I love all Toyota vehicles regardless. My old 2005 Sienna still runs great at 325k miles without having to rebuild or replace anything major (engine, transmission, AC, suspension, fuel system all original). Just purchased the new generation Hybrid Sienna and couldn’t be happier. 600-650 miles range on smaller fuel tank 18 gallons Vs 21 gallons.
I just purchased a 2024 Grand Highlander Limited Hybrid and I am very pleased. I have been driving a Honda Pilot last 6 years and 150K miles. Highlander is a very comfortable drive, lots of interior room. Very pleased.
I'm so happy Toyota built this extended version of the Highlander. I don't know the price but with all the rear seats down it almost has the hauling capacity of a truck without the poor fuel mileage and at a lower cost. Eighty percent of the time I don't need a truck so this would fit me perfectly when I need to haul a bit more than my RAV4. It could be easily converted for use in car camping or placing a tent on top of the roof rails.
as a young in the field toyota tech, i really appreciate these in depth looks at the new vehicles. the video format does a lot more for teaching me than the online learning modules do.
Just had my 2014 Prius serviced by AMD and his crew. It was a Total pleasure to meet and speak with Melanie and AMD, And, I know my service was done with integrity and care. Thank you to all that take great care of their customers at TCCN Automotive! Chuck
Honestly the grand highlander was a top contender for me to purchase but there is little inventory and every Toyota dealer in my area insist on listing pricing with a $5k or more “market adjustment” over MSRP. That is the primary reason I am no longer considering it. I actually like the new honda pilot more anyways and even though inventory is also limited, most honda dealers aren’t putting stupid market adjustments on it and you can get a reasonable deal.
Same boat here, actually found 2 pilots and agreed on a price for trailsport but now they refuse to sell to me because i wont buy the extended warranty . They know someone else will buy it so they will just wait.
@@alberttheelectricianbackup7878 that’s shitty! Still waiting on my TrailSport to deliver this month but the dealer has been great to work with. And my sister just bought a new HRV from them no issues. Not even pushy about the extended warranty when she said no.
@@SlyBSer they gave in . Im here purchasing it . Actually changed my mind from red one to light bluish one they had in showroom. Finally after looking for 2 months at 3 row midsize vehicles were getting one. Wife was being very picky since its replacing her 18 wrangler . Now i get the 18 and sell my older vehicle. Good luck to you . Vehicle looks and rides great.
Honda kept the V6. I would have bought the Grand Highlander with a V6 over Honda Pilot all day long but with small turbo 4 cylinder that makes less horse power than V6 Camry I'm not sure about it. A dearm Grand Highlander would be a V8 one with Toyota indistructible 5.7 liter.
People should be aware that these engines (including the non turbo ones) should at least get an oil change every 5k miles or 6 months, but most importantly if they want their Toyota to last or planing on keeping it for a long time DO NOT FOLLOW THE DEALERS INSTRUCTIONS ON FREE MAINTENANCE and you’ll notice after buying your new Toyota and taking it for the 5k miles maintenance they won’t change the oil until the vehicle is 10k miles which is unbelievable 🤯
Yes, AMD mentions this to what you have said many times on his videos. You should watch his other maintenance videos, it’s Very informative. Especially the video where he replaced a motor on a Camry. I worked on cars for over 20 years and AMD is definitely on point!☺️
I totally agree with you on the sienna over this. I currently own two siennas and they're just soooo much more functional than the highlander (or other SUV's). Esp the 3rd row.
I thought the same buying a mini van until I didn't need that much space anymore lol Grand Highlander offers reliability with space and with 8 inches of ground clearance can do some light trails... Now I regret buying the mini van... Sure the mini van offers the max space but I don't the max space... I need good enough space... Also, the Grand highlander has a wow factor in simplicity and doesn't look like a whale lol Another great and excellent pick which actually looks better and driver better than a the Grand Highlander is the new 2024 Honda Pilot..
You cannot buy that model anymore. They are not allowed to sell it due to to airbag deficiencies. What a shame. That means the Lexus TX has that issue. However, those who purchased it already get the fix and keep it😢. It is a beauty.
Always enjoy your vehicle reviews. We get more insight than other reviewers give us. 👍🏼I would be interested in a Mercedes Benz GLE 450 review from you.
