great comparison review, and very informative. Thank you for doing this video. I agree the standard hybrid is hard to beat for it's gas mileage.

I'd get the Hybrid Max except that Toyota won't sell me one with a 2nd-row bench seat. With 3 kids, I want them all in the 2nd row, giving us plenty of room for all our cargo with the 3rd row folded down on road trips. I know Toyota/Lexus is not alone in doing this, but I just have to ask - WHY? Make it an option for goodness sake.

Great comparison, thank you!

This is so helpful! I didn’t realize there is a 10 mpg difference for the 2.5 to the Max! 🎉👍😊

I have an XLE hybrid reserved coming next week (im in California). Thanks for this video comparison, just reaffirms i made the right choice!

Most dope! Wherever life takes me find me with a smile 😊

Jon: Great review! I'm 6'0" and the regular highlander lumbar support hits me too low - near waist instead where the back is arched which is up a little bit. Did you try the lumbar support and where did the bulge hit your back?

so pumped for my limited hybrid silver with the blacked out package! (i did not choose that, it chose me, but it looks sweet anyways)

I appreciate the direction of this review. I was breaking it down the same way, just on the numbers, but the question always was to what degree do you really need the hybrid max over the regular hybrid? It sounds like if you live in hilly terrain and are frequently hauling a lot of weight, you may prefer the max, but if you're mostly on flat surfaces and not hauling weight, the regular hybrid should be perfectly fine.

Just left a dealership now. Hybrid Max Limited $60K + $2k dealer markup. 6-8 month wait.

I just sat in the 2023 Pilot and the Grand Highlander yesterday and was stunned at just how tight the 2nd-row leg room was for me sitting behind myself with the driver's' seat set comfortably for me. The Pilot actually had a more comfortable (WRT legroom) 2nd row fit for me, something I absolutely was NOT expecting. And same with the 3rd row - I fit in both, but was more comfortable in the Pilot. Well, as comfortable as someone 6' 1" could be in the mid-size SUV's 3rd row, lol!

The hybrid mpg is great

Yep great take

should compare sienna to grand highlander even though it may be apple vs orange. it may give people an idea if grand highlander is worth the money vs the van.

I wanted a reliable replacement for my 2014 Honda Pilot, the 4 turbo fit the bill, the MAX was 5-6 k more up here...RIDICULOUS! .thats a TOY that I don't need, it would take 20 years to make my cash back in gas money .... $5k at 5% APR ...... 10-20 year comp? that's if it does not give you issues. 2024 Tacomas will get the same motor, Tacomas STOCK weight is 500 LBS more than this Grand Highlander and we also know that the Tacomas will run the same badass 8 speed transmission. They will also have LARGE tire/wheels and other off road gear, pushing weights near 5k. The Hybrid max runs all the same suspension and weights over 700 LBS more than the standard .... thats literally a car full of people. Just some thoughts, BUT with no LEXUS in the class that is worth it.... the MAX may be a copermise if you wish to compete with the Joneses. I have a Focus ST, going fast is a sports car is where its at, I get all that out of my system in the hills behind my house. OWE great review, you speak very clearly, I agree mostly with what he said .... owe the 4 wheel drive handles much better on freeway on ramps than the 2 wheel drive I found

So for the people who have bought regular hybrids do they feel sufficient for hauling a fully loaded vehicle, accelerating and passing on highways? I’m trying g to decide which one to get so I would really appreciate your thoughts.

We gonna be fighting each other at the dealership for a GH. 😂😅. Family v Family.

Have a hybrid xle on order, theyre telling me its still over a year wait on these. May go with just the regular turbo motor. They said theyre only making the hybrid at 1/3 the rate as normal turbo engine even though the demand is 3 to 1 hybrid its too bad. What would you do? Wait for the hybrid or take the regular turbo? This is Longo in socal.

JON, thank you for the reviews. Do you still think 2.5 hybrid is enough power with 4 adults and 2 kiddos onboard?

My chice is also same as you. 2.4 T basic model.

Must. Wait. For. Land Cruiser. 😆

hoped you stopped and got a lobster pot pie at the seafood bar and grill!

Would you mind sharing the experience of sitting in the 2nd row captain seat? I sat in the captain seat and felt that are very uncomfortable compared bench seat. I really love the Hybrid rmax but without the bench seat option is a real deal breaker for me

Hello, TRD John I think you should buy one in the future 😅

Jon. How does driving the 18 inch wheels differ from driving the 20 inch wheel models?

Gah, I'm so torn between the hybrid and hybrid max. I hear the max is so smooth and engaging to drive, but also that the mpg isn't living up to expectations. On the other hand, I worry the regular hybrid would feel too sluggish. What to do, what to do...

Do you think the xle 2.5l hybrid ha la enough power to pull a teardrop trailer and a truck full of camping gear? Thinking of weeks long camping trip

I wonder why all models doing have the dark headliner and upper trim? I think the light colored headliner just feels a little economy grade. Plus it stains so easy!

