2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2025 INFINITI QX80

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota’s lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it provided a spacious interior, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 INFINITI QX80 underwent its first redesign since 2017, growing slightly in size while retaining its body-on-frame architecture. The new frame improved torsional and lateral stiffness significantly. The QX80 featured more expressive styling, particularly at the front, with a large grille and stacked-headlight setup. The rear retained its general shape but introduced full-width LED taillights. Offered in Pure, Luxe, Sensory, and Autobiography trims, the QX80 came with standard 20-inch wheels, with larger options available. The interior received a high-tech makeover with a large horizontal display and ambient lighting. Upholstery options ranged from leatherette to semi-aniline leather, depending on the trim. The QX80 provided a luxurious cabin experience, although some materials felt less premium than expected.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produced 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain generated 362 combined net horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander’s size made it less maneuverable than smaller models, and its steering felt somewhat numb. However, its brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with additional modes for AWD models.

The 2025 INFINITI QX80 featured a new twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, replacing the previous 5.6-liter V8. The V6 produced 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The QX80 felt more energetic than its predecessor, though the active sound enhancement added an artificial noise. Base models had steel-sprung suspension, while higher trims featured air suspension and adaptive damping. The suspension could adjust ride height, offering 10 inches of ground clearance in off-road mode. Despite its size, the QX80’s handling was average, and the ride couldn’t completely smooth out bumps. The reinforced frame didn’t feel as solid as unibody vehicles, but it was comparable to other large SUVs.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than most rivals, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase. It offered 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space, with 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The spacious interior provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room, even in the third row, making it a comfortable choice for passengers.

The 2025 INFINITI QX80 increased cargo space by 6%, 17%, and 28% behind the first, second, and third rows, respectively. It offered 22 cubic feet with all seats in place, 59 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 101 cubic feet with both rows down. The QX80 featured a power liftgate and power-folding seats, with a 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench or captain’s chairs. Passenger space was generous, with increased legroom in the first and third rows. The QX80 boasted a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available via subscription. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo. Streaming audio integration and a Wi-Fi Connect package were also offered.

The 2025 INFINITI QX80 featured dual 14.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, with a 9-inch touchscreen for additional controls. It was the first Infiniti with Google built-in apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were supported. The QX80 offered Klipsch sound systems, with up to 24 speakers in higher trims. A 360-degree camera system and various camera views were available.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested but included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite featured automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 INFINITI QX80 had not been rated by safety organizations. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a trailer blind-spot warning system. ProPilot Assist was available, offering adaptive cruise control and lane centering, with a more advanced version allowing hands-free driving.