If you are in the market for a vehicle for your family, it is easy to immediately think about a minivan. This is particularly true if your family is large and you need a lot of space. And sure, minivans will give you that great space, but they are often lacking in other areas—namely, style and drivability. This is why, instead of a minivan, you should consider a big SUV, and the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander certainly lives up to its name in more ways than one. While great for families, this SUV has many other notable qualities, and here, you will learn how it can fit your lifestyle and meet your needs.
MSRP: $40,860[a]
MPG city/hwy: 37/34
Cargo Space: 97.5 cu.ft.
Towing: 5,000 lbs
Space and Comfort
Everybody who rides in the Grand Highlander will love its cavernous cabin. There is no bad seat in this SUV, as all three rows provide ample room, even for adults and growing kids. And, unlike many models in the segment, the third row is quite spacious, supplying 33.5 inches of legroom. In its standard setup, the 2025 Grand Highlander seats eight, as it comes with bench seats in the second and third rows. In upper trims, you can swap that out second-row bench for captain's chairs, although this reduces the seating capacity to seven.
In addition to its great size, this SUV has been made to keep everyone comfortable. The seats are well-cushioned and supportive and come with available SofTex or leather upholstery. Both seats in the front row offer power adjustment, and the driver can get a leather-wrapped steering wheel. If you want to add some more luxury to your vehicle, you can get heated and ventilated seats for the first and second rows, driver’s seat memory settings, a heated steering wheel, and second-row window shades.
One of the main reasons why shoppers end up choosing a minivan is because they offer so much cargo room and make it easy to transport nearly anything. Well, the Grand Highlander is certainly no slouch in this department. It offers 20.6 cu.ft. behind the third row, and when you fold that down, you will have 57.9 cu.ft. to work with. When the second row is folded, the cargo space climbs to an impressive 97.5 cu.ft. Plus, both the 60/40-split second-row bench seat and the 60/40-split third-row fold flat so you can maximize cargo space.
A power liftgate comes standard, letting you open it just by touching a button on the key fob. You can opt for a hands-free power liftgate, and all you have to do is make a kicking motion under the rear bumper to get the liftgate to rise. This will come in very handy if you are holding bags (or maybe children) and can’t reach your fob.
Tech Features
The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander comes equipped with every advanced amenity you could need—and whatever might be lacking, you can add. The dashboard has a seven-inch digital display in the gauge cluster, though, in upper trims, the instrument cluster is completely digital and measures in at 12.3 inches. All trims come with a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen for the infotainment system, which utilizes Toyota’s latest software. The system is easy to use and offers quick responses. Along with the touchscreen, it can be operated with physical controls and voice commands.
The Grand Highlander makes it easy to stay connected wherever the road takes you, as it comes with its own Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seven USB-C ports, and an available wireless smartphone charging pad. Whatever you like to listen to will come in loud and clear via a standard six-speaker stereo. Sound quality will be even better if you go with the available 11-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer.
Other standard tech features in the 2025 Grand Highlander include satellite radio, Bluetooth, proximity keyless entry, and push-button start. You can also get a household-style power outlet, a panoramic moonroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a universal garage door opener, and ambient interior lighting. Another great amenity is a complimentary one-year Drive Connect subscription, which includes cloud navigation to make sure you get where you need to go. This also enables you to speak to a live agent to get assistance in finding your desired location.
Built for Safety
One attribute that makes the Grand Highlander the perfect family vehicle is that it has been built to help keep everybody protected when out on the road. Every trim comes with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which is a full suite of advanced systems. This includes Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, which sends an audio and visual warning if your vehicle detects an inadvertent move out of your lane. If you do not quickly make an adjustment, this SUV provides gentle corrective steering to get you back where you should be.
With the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Grand Highlander will monitor the road in front for vehicles—including motorcycles—pedestrians, and bicyclists. If a possible collision is sensed, you will get a warning, and if you do not react fast enough, the brakes will be applied automatically.
If you do a lot of highway driving, you will like Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. When traveling at 20 mph or above, this utilizes vehicle-to-vehicle distance control in order to maintain a preset distance from the car ahead of you. When this is enabled, you can also take advantage of Lane Tracing Assist, which will help you stay centered in your lane. Built-in Road Sign Assist uses a camera to detect speed limit, stop, and yield signs and displays the icons so you are always aware of how you are driving.
With Proactive Driving Assist, cameras and radar are used to provide braking and steering assistance to support tasks like distance control between your vehicle and cars, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Automatic High Beams are also included, and at speeds above 21 mph, the system will detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and then automatically switch between high and low beams as necessary.
Power and Performance
Along with its excellent space, advanced tech, and safety features, the 2025 Grand Highlander provides a fantastic driving experience. This is a capable SUV, and it comes with a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine that produces 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. If you are concerned about your carbon footprint, you will be happy to know that this Toyota also offers two hybrid options.
The base hybrid consists of a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a battery that combine to generate 245 hp. A third electric motor can be added to the rear axle for all-wheel drive. You can also opt for the i-FORCE MAX hybrid with a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine, three electric motors, and battery, which work together to put out 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. An electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) is standard in the base hybrid, but a six-speed automatic transmission is in the i-FORCE MAX.
The Grand Highlander is a large vehicle, but it has deft handling and does a great job of keeping its composure through sharp turns. Plus, its strong brakes offer terrific stopping power. One of the real highlights of this SUV is its ride quality, and its well-tuned suspension smooths out bumpy roadways. This SUV also has some off-road chops; in addition to all-wheel drive, it offers a selection of drive modes that will let you tackle dirt, rocks, mud, and sand. Planning to do some towing? When properly equipped, it can tow up to 5,000 lbs.
Fuel economy is another standout feature of the 2025 Grand Highlander. It offers an EPA-estimated 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway with front-wheel drive. Adding all-wheel drive drops the latter figure to 27 MPG on the highway. These are outstanding numbers for its class, and the hybrid improves on them. With the base hybrid, you will get 37 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway with front-wheel drive or 36 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway with all-wheel drive. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid gets you 26 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.
Explore the Toyota Grand Highlander
Forget a minivan—the 2025 Grand Highlander will give you everything you need in a family vehicle. You will have little trouble fitting passengers and cargo, it makes it easy to stay connected, and it offers excellent peace of mind. Plus, it is enjoyable to drive, which you will appreciate if you have to get behind the wheel every day.
If you want to check out this SUV in person, come down to Toyota of Bowling Green. Here, you can explore all of its features to find out why this is a premier SUV. You will also be able to take a model out on the road for a test drive. Any questions about the Grand Highlander? Contact our dealership and we will be happy to answer them.