2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid review: Grand by virtue

The XL (American-sized) Grand Highlander stands out among big SUVs

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

Having recently tested comparables in the shape of the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Telluride over the past year, it felt like a good time to revisit the biggest SUV Toyota makes. Yes, when it comes to sheer interior space and volume, the Grand Highlander beats out even the mighty Sequoia, making it the best Toyota offering for those with large families. Okay, that's actually a lie—because the Sienna minivan is the best player for that mission—but as far as SUVs go (in case you're not cool enough for minivans), the Grand Highlander earns its name in an era where so many other new consumer products are such dour disappointments.

Picks

If you want space, the Grand Highlander delivers. Its massive shape eats up parking spots, but it doesn’t feel nearly as large once on the move. Don’t get me wrong—it doesn’t feel small—but just less large than I initially expected in motion. Measuring 201 inches long with a 116-inch wheelbase, there’s plenty of room for passengers in any row. Even behind the third row, you’ll find 20 cubic feet of storage volume. Fold the third set of seats down and that jumps to nearly 60 cubic feet—big enough for your Saint Bernard, at least. This sizable interior even dwarfs the Sequoia’s, whose third-row seats don’t fold flat and suffers considerably as a result.

Accompanying the spacious digs are controls that are mostly well thought out, with lots of convenience when it comes to storage and passenger accommodations. Some buttons are oddly placed—like the steering wheel heater to the left of the wheel while the seat warmers are to the right—but most controls are intuitively positioned and easy to navigate, including the central touchscreen display. Your kids and their friends will like the charging ports sprawled across, though that certainly doesn't help the cause of decreasing screen time among children.

Comfort is excellent, with front seats supportive enough for long drives. The rear seats are also quite nice with increased legroom and chair comfort over the Sequoia, and even the third row is tolerable for adults, if briefly. Worth highlighting is how easily the second-row seats fold forward, making access to the very back super simple.

Driving dynamics aren't class-leading (Mazda retains the crown there still), but the Grand Highlander is nonetheless very easy to drive and delivers a reassuring feel through the wheel. Ride quality is calm and settled at all times, never showing any nasty bouncing behavior over rough roads. It’s also quiet at speed, adding to the overall sense of relaxation.

A big SUV—especially one wearing a Toyota badge—is never going to set any handling records, but this simple giant has plenty of grip and poise to hold its own on winding back roads. Push it harder and, sure, it will degrade and push wide, but that’s par for the course in this class. The Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-90 are sharper at the pointy end, but the Grand Highlander is close enough and competent enough to be confidently driven on challenging roads.

Nicks

Fuel economy impresses for a big SUV but disappoints by Toyota hybrid standards. Falling short of previous Grand and standard Highlander Hybrids, this latest version averaged a modest 26 MPG—almost the same as the much more powerful Hybrid Max version. Two caveats: it was a bit cold during my test (so the heater was frequently on), and this example had less than 200 total miles on the odometer at the beginning of the week. so I’d like to think the engine was still breaking in and would improve over time. What I am certain of is that 26 MPG is poor for a Toyota SUV with a relatively weak base hybrid powertrain. For reference, past Highlander Hybrids could average a sensational 32 MPG, and the last Grand Highlander Hybrid returned an even 30.

Power isn’t lacking—it’s perfectly adequate for daily driving—but the four-cylinder engine is a noisy and coarse affair when asked to perform. And unfortunately, with just 240 mundane horsepower pushing such a big car, you’ll be asking for power rather often—subjecting you and your passengers to something that sounds like a thrift-store blender.

I also found several safety systems intrusive, especially lane departure. Rather than enhancing safety, it often got in the way, tugging the wheel too early—even when I was intentionally hugging the line for a smoother corner entry or making space for a passing motorcycle. It also has a tendency to follow freeway exit lanes and then correct itself abruptly, which can be unsettling and overall comes across almost less helpful than safe.

The best big SUV for many

Hopefully, the engine loosens up with more miles, and the lane departure system can always be turned off. After those concerns, this is a fantastic vehicle for those looking for a big people-mover. It’s about as spacious as it gets without venturing into minivan territory. And when equipped in upscale Platinum trim, it can be quite luxurious, with quality rivaling much more expensive Sequoia models. In fact, if you don’t need heavy towing, the Grand Highlander is easily the better choice of the two—especially with its clear advantage in interior space. And for daily purposes, you can still tow 3,500 pounds which is more than you may think.

Other options in the big SUV space are far from limited, but few offer hybrid versions. Mazda's CX-90 has a plug-in hybrid variant, but it's an unfortunately terribly integrated system with hiccups and jolts versus the seamless and transparent Toyota hybrid. And even still, at 26 MPG, the Grand Highlander still beats nearly every competitor. It’s big, it’s easy, it’s a Toyota—and for thousands upon thousands, that’s all they need to know.

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Nightshade

Price as-tested: $56,818

Pros: Hugely spacious; comfortable and great cruiser

Cons: Noisy and coarse engine

Powertrain & Performance

• Engine: 2.5L inline-4 hybrid

• Combined Power: 245 horsepower

• Drivetrain: Standard All-Wheel Drive

• Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

• Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds

Fuel Economy & Weight

• Fuel Economy: 36 mpg city / 32 mpg highway (approximately 34 mpg combined)

• 26 MPG real world MPG

• Fuel Tank Capacity: Around 17 gallons

• Curb Weight: Approximately 4,600 pounds

Dimensions & Capacity

• Dimensions: 201 in length × 78 in width × 70 in height

• Wheelbase: 116 inches

• Ground Clearance: Approximately 8 inches

• Cargo Volume:

  • 21 cubic feet behind the 3rd row

  • 58 cubic feet with 3rd row folded

  • 98 cubic feet with 2nd and 3rd rows folded

Wheels, Suspension & Tires

• Wheels: 20-inch black alloy wheels

• Tires: P255/55VR20

• Front Suspension: MacPherson strut

• Rear Suspension: Multi-link

Exterior Features – Nightshade Package

• Blacked-out 20-inch wheels, trim, door handles, badges, mirror caps, hood trim, rear spoiler, and roof rails

• Optional panoramic view monitor

• LED headlamps and fog lights

• Heated power-folding side mirrors

Interior & Comfort

• Leather-trimmed seats

• Heated and ventilated front seats

• Heated second-row outboard seats

• Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel

• Second-row captain’s chairs

• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system

• JBL premium 11-speaker audio system

• Ambient interior lighting

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• Wireless charging pad

Safety & Driver Assistance

• Toyota Safety Sense system includes:

  • Adaptive cruise control

  • Lane-keeping assist

  • Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert

  • Frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking

• Automatic high beams

• Rain-sensing windshield wipers

• Rearview camera

• Optional surround-view camera system

Warranty

• Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

• Powertrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

• Corrosion Protection: 5 years / unlimited miles

• Hybrid Battery Warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles

Pricing

• Starting MSRP: Approximately $52,610

• As-tested price: $56,818

Thank you for reading The Road Beat's 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid review.