2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition, or 40 ASE, was based on the SR5 Premium trim level and added $4,505 to its price. This included a $1,875 charge for the standard four-wheel-drive system. The remaining cost covered retro body stripes, a heritage grille, bronze 17-inch wheels, and various bronze badges and stitching. The 40 ASE was available in black, white, or red paint with a black artificial leather interior. The 4Runner lineup included several trims, with prices ranging from $39,555 to $54,020, plus a $1,335 destination charge. The 40 ASE had a SoCal vibe, with its retro design elements and truck-based SUV stance, offering a solid and quality feel despite the plastic interior components.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was not a body-on-frame vehicle, which limited its towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. The Grand Highlander was notably large, measuring 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. Its design was more conservative and blockier than the smaller Highlander, resembling vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather, depending on the trim level. It featured a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent road-trip vehicle.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and had a fuel economy rating of 17 mpg in combined driving. The 4Runner featured two 4WD systems, with the Limited trim offering a full-time 4WD option. It had a minimum ground clearance of nine inches and included off-roading technologies like Hill-Start Assist Control, Downhill Assist Control, and Active Traction Control. The 4Runner excelled in off-road conditions but was less refined on paved roads, with heavy steering and a light-switch-like brake pedal.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower, a 2.5-liter hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and a Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 combined net horsepower. The Grand Highlander was available with FWD and AWD, with the Hybrid Max only available in AWD. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—and additional modes for AWD models. The Grand Highlander provided adequate acceleration and solid brakes, though its steering feel was somewhat numb. It was not designed for sports car performance but offered a comfortable and capable driving experience.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a power-down rear window, sunroof, and automatic windows for an immersive driving experience. It offered comfortable seats with SofTex artificial leather and heated front cushions. The second-row seating area was roomy, with good legroom and USB charging ports. The optional third-row seat was cramped and reduced cargo space. The 4Runner provided 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and up to 89.7 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, offering 97.5 cubic feet of total cargo capacity. It provided 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The Grand Highlander was spacious and comfortable, with ample head, leg, and shoulder room in all rows. It offered good outward visibility and was a suitable alternative for those seeking a minivan-like experience without the minivan.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured traditional analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It offered connected services and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with real knobs and buttons. Voice recognition performed well, though it had limitations with certain commands.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, and live agent assistance through a connected-services subscription. It included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo. The Grand Highlander’s tech offerings were a significant improvement over previous Toyota models, though subscription options required careful consideration.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. It received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for frontal-impact and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it a Marginal rating for driver protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite featured automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings.