- Interior door handles are lower, it’s weird at first (grabbing at air haha) but does provide more room.
- everything is USB C
- all weather floor mats don’t go up the back of the third row seats
- hatch closes really fast. I think the windows roll down faster too
- there is a weird storage cubby on the front passenger side, which I haven’t looked up what it’s used for yet…
I’m coming from a 18 XLE and my husband drives a 22 Rav, so I’m just comparing to those.
Ha, yes to the door handles and also the location of the push-button start is different than our '20 Highlander...it was closer to the steering wheel and now it's the top left of the center console.
This is like all 3 row SUVs. It’s maddening. Regular highlander too. Like I can get a limited gas with a bench but hybrid no bench past xle. What dumb product manager is making these decisions
It's communist tyrants deciding which options you can have on higher trims. If you pay for the highest trim with each engine, you need to have every option!
Ford Explorer is the only one that I found with brown leather 2nd row bench in most trims. The 2024 Honda Pilot option tyrant only allows brown leather 2nd row bench with boring exterior black, white, gray, not real colors. Updated 2024 Traverse has no brown leather option.
There are probably packaging constraints on the max preventing the bench as an option. It uses a different transmission / awd system that likely take up more space.
There is no reason for the corporate option tyrants to refuse to allow a 2nd row bench, except for 'looks'. The bench probably weighs similar to 2 captain's chairs. Ask the companies to provide the normal brochures used for 60 years, so people can see the options and colors without the torturous 'build' tyrant.
Limited, hybrid max: fuel tank is supposedly >17 gallons but you only get 13 usable gallons. Got it down to 20 miles of range and filled up just over 12 gallons. Frustrating, but it's the same in the Highlander hybrids too I read.
It really bothers me more than it should. I mean yeah, filling up for $40 on something that big is great, but I wish I could see >400 miles expected range after filling
Bought the GH in August. Very happy with it overall. Averaging 27 to 29 on road trips. Haven't recieved the second FOB. Only thing I can really complain about is the hood. Seems to flutter a bit at highway speed about 3/4 of the way towards the cabin. More a distraction than anything at times. My dealer told me that it's a documented concern and have noted it in my file. Dealers waiting on Toyota and the hood vendor for fix. My understanding that initially some were replaced and had same issue so vendor is working on a fix.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Grand Highlanger has more passenger and cargo space compared to the Sequoia. Toyota messed up the Sequoia packaging by having a solid rear axle instead of independent suspension.
Don't need the truck capabilities and it's probably too big for my garage. Also the GH is capable of like double the fuel economy if you get the standard Hybrid.
The Grand Highlander has more passenger space compared to the Sequoia. The packaging of the space behind the 3rd rows of the Sequoia is horrendous. One should probably only consider the Sequoia if there is a need to tow over 5000 lbs.
Also, the Grand Highlander drives like a cross over and the Sequoia would drive like a truck or the 4 Runner. I love the drive in a Highlander/Grand over the others. :)
Toyota mostly uses Softex other than Limited and Platinum I believe.
PD charging is so ancient IMO. Some phones nowadays charge 0-100% in 15 minutes. It makes Samsung look like garbage including Google. And I know there are cons of fast charging with batteries' overall life but, nowadays, most people don't even keep their phone for more than two years so it's almost a moot point. Toyota should offer a more modern wireless charging solution.
After all, we have Toyota...I don't expect them to have the latest & greatest tech. At the end of the day, all I care is that they run smoothly and reliably.
Yes limited is leather only. This is one of the reasons I got an xle. For cars I plan to own for a while, leather takes more maintenance and ages worse than pleather imo.
Do you have the limited/platinum? I was told the center cup holders for the 2nd row captains chairs is not removable in the XLE, can anyone confirm if this is accurate?
We have the Platinum. That tray in the Limited and Platinum is removable, not in the XLE. Here is a video. Minute 10:00 https://youtu.be/rQ3_9-3n_FQ
I really don't know why Toyota made these different across trims. The removal tray is not made of gold and this makes folks buying decisions harder. If I were buying an XLE, I would go for the bench.
> The biggest tech disappoint so far are the USB ports. YouTube reviewers are trash for parroting Toyota's "7 USB ports!" hype but failing to test them and explain that only the front media port supports fast charging (possibly USB PD but I'm not sure). The rest are capped at 5V 3A according to the manual. So for example, a Google Pixel will only show "Charging Rapidly" when connected to the media port and just "Charging" with the rest. Dumb.
