2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota’s lineup of crossovers and SUVs, positioned between the Highlander and the Sequoia. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with models like the RAV4 and Camry, distinguishing itself from the truck-based Sequoia. Despite its crossover nature, the Grand Highlander boasted a substantial size, measuring 5,115 millimetres in length with a 2,950 mm wheelbase, offering a spacious interior. Its design was more conservative and blocky, reminiscent of rugged vehicles, with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights that echoed the 4Runner’s styling.

Inside, the Grand Highlander offered three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with varying upholstery options from Softex synthetic leather to real leather. The interior was well-appointed with features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats. The spacious cabin included thoughtful touches like second-row sunshades and a removable centre console, making it a comfortable choice for road trips. The quality of materials and seamless fit and finish were impressive, promising durability over time.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring similar design cues like hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The Capstone model, with its chrome accents and Celestial Silver colour, had a somewhat dated appearance. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra’s blocky dashboard design, with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim featured semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia’s seats were power-adjustable, and a moonroof was standard across all trims.

The Sequoia’s interior was spacious, with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres. However, the third-row seats, positioned above the hybrid powertrain’s battery pack, did not fold flat, affecting headroom and comfort. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, but the seating position was less comfortable due to the battery placement. Despite these limitations, the Sequoia offered a practical and functional interior, with captain’s chairs available on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain combined a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine with electric motors, generating 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models in Canada came with all-wheel drive, and the Hybrid Max boasted a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander’s size made it less nimble than its smaller counterpart, but its brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively a hybrid, using the iForce MAX powertrain with a twin-turbo V6 and electric motor. It produced 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over its predecessor. Fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The Sequoia’s 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and its on-road handling was typical for its class. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control. The Sequoia’s towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with available towing upgrades.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than most rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. It offered a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. With all seats up, it provided 583 litres of space. The interior was comfortable, with ample headroom and legroom in all rows, making it suitable for adults even in the third row.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered a maximum cargo space of 2,460 litres with seats folded. Behind the second row, it provided 1,387 litres, and behind the third row, 325 to 631 litres, depending on seat position. The third-row seats did not fold flat due to the hybrid battery, affecting headroom and comfort. Legroom varied across rows, with the front row offering the most space. Second-row captain’s chairs were available on higher trims, providing wide but flat seating.

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

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia’s Capstone trim included a 14-inch touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The infotainment system was functional, with a 12.3-inch driver information display. A Panoramic View monitor was standard on higher trims, and a 10-inch head-up display was included on the Capstone. The 14-speaker JBL audio system was available on Limited and standard on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, with features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. It had not yet been rated by safety organizations.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, with a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. It also included parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring. The Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations, but the similar Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.