Great video! Just one disagreement concerning your conclusion that the Sienna is more sensible than Grand Highland aside from the Hybrid Max. Having test driven one of these, the Grand Highlander is much more comfortable and roomy than the Sienna and has better a better tech package. For someone who is taller, the Grand Highlander will be considerably more comfortable than the Sienna, especially for longer trips. Just figured I’d offer that different perspective. 😊
More comfortable and roomy? That's not what all the reviews are saying. Are you talking about the driver seat specifically? For 2nd and 3rd row seats the advantage goes to the Sienna for sure. What is different about the driver seat on the GH? I'm 6'4" and would like to know. Thanks!
Yes, for the driver’s seat. My apologies for not being more clear. You are correct that the passenger section in the Sienna is larger and more spacious. At 6’3”, I found the GH driver’s seat to be wider and more comfortable than the Sienna. Also recently learned the Sienna’s hybrid battery sits below the front seats which moves the driver seat a bit higher than older generations. I didn’t measure but I believe you can move the GH seat lower which provides more headroom for those with longer torsos. Personally, I also felt the steering wheel position to be more comfortable and than the Sienna but I realize that’s a personal preference. Hope this perspective helps!
I have a sienna, my complaint is not the power, it’s the suspension that should be air suspension. No none-adjustable is acceptable on a vehicule that can have 1 passager in the morning and 7 with luggage in the afternoon. My father had an air suspension on a Chevrolet Venture back in 1997….
Could you do an updated video on known issues with the Grand Highlander? I had some work done to my Camry recently and mentioned we were interested in them and the service leader told me not to get it because they were having lots of issues.
Max is same as regular hybrid with 2 key difference. max has 6 speed transmission and turbo because of that you get to feel lke almost V6 and no drone issue but problem is that that 6 speed transmission will give some problem after 150K.. but hybrid transmission are solid it is like 0 or 1 all electronics with one planet gear.
Just the other day I went to my dealer to willingly change first oil after 3k km in my new Corolla 2.0 hybrid. 3 (in word "three") technics at the desk looked at me in shock what the heck and why I want to do that, that the engine doesnt need it and who I got that idea from :D
He hits on what I was concerned about - the regular hybrid being underpowered for that size of a vehicle when loaded down. Holding out hope for a Prime version to offer power and similar efficiency
The added horsepower of the Hybrid Max is enough, check the horsepower rating and torque below: For the family driver, the allure of the Grand Highlander rests with the new Hybrid Max powertrain. As the most powerful Toyota midsize SUV ever, it can rush from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrains generate 362 horsepower with 400 lb. -ft of torque.
We just got the regular hybrid 2024 Grand Highlander and it seems to have better pickup than the gas, even with lower horsepower. I think the battery makes a big difference from a stop. And with hopes to get 37MPG in town, its now my goal. Too bad we do more highway driving, but 34 isnt too shabby either
@@jlwhein1779 Same drivetrain as my 2023 Lexus ES300h (I believe) and I get 43+ MPG in the city; however, she does weigh less than your Highlander. Love the hybrid system. See my comment below and change that oil & filter regularly (every six-months or 5,000 miles, whichever occurs first) just like TCCN and Scotty Kilmer recommend.
The regular hybrid is proven and reliable for last 20 years... The hybrid max is an experiment with turbos and new engine setup that no track record (turbos tend to expensive part that wears out overtime). I would go with the regular hybrid...
Nothing wrong with the sienna. However, living in the snowbelt, out in the country, I would need the 8" of ground clearance that the grand highlander provides.
Excellent review and I appreciate the comparison to the Sienna. However, I think I'm going to stick to looking for one of these as I'm also in construction and like the additional ground clearance for when I have to drive onto a job site. Now, if I could just find one for sale in So Cal where the dealers aren't adding their greedy "market adjustment"...
The more i look at the US car market, the more I'm weirded out by how your dealers can do things that will not be acceptable in other countries. Why can't they just sell these cars at the designated price like everybody else in the world?
I’m in SoCal too. Longo Toyota is not doing markups, selling at MSRP, just long waitlists like 6 months but depends on configuration. Claremont Toyota is also good, and there markups aren’t nearly as bad as other SoCal dealers at 3-4k, most are doing at least 5-7k.
It’s an unfortunate side effect of a free market. I’ve also noticed how the companies that distribute new Toyota’s in the US are also adding additional items to the sticker to bump up their profits before the vehicle even arrives at the dealership making them even more expensive here.
The “lock the door button” doesn’t lock the door… If you push that with the smart key in your pocket, it will wait until you walk away to begin closing the rear lift gate. It’s a proximity thing from the Lexus models…
Great review AMD. I am excited about the potential for this model. I know you always mention the aluminum knuckles on the suspension. Aluminum is a good choice for dissipating heat and this configuration may pull heat away from the brakes and the wheel bearings. So while it may weld itself to the wheel at some point, before it does that it may be extending the life of other moving components that are generating heat during normal operation. Toyota uses this material for the knuckles in all their vehicles that I know of so there may be more than one reason why that they use it.
Thanks for your interesting review! Toyota, at large, and this vehicle, in particular, are excellent vehicles; yet, they are too expensive and overpriced - not affordable for our family! Currently, most Toyota dealer's are adding market adjustments $$$$, add-ons $$$, and fees $$$ onto their asking prices...
In this class of vehicle, there is no "budget-friendly" option. I think the lowest trim gas model is 45k. Pilot / Telluride / Palisade / CX-90 are all the same or higher.
Personally, I would get a lower spec model of the TX Lexus versus the higher spec model of the Highlander. That’s what I did with the RX and considerably happy.
I can't get excited about a coarse, less durable turbo 4 cyl engine, when they used to make such a smooth V-6 that apart from those cam phasers would last my lifetime.
The main reason to get this over the Sienna is the design / looks. The real comparison is the new Pilot and this. Cargo space numbers would be great. The 2013 Highlander has 95 square feet of cargo space and this and the new pilot are about the same. The exterior dimensions on the old 2013 Highlander is a much smaller footprint. New cars seem to get bigger and the interior space doesn't. Is that just for safety?
The reason for the the utilitarian interior and spacious engine bay is because the GL shares the same platform as the new Lexus TX, which has the lux interior and V6 powertrain options.
considering how many people disliked where the Toyota Venza put the Start button, im surprised Toyota put it in the same place in this vehicle. That Start button and the charge port are taking entirely too much space in that console.
Was looking for this after watching your 2023 Pilot video. I would love to see your comparison of the two and which one you recommend overall (and why). Comparing the videos, I think you would recommend the new Pilot over the Highlander and Grand Highlander (unless space was the most important factor, then the GH gets it).
What octane fuel would you recommend for the Grand Highlander? I'm more concerned with fuel economy and long term performance of the car. Is it worth putting 89 or 91? Or can I just stick with 87?
my opinion mechanical water pump is way better then electrical water pump, we see what happend with the prius with electrical water pump, how many failed cause head gasket replacement plus the cost of electrical water pump is way higher the mechanical water pump, also lifespan of mechanical water pump is longer then electrical one, in this question AMD i will disagree with you sorry😂
XLE hybrid itself is almost $50k. Still comes with 6 speaker system of unknown brand. The next trim has 11 speaker premium JBL. Common Toyota, you can do better than that
You got your conclusion right, mostly. I agree with you that the sienna is a better choice in every way except for it doesn’t have the hybrid max. Which means the sienna fails. Let’s give you a big vehicle that can take lots of people and lots of stuff so you got all the volume you need, but let’s fail to give it enough zoom zoom to actually work. That is why the grand Highlander gets a pass, and the sienna gets a fail for me.
The front grille looks so vulnerable to a poor parallel parker. Why not have some type of bumper to prevent damage of all the cameras behind the grille?
I repeat people do not buy a mini van unless you need max space all the time or doing Amazon deliveries... I bought a mini van and I regret it (2022 model which I am trading in) lol Yea it offers max space but I only use it some times and it nothing that the Grand highlander couldn't cover or my favorite Honda Pilot which seats a full grown adults in the back now !!... Going to weddings and other venues in a mini van lol Yea not cool... This Grand Highlander is handsome, practical, and is tasteful with the right amount feature, elegance and class... Also, the ground clearance of 8 inches is amazing... It makes weekend adventures on light trails a breeze... Another model to consider is the Honda Pilot...
@TwinkanPD Turbos run hotter, not going to last as long, more expensive to fix. That thing should have a V8. They last forever if routine maintenance is done but the Greenies are screwing everything up currently.
yea but navigation is much better on your phone i've never used the navigation on the car over my phone so its not such a big deal , it does suck how greedy companies have become
@@LoneWolfSparty What % of Totota cars were powered by that compared to those with a naturally aspirated ICE? That turbo I-6 was only in the Toyota Supra. That's less than 1% of Toyota cars. Enjoy this free lesson.