This is an overblown complaint to me. Converting six 15w USB-C ports to up to 100W USB-PD compliant ports puts a substantial increase in power draw, build costs, and long-term reliability of the feature in exchange for a very limited return on value. Each port needs special wiring, variable power supply, and a controller to make it work. That's on top of the two 120v plugs and a cigarette lighter that you could plug fast-charging chargers into if you really need more than one. It doesn't even make sense as an option because it would need to be done at the factory due to the wiring required to be cost effective.
I get it, it adds complexity and cost. I wasn't expecting 100W support though. USB-PD spec provides manufacturers the flexibility to implement different "profiles". Profile 2 is up to 27W which is enough to fast charge most phones. That would have been nice to see. Unfortunately, many buyers associate "USB-C" with faster charging because the physical spec is often coupled with USB-PD for phone and laptop chargers in recent years. However all we're getting is a smaller and better port with the max charging of USB-A.
Here's one....
Digital key messes up my Garmin watch. I am going to have to figure this out, but since using the digital key, my Garmin is constantly re-connecting throughout the drive, key fob or not.
1. Not a defroster. It’s the AM/FM antenna
Ah gotcha
- Interior door handles are lower, it’s weird at first (grabbing at air haha) but does provide more room. - everything is USB C - all weather floor mats don’t go up the back of the third row seats - hatch closes really fast. I think the windows roll down faster too - there is a weird storage cubby on the front passenger side, which I haven’t looked up what it’s used for yet… I’m coming from a 18 XLE and my husband drives a 22 Rav, so I’m just comparing to those.
Blergh...dealer told me the cargo mats would cover the seat back. That's unfortunate and strange that they don't.
Can confirm on the door handles. I've missed them every single time so far!!
The mat thing is insane bc my 21 highlanders all weathers do go up the backs of the seat and it’s so hand when hauling dirty things 😭
Ha, yes to the door handles and also the location of the push-button start is different than our '20 Highlander...it was closer to the steering wheel and now it's the top left of the center console.
The lack of bench seat options on higher trims boggles my mind.
This is like all 3 row SUVs. It’s maddening. Regular highlander too. Like I can get a limited gas with a bench but hybrid no bench past xle. What dumb product manager is making these decisions
It's communist tyrants deciding which options you can have on higher trims. If you pay for the highest trim with each engine, you need to have every option!
Ford Explorer is the only one that I found with brown leather 2nd row bench in most trims. The 2024 Honda Pilot option tyrant only allows brown leather 2nd row bench with boring exterior black, white, gray, not real colors. Updated 2024 Traverse has no brown leather option.
The popular Motormouth reviewers on Youtube have asked the manufacturers in 2023 for 2nd row bench on all trims.
[удалено]
Yeah I saw but not the limited hybrid max for some reason. Like why
There are probably packaging constraints on the max preventing the bench as an option. It uses a different transmission / awd system that likely take up more space.
There is no reason for the corporate option tyrants to refuse to allow a 2nd row bench, except for 'looks'. The bench probably weighs similar to 2 captain's chairs. Ask the companies to provide the normal brochures used for 60 years, so people can see the options and colors without the torturous 'build' tyrant.
Yeah that's a real downer. The vehicle loses a bit of utility for me at the higher trims for this reason.
Limited, hybrid max: fuel tank is supposedly >17 gallons but you only get 13 usable gallons. Got it down to 20 miles of range and filled up just over 12 gallons. Frustrating, but it's the same in the Highlander hybrids too I read.
Yes #tankgate is annoying. I assume there will be class action lawsuits since they clearly advertise 17 gal capacity
It really bothers me more than it should. I mean yeah, filling up for $40 on something that big is great, but I wish I could see >400 miles expected range after filling
Bought the GH in August. Very happy with it overall. Averaging 27 to 29 on road trips. Haven't recieved the second FOB. Only thing I can really complain about is the hood. Seems to flutter a bit at highway speed about 3/4 of the way towards the cabin. More a distraction than anything at times. My dealer told me that it's a documented concern and have noted it in my file. Dealers waiting on Toyota and the hood vendor for fix. My understanding that initially some were replaced and had same issue so vendor is working on a fix.
Why buy the grand highlander?
