2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the vehicle stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint colour and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, added to the vehicle's sophisticated appeal. The Range Rover Sport was available in various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. The test vehicle, a U.S.-spec Dynamic SE, featured heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and other premium features, pushing its MSRP beyond $120,000. Notable design elements included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights, contributing to its aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a luxurious and high-tech appearance, with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry. It was not a body-on-frame vehicle, limiting its towing capacity to 2,268 kilograms. The Grand Highlander was notably larger than its competitors, with a length of 5,115 millimetres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. Its ground clearance of 20.3 centimetres made it suitable for dirt roads, but it was primarily designed for on-road use. The Grand Highlander's styling drew inspiration from rugged vehicles, with a blockier design compared to the smaller Highlander. It featured a trapezoidal grille, narrow headlights, and a resemblance to the 4Runner. Toyota offered the Grand Highlander in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, with Softex synthetic leather on the XLE and real leather on higher trims. The Platinum Hybrid trim could be equipped with Portobello upholstery. Standard features included a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Limited and Platinum trims added ventilation and second-row sunshades. The Grand Highlander excelled as a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle, with impressive material quality and seamless fit and finish.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography trim, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One offered a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. A fully electric version was expected in 2024. The test vehicle's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. Fuel efficiency averaged 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres, with a suburban highway drive returning 9.4 L/100 km. The Range Rover Sport's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second. Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, and roll stability control enhanced handling. Off-road capabilities included a 28.2-centimetre ground clearance, 90 cm wading depth, and Terrain Response technology.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains featured all-wheel drive in Canada. The Hybrid Max delivered impressive acceleration, with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The standard gas-engine Grand Highlander was expected to account for 85% of sales. While larger than the smaller Highlander, the Grand Highlander maintained decent road manners, though it was less maneuverable in tight spaces. It exhibited some body roll and had a numb steering feel. The brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models. Sport mode tightened steering and throttle response, while Eco mode dulled them. Normal mode was the preferred setting for most driving conditions.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power-adjustability, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, though improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. Storage space was decent, with a 903-litre cargo area and a maximum of 1,500 litres. A full-size spare tire limited underfloor storage, but Land Rover provided a contraption to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. It offered a spacious interior, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. Behind the second-row seats, there were 1,640 litres, and with all three rows up, 583 litres were available. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. It was a comfortable vehicle with good outward visibility, making it a suitable alternative to minivans.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system was often confusing and frustrating to use. The SUV's native digital assistant struggled with voice commands, and the system's functionality was limited. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included but difficult to access.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, handling tasks like temperature adjustment and radio changes. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The test vehicle had an 11-speaker JBL stereo, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available. Toyota's tech offering had improved, but careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included numerous safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control was slow to respond, and the steering assist technology was dissatisfactory, especially on highway curves.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The updated lane-departure alert could identify three-dimensional objects. Traffic jam assist and a head-up display were exclusive to the Platinum grade. Adaptive cruise control was standard, with four following-distance settings.