2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was available in six trim levels, offering a range of options from the budget-friendly RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, with two off-road-oriented trims in between. The design remained consistent with the 2019 model, especially in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which featured a distinctive two-part face. The Adventure trim, which was tested, had a more aggressive grille with a repositioned Toyota badge, blacked-out wheels, and a faux skid plate. Despite its rugged appearance, it was more of a style statement than a true off-road performer. Inside, the Adventure trim added orange accents, including a stripe on the seats and contrast stitching, enhancing the otherwise basic interior. The frameless rearview mirror added a touch of sophistication, but those seeking a more premium feel might have considered the Toyota Venza, which offered a more car-like experience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a new addition to Toyota's lineup, positioned as a larger alternative to the standard Highlander. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with several other Toyota models, including the RAV4 and Camry. The Grand Highlander was not a body-on-frame vehicle, which limited its towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. It was notably larger than its competitors, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, providing a spacious interior. The design was more conservative and blockier than the smaller Highlander, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the 4Runner. It was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with varying levels of luxury and upholstery options. The interior was well-appointed, with features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats standard across all trims. The Grand Highlander excelled as a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle, with high-quality materials and a reputation for reliability.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with front-wheel drive, except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which featured all-wheel drive by default. The sole engine option for the gas-powered RAV4 was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the transmission was preferable to a CVT, it didn't enhance acceleration, which was more "unobjectionable" than "exciting." The RAV4 Adventure trim, with its 19-inch wheels and all-season tires, was more of a hopeful tagalong than a true off-road contender, unlike the TRD Off-Road trim with its all-terrain tires and TRD-tuned suspension.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base engine was a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, produced 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with front-wheel and all-wheel drive, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Grand Highlander was not a sports car, but the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The standard turbo gas-engine model, expected to account for 85% of sales, provided adequate power and solid brakes, though steering feel was somewhat numb. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with AWD models gaining additional off-road modes.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was designed to seat five, with 37.7 inches of headroom in the front and 39.5 inches in the back with the moonroof. It offered 41 inches of front legroom and 37.8 inches in the second row, making it competitive with the Honda CR-V but less spacious than the Subaru Forester. The RAV4 provided ample storage options, including a shelf along the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space was 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, placing it in the middle of the pack among competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase. It offered a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet, surpassing the Kia Telluride by about 10 cubic feet. With the second-row seats up, it provided 57.9 cubic feet, and with all three rows up, 20.6 cubic feet were available. The Grand Highlander was not only spacious but also comfortable, with ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row. Its design allowed for good outward visibility, and even the third row could accommodate a six-foot adult comfortably.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 featured a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, upgraded to a 10.5-inch screen for Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Adventure trim tested had the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous Toyota interfaces. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available via a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, offering a balanced sound experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with additional subscription options for enhanced connectivity.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features, including lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, with blind-spot monitoring available on the base LE model and standard on higher trims. The RAV4 was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. It performed well in IIHS evaluations, earning a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with an extensive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings, enhancing its functionality.