@@passZword actually if you want to get technical they had a turbocharged engines in some of their vehicles not available in North America but thanks for playing and trying to teach me a "lesson".
Wow engineering at its finest remove injectors to replace the valve cover gasket. People want fancy gizmos the govt wants better gas mileage , sure results in serviceability complications and extra shop time and a bigger bill
After we changed the battery on the 2017 LX570, now our infotainment system doesn’t turn on . I followed the instructions in the picture below but it didn’t help. The screen shows the lexus logo like in video for a couple seconds when I first turned the car on but then it will shut off to a blank screen and no audio. Backup camera STILL SHOWS, which means the screen is fine. Yes we have tried the disconnecting negative method. No audio at all and all the buttons don’t work for audio. The fuses are good, so I’m not sure what is potentially fried or causing the problem.
I thought your review is quite technical and that’s the good thing. Don’t why people are so concern about CVT common folks aren’t going to notice anything about it. BTW is hybrid Max really work as it says or just a marketing gimmick? 👍
No thanks. This one is an easy pass for me. How will a 4600 pound SUV fair when its loaded up with over 5000 pounds of people and cargo and then possibly towing maybe a few thousand pounds or so with a turbo four cylinder.. that seems like that will work out really well over time. I find the looks of it nice and pleasant but no v6 is no deal for me. Many thanks AMD, you did do a fantastic review on this one so I will give you a thumbs up for that alone for sure! 👍🏼👍🏼
Is there any way you can review the 2024 VW Atlas? I am debating between financing this GH or the Atlas. I hear the Atlas is also a decently reliable engine minus the water pump. But I would like your expertise regarding the matter.
I have this car and in the Hybridmax version. The car is VERY fast for its size. However....I have issues with power surging or power loss in the car. The car would intermittently feel like there's power loss when I slow down and turn and may make a clicking sound as i pull out from a turn. Sometimes, it clunks on acceleration. I feel like it's an issue with the gas and electric motors syncing. I felt sometimes as if the car was about to stall. My older 2020 Rav4 XSE has zero issues (i know it's a different powertain w/CVT). I've brought the vehicle to Toyota for service several times where they said they would reset or reflash the ECU. The problem still persists intermittently. I love this car though but since i got the new first year model, i bought a 96mo warranty for only $300 more than a 60mo warranty.
Am surprise you did not mention about those rubber lines going to the Transmission ,when they should be metal lines , and to make it worse it’s about a foot away from the muffler. That rubber hose will get bridle and dry and in the long run it will break and leak all oil out . Please tell me if am wrong. It was only a observation I did . Thank you, I do love your videos , my The Lord Bless you much 🙌🏼🙌🏼👏🏻👏🏻🙏🙏🙏🙏🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷
I've owned and loved turbos, but in my old age, I think I value simplicity over complexity. I'd definitely go the non-turbo route on this one. I'm also a huge fan of how bulletproof the usual Toyota eCVT is. Even if the EPA mpg numbers of the two were identical, you can keep the extra power, I wouldn't want this new system. With this being a serious gas hog by comparison, it's not even in the running for me. The regular hybrid is a slam dunk between the two. I agree that the 2021+ Sienna is better in most ways, but I think the regular hybrid version of this is a reasonable alternative for the anti-minivan crowd. I follow the vanlife and nomadic RVing communities. Both versions will probably find a small following for folks who find it in their price range. Maybe this version for anyone towing a trailer, the regular hybrid for anyone just living in the SUV.
Nice presentation: I've wanted to get a new Toyota for several years now, but as you alluded to, the seats in newer models I have tried leave a lot to be desired for the typical American wide body. I'm hoping the new '24 Land Cruiser is a better fit, since Camry, Rav4 and Highlanders all have the same narrow, short bottom cushion since about 2018. Keep up good work, as with all the complexity of modern design, simple, basic comfort and reliability is all most of us really desire in a vehicle.
wow now that you mention it that dial at 35:50 is super out of place. I dont want a dial where I rest my arm/hand. That makes no sense. Especially a dial that has options that I'm rarely going to use.
Do you think repositioning the direct injector allows for toyota to increase their dealer labor time to replace or repair the injectors? Also, replacing all the seals adds to the labor and parts. Overall, more for the owner to pay.
