How Does the Toyota Grand Highlander Compare to the Original Highlander?

The Highlander has been one of Toyota’s most popular SUVs for years now thanks to its spacious eight-seater interior, wealth of amenities, efficient powertrains, and excellent safety ratings. So, it’s no surprise that they added the Grand Highlander to the roster last year, and it’s safe to say that shoppers in Kansas City are loving it.

The Grand Highlander basically takes everything about the regular Highlander and makes it, well, grander. What does that mean exactly? Read on to find out all the differences between the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander.

Is the Grand Highlander Bigger than the Highlander?

By far the most noticeable difference between the two is, yes, the Grand Highlander is quite a bit bigger—the 2025 Grand Highlander measures 201.4 inches long, which makes it about half a foot longer than the 2025 Highlander. It’s also a couple inches wider and taller, giving it a larger footprint and a heck of a lot more interior space.

Here’s a look at Grand Highlander vs. Highlander passenger dimensions:

And here are their cargo dimensions:

Thanks to its larger body style, the Grand Highlander has more space in almost every measurable way, especially in terms of cargo capacity and third-row passenger space. However, some drivers may still prefer the Highlander because its smaller size can make it easier to drive.

Does the Grand Highlander Have Better Features?

Apart from being larger, the Grand Highlander is designed to have a slightly more upscale interior with a few more amenities.

All Grand Highlander models come with a 12.3-inch center touch screen display as standard equipment, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™, SiriusXM®, wireless device charging, seven USB charging ports, three-zone automatic climate control, and the full range of Toyota Connected Services including Wi-Fi.

The Highlander has all these features available as well, but it comes with a smaller 8.0-inch touch screen on the lower grades, and some features are only available as optional upgrades.

Does the Grand Highlander Get Better Gas Mileage than the Highlander?

For the most part, the Highlander and Grand highlander get roughly the same fuel economy, but the Highlander has a slight edge due to its lower weight.

Both come standard with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, which puts out 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque and allows them to tow up to 5,000 pounds. With this powertrain, the Highlander gets about 25 MPG combined, while the Grand Highlander gets 24 MPG combined.

They can also be optioned with a hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with electric motor. This setup creates 243 combined horsepower and can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Again, the Highlander Hybrid gets slightly better mileage with 35 MPG combined, while the Grand Highlander Hybrid gets 34 MPG combined.

However, the Grand Highlander has a third option, the Hybrid MAX powertrain, which combines a 2.4-liter engine with an electric motor setup. The Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX puts out 362 combined horsepower and can tow the full 5,000 pounds. It gets a combined 27 MPG, so the regular hybrid is more fuel efficient but less powerful.

Is the Grand Highlander Safer than the Highlander?

Both are considered some of the safest SUVs on the road today—the Highlander has even won an IIHS Top Safety Pick award every year since 2008, giving it one of the best track records in the industry.

There is one key difference regarding their safety features, though. The 2025 Highlander comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic High Beams.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Grand Highlander comes with the most current version, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes Proactive Driving Assist and updated versions of the TSS 2.5 features.

Is the Grand Highlander More Expensive than the Highlander?

Considering the 2025 Highlander is a bit smaller and has a few less standard comfort amenities, it’s no surprise that the Grand highlander is a bit more expensive.

Here’s the 2025 Toyota Highlander price by trim:

·       LE: starting at $39,520

·       XLE: starting at $42,670

·       Hybrid XLE: starting at $46,020

·       XSE: starting at $46,340

·       Hybrid XLE Nightshade: $47,020

·       Limited: starting at $46,775

·       Hybrid Limited: $50,475

·       Platinum: starting at $51,925

·       Hybrid Limited 25th Edition: starting at $52,680

And here’s how it shakes out for the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander:

·       XLE: starting at $43,630

·       Hybrid XLE: starting at $45,380

·       Limited: starting at $48,360

·       Hybrid Limited: starting at $51,710

·       Platinum: starting at $54,045

·       Hybrid Nightshade: starting at $52,610

·       Hybrid MAX Limited: starting at $54,690

·       Hybrid MAX Platinum: starting at $58,775

The Highlander may be the best choice for shoppers looking for an affordable three-row SUV near Overland Park, but the Grand Highlander is still a fantastic choice for folks who aren’t looking to break the bank.

Three-Row SUV for Sale Near Grandview, MO

No matter which one you’re looking for, Molle Toyota has plenty of options, including tons of hybrid trims available at a great price. We also have lease deals and tons of ways to save with our Super Sale Specials.

When you’re ready to reserve your brand-new Toyota, it’s just a few easy clicks away. If you have any questions or want to set up an appointment to test drive the Grand Highlander, contact us online or give us a call at (816) 678-0593 today.