2024 Toyota Grand Highlander revealed, unconfirmed for Australia

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander – a longer, wider and taller version of the Kluger – has debuted at the Chicago Auto Show.

As a relative to the Kluger – sold elsewhere as the Highlander – the roomier vehicle features a unique, boxier design similar to the smaller RAV4, “adult-sized” third-row seating, and an available 2.4-litre turbo-petrol hybrid system borrowed from the Toyota Crown and Lexus RX.

While it hasn’t been ruled out entirely for Australia, a spokesperson for Toyota’s local arm said it has no news to share about the Grand Highlander at present, with right-hand-drive production looking unlikely.

“Toyota is always considering exciting new models as they become available for our market, but we have no announcements to make today.”

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It will be built alongside the Kluger in Indiana, USA – however, the tweaked interior is likely to see a right-hand-drive variant ruled out.

In addition, the LandCruiser 300 Series is available for customers looking for a roomier three-row SUV option, but it is considerably more expensive.

According to US media, the Grand Highlander has a 2946-millimetre wheelbase, and measures 5116mm long, 1989mm wide and 1806mm tall – making it 165mm longer, 58mm wider and 50mm taller than a Kluger, with an additional 102mm between the axles.

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This is larger in every dimension than a LandCruiser 300 Series (except height), and other large SUVs such as the Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Pathfinder.

It is also roughly the same length as the popular Kia Carnival people-mover.

With a larger footprint, the Grand Highlander has improved second-row legroom (up 140mm), while it has 25mm more headroom and around 50 millimetres of additional shoulder space.

As standard, eight-passenger seating is offered, with available second-row captain’s chairs on the flagship Platinum grade.

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Like the Mazda CX-8 and CX-9 LE, the captain’s chairs are heated and ventilated – but, as with the Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Pathfinder, it eschews a fixed centre console for a walk-through to the third row.

Toyota claims it offers 595 litres of space behind the third-row – 142L more than a Kluger – or 2775L with the rear-most seats folded, measured to the roof.

Under the skin, the Grand Highlander is underpinned by the same TNGA-K architecture as the Kluger, but with additional rigidity to reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels.

In addition, Toyota says it has redesigned the rear suspension for a more comfortable ride, and to maximise space in the third-row and boot area.

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As with the Kluger, the Grand Highlander will be offered with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol – which replaces the long-running 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 for 2023 – or a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol-electric hybrid.

The updated Toyota Kluger will arrive in Australia later this month with the 2.4-litre turbo-petrol and additional technology, including a 12.3-inch infotainment system.

However, the Grand Highlander is headlined by the addition of the brand’s ‘Hybrid Max’ powertrain that combines the internal-combustion 2.4-litre turbo with two electric motors, for a total system output of 270kW and 542Nm.

It is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and offers all-wheel drive, while the turbo-petrol and regular hybrid are front-wheel drive with optional AWD.

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While the powertrain is identical to that used in the not-for-Australia Toyota Crown and slightly less powerful than the Lexus RX500h, it has been retuned to allow for a 5000-pound towing capacity (2268 kilograms).

It offers a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) sprint time of 6.3 seconds.

Inside, the Grand Highlander includes a standard 12.3-inch infotainment system, an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an 11-speaker JBL audio system, seven USB-C ports, and 13 cupholders.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander will commence production in the United States later this year.