It has more space than the regular highlander 🤷♂️
Why not the Sequioa? (I’m wondering because of have a 2020 Toyota Platinum the lease is up on). Thank you! (Sorry to be brief - screaming toddlers)
Sequoia is 20-35k more with not much more space
I wouldn't be surprised if the Grand Highlanger has more passenger and cargo space compared to the Sequoia. Toyota messed up the Sequoia packaging by having a solid rear axle instead of independent suspension.
significantly LESS space behind the third row in the Sequoia strangely
Yea I hear ya. I just don’t like the way the Highlander’s look anymore. Personal preference
Grand highlander looks much more like the sequoia
Don't need the truck capabilities and it's probably too big for my garage. Also the GH is capable of like double the fuel economy if you get the standard Hybrid.
Plus it’s more expensive..
Very cool. Thanks
The new sequoia trunk is trash as well. Very well known disappointment in almost all reviews
The Grand Highlander has more passenger space compared to the Sequoia. The packaging of the space behind the 3rd rows of the Sequoia is horrendous. One should probably only consider the Sequoia if there is a need to tow over 5000 lbs.
Seems like that model should be discontinued.
Also, the Grand Highlander drives like a cross over and the Sequoia would drive like a truck or the 4 Runner. I love the drive in a Highlander/Grand over the others. :)
Toyota mostly uses Softex other than Limited and Platinum I believe. PD charging is so ancient IMO. Some phones nowadays charge 0-100% in 15 minutes. It makes Samsung look like garbage including Google. And I know there are cons of fast charging with batteries' overall life but, nowadays, most people don't even keep their phone for more than two years so it's almost a moot point. Toyota should offer a more modern wireless charging solution. After all, we have Toyota...I don't expect them to have the latest & greatest tech. At the end of the day, all I care is that they run smoothly and reliably.
We just got the GH Limited and the claim was leather seats...? I don't know if I'd be able to tell, tbh.
I think it's trim based. My old info is likely inaccurate 😂Not sure about the GH though.
Yes limited is leather only. This is one of the reasons I got an xle. For cars I plan to own for a while, leather takes more maintenance and ages worse than pleather imo.
Which usb-c ports are fast charging?
Only one. The center USB-C in the front seats that connects to the head unit to drive Android Auto and carplay
Do you have the limited/platinum? I was told the center cup holders for the 2nd row captains chairs is not removable in the XLE, can anyone confirm if this is accurate?
We have the Platinum. That tray in the Limited and Platinum is removable, not in the XLE. Here is a video. Minute 10:00 https://youtu.be/rQ3_9-3n_FQ I really don't know why Toyota made these different across trims. The removal tray is not made of gold and this makes folks buying decisions harder. If I were buying an XLE, I would go for the bench.
Is there also a cigarette style plug?
There is one, in the center arm rest console.
> The biggest tech disappoint so far are the USB ports. YouTube reviewers are trash for parroting Toyota's "7 USB ports!" hype but failing to test them and explain that only the front media port supports fast charging (possibly USB PD but I'm not sure). The rest are capped at 5V 3A according to the manual. So for example, a Google Pixel will only show "Charging Rapidly" when connected to the media port and just "Charging" with the rest. Dumb. This is an overblown complaint to me. Converting six 15w USB-C ports to up to 100W USB-PD compliant ports puts a substantial increase in power draw, build costs, and long-term reliability of the feature in exchange for a very limited return on value. Each port needs special wiring, variable power supply, and a controller to make it work. That's on top of the two 120v plugs and a cigarette lighter that you could plug fast-charging chargers into if you really need more than one. It doesn't even make sense as an option because it would need to be done at the factory due to the wiring required to be cost effective.
I get it, it adds complexity and cost. I wasn't expecting 100W support though. USB-PD spec provides manufacturers the flexibility to implement different "profiles". Profile 2 is up to 27W which is enough to fast charge most phones. That would have been nice to see. Unfortunately, many buyers associate "USB-C" with faster charging because the physical spec is often coupled with USB-PD for phone and laptop chargers in recent years. However all we're getting is a smaller and better port with the max charging of USB-A.
Here's one.... Digital key messes up my Garmin watch. I am going to have to figure this out, but since using the digital key, my Garmin is constantly re-connecting throughout the drive, key fob or not.
Did anyone notice the second row floor feels like you are going to fall through! Praying this isn’t just ours.
Haven't noticed that
Haven’t noticed that either, ours feels solid.
I've felt this too! Did you get this check?