As a recap, all Grand Highlanders will come with one of three powertrains: An entry-level 2.4-liter turbocharged I-4 (265 hp); followed by a 2.5-liter hybrid (243 hp); and then the range-topping Hybrid Max (362 hp), also, as its name indicates, a hybrid. You can option the 2.4L and 2.5L with front- or all-wheel drive if you so choose but the Hybrid Max comes exclusively with all-wheel drive. And across those three of those powertrains, you can further pick from three trims, the cheapest of which (XLE) is equivalent to an upper-grade regular Highlander; Toyota won’t sell the Grand Highlander in less-grand forms. It and the other trim levels are outlined below:
Grand Highlander XLE
XLE-spec Grand Highlanders get 18-inch wheels, a black painted grille, roof rails, heated front seats, and either eight-passenger capacity via a second-row bench seat or seven-passenger capacity via second-row captain’s chairs.
Prices for XLE Grand Highlanders are as follows:
- 2.4L FWD: $44,405
- 2.4L AWD: $46,005
- 2.5L Hybrid FWD: $46,005
- 2.5L Hybrid AWD: $47,605
Grand Highlander Limited
Limited Grand Highlander models get 20-inch wheels, LED DRLs, leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and an 11-speaker JBL audio system.
Here’s how much MSRP you’ll pay for Limited models:
- 2.4L FWD: $49,195
- 2.4L AWD: $50,795
- 2.5L Hybrid AWD: $52,395
- Hybrid Max AWD: $55,375
Grand Highlander Platinum
Finally, the most loaded-up Platinum trim gets you most of what’s offered on the Limited models, a panoramic moonroof, a head-up display, 360-degree cameras, and a digital rearview mirror.
This is the pricing breakdown for Platinum Grand Highlanders:
- 2.4 AWD: $54,880
- Hybrid Max AWD: $59,460
Yeah, that’s nearly $60,000 for the top-tier Grand Highlander. That’s Mercedes-Benz GLE money. It also means this SUV is all around a few thousand bucks more expensive than the competition. But as a complete package, the Toyota is a captivating one. It indeed feels premium to the touch and its vast versatility will no doubt be a big hit with buyers not keen on stepping up to the larger, truckier Sequoia SUV Toyota also sells.
In practice and compared to the popular Kia Telluride—which was our 2020 SUV of the Year—the Grand Highlander offers similar usability but with one major advantage: It comes as a hybrid. The V-6 in the Telluride already felt old when the car debuted and as of this writing, no other powertrain is currently being offered.
The Grand Highlander is brand-new and feels it, too. There’s a crispness in the way it drives and brakes, and even its steering feedback is rewarding, something that cannot be said of the Kia and Hyundai siblings. If Toyota isn’t careful, it might have another best-seller on its hands.
Read the full article here