The Toyota Grand Highlander is as close to perfect as an SUV can be, delivering an ideal combination of utility, comfort, and durability. It's the kind of SUV where the idea of a long drive is something you look forward to rather than dread. That's not an easy thing to achieve, and it requires close attention to detail from a trusted manufacturer.

Toyota has earned the trust of American drivers by producing vehicles with excellent powertrains and architecture complimented by luxurious design features and industry-leading technology. If you're looking at a Toyota Grand Highlander for sale, you'll see that 2025 is a great year for this model, leaning into the versatility that made it so popular to begin with and showcasing some of the segment's best capability, design, and technology features.

This is a great year for a great vehicle, and it's worth acknowledging. Whether you're in the market for a new SUV or not, there's a lot to appreciate about the 2025 Grand Highlander, so let's dig into the highlights for this model year and see what you can expect. If you're not in the market now, you might be by the time we're done!

Capability

Toyota is a popular brand for its models' comfort, utility, and reliability, but people don't always realize how performance-savvy Toyota is. With its famous Toyota Racing Department (TRD), the brand actually has a leg up over most others when it comes to engineering high performance. The 2025 Grand Highlander offers some of the best and most impressive powertrain options and performance specs in the three-row SUV segment, and it's worth digging into the architecture that makes the Grand Highlander as capable as it is.

The 2025 Grand Highlander offers drivers the option of three different powertrains, all with their own strengths. Standard is a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine, while there is also a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain and a turbocharged hybrid 2.4L i-FORCE MAX powertrain that makes the Grand Highlander this brand's most powerful midsize SUV ever.

Between the gas powertrain and the hybrid option, the former has better power, at 265 hp compared to 245 hp, but the latter has better efficiency, getting an EPA-estimated 36 MPG combined (37 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway) in front-wheel drive, where the gas option gets an EPA-estimated 24 MPG combined (21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway) in front-wheel drive.

The i-FORCE MAX powertrain is handily the way to go for thrillseekers, delivering 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, which is absolutely incredible for a three-row SUV. However, if efficiency is your highest priority, you'll actually be better off with the regular hybrid powertrain as the i-FORCE MAX gets an EPA-estimated 27 MPG combined in all-wheel drive.

All of these powertrain options have AWD, so the Grand Highlander is capable and versatile in a number of terrains, but AWD is optional with the gas and hybrid powertrains while it's standard (and the only option) for the i-FORCE MAX. The Grand Highlander's engineering is flexible so that you can prioritize your preferences, whether you're seeking thrills or efficiency. One of the best aspects of having powertrain choices is the opportunity to balance out the economic impacts of each. For example, while a traditional gas engine may be cheaper in the short term, a hybrid powertrain can save you more money in the long term. Considering this can help you determine whether or not you'd like to spend a little extra on higher-end design features, of which the Grand Highlander has many.

Design

Toyota is known for providing functional and high-end design features in the Grand Highlander. This SUV's body makes for maximum passenger space, furnishing grown adults with a comfortable third-row experience. With all the seats folded, this midsize SUV proves itself to be quite large, with an impressive cargo capacity of 97.5 cu.ft of cargo space, which is incredible for a three-row SUV.

When it comes to the actual cosmetic features, the 2025 model year brings with it a pair of new trims, diversifying this SUV's offerings. The new LE and Hybrid Nightshade trims deliver different but attractive packages to drivers, with the Hybrid Nightshade leaning into dark, edgy fashion cues and the LE being a value-oriented, affordable trim with fantastic features.

The Hybrid Nightshade's exterior is dark and attractive, with blacked-out accents, door handles, badges, mirror caps, and rear spoiler. In sitting atop black 20-inch alloy wheels, there is also a blacked-out quality to the Hybrid Nightshade's foundation. Inside, drivers will find leather-trimmed seating with standard heating and ventilation for the driver and passenger seats, as well as heated outboard second-row seats and a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel. The Hybrid Nightshade pulls out all the stops and more, as it includes a premium JBL 11-speaker sound system for complete audio immersion.

The Hybrid Nightshade also has a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, allowing you to sync and stay up to date on your drive. This hybrid trim also includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, making for a whole lot of screen real estate to keep the driver well-informed during the drive. The cherry on top is ambient lighting, which helps craft a mood that draws you in and makes you want to stay for a while. The Hybrid Nightshade is a luxury lover's dream, going above and beyond to craft an experience that makes drivers and passengers look forward to the ride.

The new LE trim takes a bit of a different approach, but certainly an attractive one. The new trim is available with either the gas engine or the 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain; it has seating for eight passengers, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a power liftgate, and heated power outside mirrors with blindspot warning indicators. The new LE trim offers tremendous, competitive, and desirable features at an affordable rate. Rather than being a "budget" trim that sticks to the bare minimum, it's a value trim that strategically incorporates great features in a way that is financially accessible.

The 2025 Grand Highlander takes design seriously. With two new trims added to the lineup, this model's offerings are even more extensive, luxurious, and value-packed. Whether you're looking for high-end treats with the Hybrid Nightshade or great value with the LE trim, the newest Grand Highlander is versatile and can be configured to suit a variety of needs, priorities, and budgets.

Toyota's Exceptional Grand Highlander

There may not be such a thing as a "perfect" SUV, but the 2025 Grand Highlander comes about as close as you can get. In providing a tactfully crafted combination of engineering and design, the Grand Highlander can be considered one of the most attractive vehicles on the market. With a variety of powertrain and design options, drivers can craft a capable, efficient, luxurious SUV in exactly the configuration that suits them.

The Grand Highlander is a flexible, competent, and reliable SUV. What it can't prove on paper, it proves on the road. The common throughline of the 2025 Grand Highlander is its blend of power, comfort, and technology, crafting an enduring and enjoyable ride for everyone.