Toyota Highlander vs. Grand Highlander: Which Three-Row SUV Fits Your Family?

Your family is growing, the carpool keeps getting bigger, and the two-row SUV in the driveway is starting to feel tight. The next step for many Toyota shoppers is a midsize three-row SUV, and that is where the Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander question comes up. They share a name, an engine and plenty of features, but they are built for different families. In this guide, the team at Allen Turner Toyota of Auburn walks you through the real differences in space, power, fuel economy and towing so you can pick the right fit.

The Toyota Highlander offers a turbocharged gas engine or a hybrid, and every grade now comes with all-wheel drive. Image: Toyota

Highlander vs Grand Highlander at a Glance

Think of the Highlander as the familiar three-row SUV with standard all-wheel drive, and the Toyota Grand Highlander as the roomier choice for families who use every seat. Both offer a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and a 2.5-liter hybrid. Here is how the two compare on the specs families ask about most.

Specs come from Toyota’s official press materials. Fuel economy figures are manufacturer estimates and vary by grade and drivetrain.

Space and Seating: Where the Grand Highlander Pulls Ahead

Space is the biggest reason to choose one over the other. The Grand Highlander offers 33.5 inches of third-row legroom and 37.2 inches of third-row headroom, so adults can ride back there on a real trip, not just a quick run across town. Toyota says seven carry-on suitcases fit behind the third row with every seat in use, and maximum cargo space reaches 97.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Highlander tops out at 84.3 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. Its third row works best for kids or short trips. Seven-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs comes standard, and an eight-passenger bench is available on gas XLE and Limited grades.

Tech and comfort inside

Every Grand Highlander gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and seven USB-C ports, which helps when everyone climbs in with a low phone battery. The Highlander comes with an 8-inch touchscreen and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, with a 12.3-inch screen available.

The Toyota Grand Highlander. Image: Toyota

Power, Fuel Economy and Towing

Both SUVs share the same 2.4-liter turbo with 265 horsepower. In the Highlander, it makes 310 lb-ft of torque, runs through an eight-speed automatic and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The gas Grand Highlander is rated to tow the same 5,000 pounds, so a small camper or boat is within reach for either one.

Hybrid choices

The Highlander Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with two electric motor-generators for 243 net combined horsepower and an estimated 35 mpg combined. The Grand Highlander Hybrid makes 245 horsepower and is rated up to an estimated 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, or 34 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Both standard hybrids tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The Grand Highlander also offers the Hybrid MAX, exclusive to the Platinum grade. It delivers 362 total system horsepower, full-time electronic all-wheel drive, an estimated 27 mpg combined and up to 5,000 pounds of towing. If you want hybrid power and the full 5,000-pound tow rating in one SUV, this is the version to drive.

All-wheel drive

Every Highlander now comes with all-wheel drive, so you get extra grip on rainy roads without adding an option. The Grand Highlander offers front-wheel or all-wheel drive depending on grade. Its new hybrid-only Woodland Edition adds standard all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires and a removable second-row console cooler, a nice fit for weekends in the Lake Martin area.

Which One Fits Your Family?

Choose the Highlander if you:

• Want all-wheel drive standard on every grade
• Mostly carry kids in the third row, or keep it folded most days
• Want an estimated 35 mpg combined from the Highlander Hybrid with all-wheel drive included
• Like the sporty XSE grade, offered with the turbo engine

Choose the Grand Highlander if you:

• Need an adult-friendly third row with 33.5 inches of legroom
• Pack strollers, sports gear or luggage with every seat filled
• Want the 362-horsepower Hybrid MAX or a 12.3-inch touchscreen on every grade
• Like the outdoorsy look and all-terrain tires of the Woodland Edition

For a weekday school run to Opelika and a Sunday drive to see family in Tuskegee, either SUV makes sense. The deciding question is how often all three rows are full. If the answer is most days, the Grand Highlander’s extra room is worth it. To see how both stack up against the rest of the lineup, read our guide to Toyota SUVs for Auburn families.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Highlander and Grand Highlander?

The Grand Highlander is the roomier of the two, with 33.5 inches of third-row legroom and up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The Highlander offers up to 84.3 cubic feet and standard all-wheel drive on every grade. Both offer a 265-horsepower turbo engine and a hybrid, but only the Grand Highlander offers the 362-horsepower Hybrid MAX.

Can adults fit in the third row of the Grand Highlander?

Yes. Toyota lists 33.5 inches of third-row legroom and 37.2 inches of third-row headroom in the Grand Highlander, so adults can ride in the back on longer trips. That extra room is the main reason families step up from the Highlander.

Which gets better gas mileage, the Highlander Hybrid or Grand Highlander Hybrid?

They are very close. The Highlander Hybrid is rated at an estimated 35 mpg combined with standard all-wheel drive. The Grand Highlander Hybrid is rated up to an estimated 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 34 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.

Is the Toyota Highlander going electric?

Toyota has announced an all-new, battery electric Highlander with seating for up to seven, assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky. It is not on sale yet. Today’s Highlander is offered with a turbocharged gas engine or a hybrid, and our team can share the latest timing on the electric model.

Can I test drive a Highlander or Grand Highlander at Allen Turner Toyota of Auburn?

Yes. Visit us at 170 W Creek Pkwy, Auburn, AL 36830, or call (334) 887-1100 and ask which models are ready to drive. Driving both back to back is the easiest way to feel the difference in the third row and cargo area. You can also contact our team online before you visit.

Find Your Next Three-Row Toyota

The Highlander and Grand Highlander are both smart picks for a growing family. The right one comes down to how you use the third row and how much gear you carry each week. Browse our new Toyota inventory to see which Highlander and Grand Highlander models are available today. When you are ready, our Toyota finance team can walk you through your options. Bring the car seats along for your test drive, since that is the most honest test of all.