If you haven’t stopped by to see Toyota’s lineup in a few years, you might be surprised to see the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander sitting next to the standard Highlander you know and love. Introduced for the 2024 model year, the Grand Highlander takes all of the best aspects of the three-row SUV it shares a name with and pairs them with a more spacious interior that gives passengers more room to breathe and the ability to bring more cargo along for the ride.
That makes enough sense, but if you’re trying to decide whether to stick with the familiar Highlander or upgrade to the new Grand Highlander, you might want details instead of just broad strokes. Here at Toyota of Bowling Green, we want to give you all of the information you need to choose the model that’s 100% perfect for your needs. That’s why today, we’re diving into the weeds to take a look at the differences between these two SUVs. We’ll see exactly what sets them apart so you can choose with confidence and leave buyer’s remorse in the rearview mirror.
The Grand Highlander Is Bigger
As we’ve already mentioned, the most significant difference between the two models is size—the Grand Highlander is bigger. But how much bigger, exactly? And bigger in what way? Well, let’s start by taking a look at the exterior dimensions: the Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer, 2.3 inches wider, and two inches taller than the Highlander. Looking just at the exterior shape of the vehicles, the Highlander has some advantages as the smaller of the two since it can more easily fit into parking spaces and garages. To see the good side of expanding the dimensions, we have to take a look inside.
Passengers get more space in just about every measurable way, and second-row and third-row passengers get the biggest gains when you upgrade to the Grand Highlander. Sitting in the third row of the Grand Highlander, you get an extra 1.1 inches of headroom, 2.5 inches of shoulder room, and 5.5 inches of legroom. Together, that makes a huge difference. While the Highlander’s third row works best for a family with small children, the Grand Highlander’s third row can comfortably accommodate adults. If you last bought an SUV when your kids were small and want to be able to keep everyone happy on road trips as growth spurts hit, upgrading can be a smart idea.
The Highlander Is More Affordable
As you might have gathered from the word "upgrading," the Grand Highlander is more expensive than the standard Highlander. That only makes sense since it takes more materials to build a larger SUV. However, the price difference isn’t as dramatic as you might think. The starting price of the 2025 Grand Highlander LE is $40,860, barely $1,000 more than the 2025 Highlander LE’s starting price of $39,820.[a] The differences vary as you climb the trim ladder, but overall, the two SUVs are in the same basic price range. When you account for financing plans, you don’t have to take much of a hit to your wallet at all in order to get the extra space you need.
On the other hand, if an extra spacious interior isn’t a priority for you, there’s no sense in paying extra for it. By introducing a new variant instead of changing the size of the standard Highlander, Toyota has allowed every driver to get what they’re looking for. If you’re unsure whether upgrading is worth it, come down to our dealership with your family. Have everyone pile into both models and see how much difference the extra space makes. This will give you an idea of what that extra money is getting you so you can make an informed decision and stay satisfied for as long as you own your SUV.
The Grand Highlander Has an Extra Powertrain Option
The size difference between the Highlander and Grand Highlander seems significant when you’re sitting in the back row, it doesn’t affect the SUV’s curb weight by more than around 150 lbs or so, depending on trim. That means the same powertrains can easily be used to power both models without making too much of a difference. Indeed, the Grand Highlander uses the same base engine and option hybrid setup as the Highlander and still has the same towing capacities as the smaller SUV (5,000 lbs with the base engine and 3,500 lbs with the hybrid powertrain).
While driving enthusiasts might notice a slight difference in acceleration and performance, most drivers will probably find the two to drive pretty much the same, both on city streets and the highway. Fuel economy takes a slight dip thanks to the extra size of the Grand Highlander, but the difference is negligible: just a drop of 1 MPG combined when you compare equivalent options between the two models.
However, there is one difference worth looking at here. In addition to the two powertrains offered on the standard Highlander, the Grand Highlander also has an i-FORCE MAX turbocharged hybrid option. Sitting between the base engine and standard hybrid in terms of fuel economy at 27 MPG combined (and paired exclusively with all-wheel drive), this option is the clear winner when it comes to power, producing significantly more horsepower and torque than either of the other setups.
This means that despite the extra weight from the battery, this hybrid can match the base engine’s 5,000 lb towing capacity. If you want to be able to tow heavy loads while getting the efficiency of a hybrid powertrain, the i-FORCE MAX option alone might be a good reason to choose the Grand Highlander.
They Still Have a Lot in Common
We’ve focused on the differences between the two models thus far because that’s the best way to help you decide which one you prefer. But if you’re having a tough time making a decision, it can take some of the pressure off to remember that these models still have a lot in common. In addition to sharing two powertrain options, they also have very similar trim lineups, ranging from the affordable, entry-level LE to the luxurious, top-tier Platinum, with a variety of options in between that make it easy to get the features you want without going over budget.
Both have great infotainment systems that make it easy to stay connected on the go, and both have a comprehensive suite of safety and driver assist features to help you stay aware of your surroundings and avoid danger out on the road. Most importantly, both live up to Toyota’s reputation for making high-quality, reliable vehicles that are built to last for a long, long time.
The Choice Is Yours
As you can see, there are pros and cons to both the Highlander and the Grand Highlander. Here at Toyota of Bowling Green, we’re dedicated to being open and honest so you can have all the information you need upfront to make a smart decision for you and your family. You can do more research here on our website or drop by in person to see these SUVs up close and take a test drive or two.
Our friendly team is happy to answer any questions you may have at the dealership or over the phone. Whether you prefer the standard Highlander or the new Grand Highlander, we’re here to help you find the right trim level at a competitive price and with a financing plan that works for your budget. We look forward to helping you out soon!