Grand Highlander, Palisade, Telluride, or Pilot?
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Is it a Highlander?
There’s already a highlander so is this just a bigger one of those?
One look at it and you can see, no - not really
Totally different styling
Completely new interior and tech
Why does this exist?
Toyota brough the Grand Highlander as a response to the Korean twins
The Palisade and telluride came in and they were bigger and had more stuff
Both of those have just been refreshed, Honda’s Pilot has been stretched and new
So this is how Toyota is getting back on top
What’s the big deal
It’s actually a BIG improvement, and I mean BIG
6.5 inches longer than highlander
The trunk is a lot bigger
Te third row is a lot bigger
Trunk
Here you can see it’s power tailgate
But with the third row up it’s HUGE
Just under 21 cu ft
And even though it’s hybrid the battery pack doesn't kill trunk space
Third row DOESNT power fold like in Palisade
Pali is the only one to get that tho
Third row down 58 cu ft
More cargo capacity than the Pali and Telly
Tailgate
Powered obviously
But grand highlander logo body colored
The hybrid badges
Hybrid Max badge is the only place there’s blue
Usually the front and rear toyota logos are blue for hybrids
Third row
manual fold out of the way
5.5 in more legroom than highlander
headroom is decent
huge side windows
chargers, cupholders, vents
No gold accents back here - like Audi SQ7 we were in
Engine
Hybrid Max engine here
2.4 Turbo w/ hybrid system
You DONT get a hybrid in the Pali or Telly
265 hp
310 lbft
Engine says turbo and has weird heat shielding
8 speed auto
Awd w/ dynamic torque control
Mpg 20/26
0-60 in 7.5 ish
Can get 2.5 n/a hybrid for less power but over 30 mpg comb
There’s also the base turbo engine, this w/o hybrid
Towing
5000 lbs with hybrid max
2nd row
climate
chargers
heated and cooled option
Like Mazda’s new CX90
shades
removable center console
slide and recline
Huge, has extra inch over highlander
The gold
There’s agold accents everywhere
Feels very…grand
Even have brushed aluminum kick plates
Very grand
Even gold on the key
No gold in third row
The texture
Also everywhere on the dash
Next to wireless charger
Cetner console
Rear seats
Cupholders
Looks like it moves but doesnt
Or at least im not going to break it finding out
This is a pre-pro car
But big enough to fit my big bottle
AND in the back big enough for the big bottle!
Aslo removable
Also has texture
Also has gold
The storage
SO. MUCH. Storage
Lovet the dash storage
Cetner console is big and there’s thoughtful chargers everywhere
Secret passenger footwell cubby
Secret driver cubby near steering wheel
Pano roof
Huge, fantastic
Tech
This is toyota’s updated system we’ve seen in everything since the new Tundra
Wireless ACP, AA
Dual bluetooth connection
Great graphics, very responsive, etc
360 cameras are good and fill in under you
Turn off when you go into drive tho
Can change color of car
Still has stupid egg view
Full digital cluster - nice! That’s tops in class
HUD only on Platinum trims
Safety
TSS 3.0 standard on all trims
First to include driver monitor
Brilliant, but wont change lanes for you
Comforts in front
Heated and cooled seats
Heated steering wheel
Excellent comfort and look cool
Dash design/ ergonomics
New steering wheel is great
Still physical climate controls
Digi rear view mirror in case kids are blocking
Hybrid things
In cluster you have EV drive ratio
Tracks it by time and not miles tho - weird
Energy flow gauge in center screen
Weirdly brakes are shown in the cluster
Drive modes
No EV mode like in some other hybrids from toyota/lexus
But you have a shocking amount of drive modes
Eco, normal, sport - ok makes sense
But then snow mode - ok AWD system parameters
But then TWO offroad modes? - seems like overkill?
Looks
Looks VERY different from normal highlander
Chrome dali stache
Very Lexus looking grille
Dark gray against black
Cool LED runners
VERY classic SUV shape - looks a lot like Lexus LX
Max interior space
It really is - even by the number
MILES of headroom
Crab grab taillights
No exposed exhaust
Price
Starts 45k for hybrid
43 non hybrid
As tested around 58k
But enough talk, let’s grab the key and go for a drive****
Small pedal box
Very quiet
Great ride
Great auto pilot
Really smooth acceleration from the hybrid
Very firm brake pedal feels like race car
Actually feels kind of fast
Ride is very smooth
Rides the opposite of the CX90
really soft, cushy, easy
more similar to telly and Pali
tbh I like the ride - it makes so much more sense
It’s exactly what it needs to be