Hello great channel and awesome video !! I just bought a Grand Highlander and unfortunately noticed some vibration in the hood, the dealer told me that doesn’t seem normal but there is no current recall for that. They recommend to contact Toyota and raise this issue!! Do you know something more about this? Thank you!!
I really appreciate simplicity and ease of use. The best steering wheel layout I've ever seen is my 2016 Nissan Rogue SL. The volume control is super intuitive though a friction dot would have been nice there. What really shines is the cruise control. You don't have to look at the steering wheel to use it. These flat buttons are hard to identify when driving which necessitates looking at the steering wheel. That raised bar type mini joystick just makes the cruise control so simple, easy and safe to use. I do not understand why every car maker hasn't made that idea their own. Even the next year's of Nissan abandoned it but it one of the reasons I like my 2016 better than my 2017. It also helps your fingers locate other buttons. The Hyundai I rented recently was similar to this Toyota. I had to look every time just to make sure I got the right button. Kinda defeats the whole point of being on the steering wheel. Still better than my 2015 RAV4 with it's separate stalk I have to find just to use the cruise control. I really don't like that cruise system. Might as well be 1980's GM technology except those at least did double duty for turn signals.
Good for you on the Nissan. My cruise control has been the same little stalk on the right rear part of the steering wheel for a 2003, 2008, 2012 and two 2016 Toyotas.. you push the little button on the end of stalk and push down on the stalk.. Voila! Cruise control set without even a glance. The little green light in the instrument cluster lets you know you are on and set. So easy even a dingbat could do it. Too bad Nissan's reliability isn't so great.. they'll sell them to anybody with bad credit.. same with Kia and Hyundai.
@@marcodarko6941 Yeah as a mechanic I'm not too keen on their CVT. But that being said we have three in the family and I own two of them. All three were initially used for Turo. Mine still are used for Turo with one being used for Lyft and as a Turo backup. The one I don't own has already had the CVT replaced. I had fun finding a better deal than the standard 12/12 warranty. Finally found a 36/500 warranty for a better price than most. That was for a 2014 rogue select. My 2016 and 2017 haven't had any serious issues yet but I'm having the CVT regularly serviced so hopefully it staves off replacing the CVT. That being said I don't recommend them for high speed use or towing. For mileage they are pretty good. I got an average of 35 mpg driving roughly 70 miles between towns and around town yesterday. My record is 36.9 mpg. So for what it is it isn't terrible and the interior is definitely better than my 2015 RAV4. To be fair the RAV4 is a basic model, no frills. I'd rather work on the RAV4 as a mechanic but as it's a Toyota I probably never will have to short of oil and filter changes. I wish I could trade my Subaru in on another RAV4. I hate that Subaru as a mechanic. I love driving the Subaru with it's turbo. It loves to go fast even for a Forester.
Sounds like you have your hands full. I certainly wish you all the best there. I remember Nissan making some pretty good cars around 20 years ago though. It's shame all of these companies now including Toyota (in my opinion) are starting to cheap out on us.@@consaka1 Subaru is fine I think. I looked at a brand new well equipped Legacy sedan almost 10 years ago, nice car but ended up going with a Camry at the time. They are almost the same though, Toyota and Subaru.
makes me sick that you are stuck with a 4 cylinder, a stupid turbo to meet stupid cafe, energy mandates of our stupid government or at least democrats.
The person filming this video is doing an excellent job, zooming in when necessary and providing good views with camera positioning. Presenter is top notch as always!
Absolutely. Good question. A nearly 4600 pound, an almost full size SUV before it is loaded with passengers and their belongings. I shudder to think what adding something to tow like a small boat would do on that super sweet turbo four cylinder.. add the hot, summer heat with the a/c running too.
@@marcodarko6941 Agreed, small turbo engines seem to work okay in light sporty cars that are actually driven moderately 90% of the time and used for short periods of acceleration bursts and high speed so there's a lot of cooling going on. In low speed high load situations I imagine heat buildup stressing the turbo, engine internals and oil especially around the turbo bearings.
1000 dollars monthly payment plus insurance now 2024 equals 1600 hundred dollars a month or even more for insurance I be paying more for car and insurance than my mortgage 🤮🤮🤮
I understand your point , might have to wait 5 yrs or more depends the demand for used ones to get where it fit ur budget . I live in NYC so I know about insurance. They always say to get what u pay for .