Toyota needs to enable the ability to turn off the rear motor on Eco mode for the HybridMax. It should be getting +30mpg!! This is so disappointing getting 21-23mpg on regular driving when i used to get 38mpg on the Rav4 AWD.

So your #1 pick is the 2.5, Hybrid XLE or Hybrid Limited. Are you comfortable with those having electronic variable transmission control vs. the 6 speed of the Hybrid Max Limited, HMPlatinum, or the 8 speed on the XLE, Limited, Platinum?

John, do they "float" on the hwy? My 2020 Platinum Hybrid has always given a weird feeling ride, up/down, left/right, but real "floaty" feeling........anyone else?

Jon, Would you compare explorer st to hybrid max ? Or apples and oranges to you?

Hey Jon, one question. If hybrid Max is the same price as 2.5L hybrid , would you still choose 2.5L hybrid?

Bro, highway mileage on this hybrid is rated 32 not 36 😊

Do You Think they will come out with Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid XSE? The Sporty Version of the Highlander.

Kind of annoying you can’t get the 8 seater with the Hybrid Max. That’s the engine to get, especially for towing. If not towing, I think the regular hybrid would be fine. With the Lexus it’s even worse. 6 seats with the good engine. Might as well get a pickup!

I saw from the dealer they sell for 68k hybrid limited lol

I’m loving the GH! But I do have a question on the 2 lower powertrains. I’m in Vegas, and do quite a bit of road trips (CA, UT, AZ, etc), which has a lot of elevation changes and grades. Add that to the insane heat, and my current SUV tends to be under powered and actually comes close to overheating a few times. Obviously, powers a concern. How do you think the lower trains would handle these conditions? Right now I’m leaning towards the HybridMax for these reasons, but that is quite the price jump too.

I predict that Toyota will have a v6 option for the grand highlander in the future. They know why they gave the Lexus version a v6. It’s too heavy for a 4 cylinder

Why would they put fake sound in a family car?

could you mount the forward facing camera lower? we cant see the road

Do you think the hybrid max is what we’ll get in the new “Land Cruiser”/Prado?

Why is Toyota not putting 310 Pound-feet torque for Hybrid model on their website or in specs?

Why would someone shorter want the seat lower? As someone who is 6ft, whenever I get in a car after a short person they always have it jacked way up to see over the dash and I always have to lower Toyota seats all the way down otherwise I'm way too high/hair touching the roof.

Okay, I'm curious, why all of the reviews of Grand Highlander is in Hawaii? Are they only available to drive in Hawaii right now?

I don't know, man. I don't know. Why did we get a dashboard view only for the Hybrid MAX drive? Boring... Where's the scenery? Otherwise, nice overall comparison.

You can’t get the Platinum without the imax engine.

9:50 - Bingo! I don't want a loud engine in my car. They need to stop that BS fake engine noise.

Were you able to find a way to defeat the fake engine noise? I hate it when manufacturers do that! What a dumb trend.

did you say 310 Lb Feet torque for Hybrid ?

Dear Jon - don't mix CVT and e-CVT. it's different constructions and technic. E-CVT is great and FTW.

Hybrid max for me

What kind of petrol does it run on?

44K is good, but dealers all over are marking them up $10k+ so they are in the mid 50ks.. no thanks, I'll still to the pilot 24 elite at 51k.

Being short wouldn't you want the seat higher up so you can see? My wife is 5 2 and she has to raise the seat not lower it.

Why does nobody report acceleration with four adults inside? I bet it will do better without a driver.

4.12 minute; what's the vehicle? brand and model please?

If you are shorter, you want to sit higher, not lower 🤔 (6:40)

Love your videos. Toyota couldn't do any better with those ugly seats? I mean yeah it's base but my goodness I don't think I have seen interior seats look so bad!

wouldnt a smaller person want the seat higher????

Personally I'm not a fan of any hybrid. I keep vehicles too long and a hybrid depreciates too much long term. IMO. Good review though.

Cx90❤

The max is a joke if I want more power I’ll get a bigger motor. If I want a fully loaded with good mpg I can’t

2023 Honda Pilot V6 much better than that 4 Cylinder SUV

Better is V6 Naturally Aspirated Motor last twice as longer what a waist engine works twice as hard with turbo any Mechanic knows that.

CVT trans? You don’t know what you are talking about

I appreciate vid. Please stop using the totem pole metaphor : “Low man on the totem pole: Totem poles are monuments created by the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest to represent and commemorate ancestry, histories, people, or events. The term “low man on the totem pole,” when used as an idiom to describe a person of low rank, inaccurately trivializes the tradition and meaning of the totem poles, which do not have a hierarchy of carvings based on physical position. Consciously replace this turn of phrase with - Person of lower rank, junior-level.”

Those front seats look hideous. Shaped on the top like they weren't made for humans. WTH!!