Toyota has officially announced the launch of its Grand Highlander for the 2024 model year.

According to certain reports, the stated vehicle, at launch, will be available in gas engine model (LE FWD grade), Hybrid model (LE grade), and Hybrid MAX powertrain model (Limited grade).

Meant to be the ultimate family SUV, this particular vehicle happens to feature three row seating, ample rear cargo room, well-appointed standard comfort, three different powertrain choices, and a head-turning sporty design. More on the same would reveal how Grand Highlander is actually built on the Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited grade, boasting distinctive black 20-inch alloy wheels and blacked-out accents that include the door handles, badges, mirror caps, and rear spoiler.

Next up, it has leather-trimmed seating, standard heating and ventilation on the driver and front-passenger seats, and heated outboard seats in the second row. On top of that, the vehicle brings to the fore 12.3-inch touchscreen which will run Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system and a premium JBL sound system with 11 speakers.

Alongside that, there is available the new LE grade, which can be enjoyed in a choice of 2.5-liter Hybrid with standard electronic on-demand All Wheel Drive (AWD) or a 2.4-liter, 4 cylinder turbocharged gas-powered variant with available Front- or All Wheel Drive.

We referred to the availability of three different powertrain choices, but what we haven’t yet touched upon is how the Grand Highlander’s gas engine comes bearing 265 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds (FWD), whereas on the other hand, the hybrid powertrain has 245 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 7.8 seconds. Apart from that, the Hybrid MAX powertrain makes Grand Highlander the most powerful Midsize SUV Toyota has ever built with its collective 362-horsepower, 400 pound feet of torque, and a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds.

Talk about the vehicle’s efficiency and reliability, it is relayed well by its manufacturer-estimated 24 combined MPG rating for the LE FWD model. The XLE (FWD) grade has a manufacturer-estimated 36 combined rating, and, the HYBRID MAX grade enjoys a manufacturer-estimated 27 combined MPG rating.

Another detail worth a mention is rooted in how the Grand Highlander is specifically built for long drives, featuring a 17.8-gallon fuel tank, 3,500 lbs. towing capacity on the Hybrid grades, and an impressive 5,000 lbs. towing capacity on the Hybrid MAX and gas grades. We also ought to mention that all three powertrains come with three selectable Drive Modes (Sport, Eco, and Normal) to make driving more engaging. Here, Multi-Terrain Select facility with three modes is provided on the gas AWD and Hybrid MAX powertrains for even more impressive on and off-road capability.

Moving on, every available powertrain, like we briefly touched on, has an all-wheel drive (AWD) technology. This technology can be accessed across three different iterations i.e. Dynamic Torque Control AWD, Electronic On-Demand AWD, and Full-Time Electronic AWD

Starting with the Dynamic Torque Control AWD, it is available on the gas models, where the technology actively distributes torque between the front and rear axles, as well as the two rear wheels. In essence, it leverages an electromagnetic coupling ahead of the rear differential to engage or disengage the rear wheels as needed, thus achieving dramatically improved traction and enhanced driving stability.

Turning our attention towards the Electronic On-Demand AWD, it works on hybrid models and provides excellent fuel efficiency, start-off acceleration, handling, and stability. The stated iteration promises stable performance by driving the rear wheels with an electric motor to provide traction when needed in certain conditions. Markedly enough, the front and rear wheel driving force distribution is also precisely controlled to the front and rear wheels between 100:0 and 20:80, all for the purpose of achieving optimal fuel efficiency and a comfortable driving performance.

As for the Full-Time Electronic AWD, when paired with HYBRID MAX, it offers an exhilarating experience with extraordinary control. There is also baked in a direct shift six-speed automatic transmission technology, which supports stable AWD performance and satisfying acceleration.