2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

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, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its ground clearance of 20.3 centimetres made it suitable for dirt roads, though it wasn't designed for off-road adventures. The Grand Highlander's styling was inspired by rugged vehicles, featuring a conservative yet blocky design reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. It was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. The vehicle boasted a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in LE, XLE, XSE, and Limited trims, offered a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias and a range of cool colours. Standard LED lighting was complemented by Bi-LED projector headlamps in upper trims. The XSE trim featured sporty elements like a black metallic mesh front grille and 20-inch dark wheels. Inside, the Sienna came with cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight passengers. The XSE trim replaced the second-row bench seat with captain's chairs and sport seats. The interior design emphasized spaciousness with horizontal lines and a fixed centre console with satin accents. While not luxurious, it was practical for families, with features like a heated and leather-trimmed power steering wheel and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) controls. The Sienna's interior was designed to handle the rigours of family life, with ample storage and thoughtful features.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. At the top of the range, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain combined a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors, generating 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains were paired with an all-wheel-drive system in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was expected to account for 85% of sales with its standard gas engine. Despite its size, it maintained decent road manners, though it was less manoeuvrable than the smaller Highlander. The brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate, with three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—available on all models.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was a hybrid minivan, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel-drive models added an electric motor to the rear wheels. While not known for its performance, the Sienna featured a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode for improved acceleration. However, it felt sluggish off the line, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a less engaging driving experience. The minivan excelled in urban settings, with smooth acceleration and light, accurate steering. Visibility was excellent, and the brakes, though occasionally grabby, were effective. The Sienna offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Eco, and EV mode for low-speed areas. While not the most thrilling option, it provided a comfortable and practical ride for families.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring over 5 metres in length with a 2,950 mm wheelbase. This extra length translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing the Kia Telluride by over 300 litres. With the second-row seats in place, it offered 1,640 litres of cargo space, and even with all three rows up, there were still 583 litres available. The Grand Highlander provided a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. It was a practical choice for those seeking a roomy and versatile vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, four cupholders up front, and additional holders in the front doors. A shelf above the glovebox housed the available wireless charging pad. The second-row captain's chairs could slide fore and aft 63.5 centimetres, providing up to 101.5 centimetres of legroom. However, the slide function was complex, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting maximum cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults and offered 99 centimetres of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna's third-row seats tilted for added comfort, and window shades and cupholders were abundant. Tri-zone climate control was standard, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 949 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,860 litres with the second row folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available through a connected-services subscription, allowing voice commands for tasks like adjusting temperature and changing radio stations. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and 24/7 live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims came with an 11-speaker JBL stereo, offering a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with a three-month trial included.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna retained Toyota's older infotainment technology, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the newer system offered better graphics and features, the Sienna's setup included physical buttons for common menus. The backup camera's view was grainy, and the gauges were analog, with a 7-inch digital display in the cluster. Available features included SiriusXM satellite radio and a 12-speaker JBL stereo system. The Sienna offered a rear-camera mirror with a wide-angle video feed, though our tester didn't include it. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available for the second row and rear cargo area.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested or rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard equipment. This included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The updated lane-departure alert could identify three-dimensional objects, reducing false warnings. Traffic jam assist and a head-up display were exclusive to the Platinum grade. Adaptive cruise control was standard, offering four following-distance settings.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver's aids as standard, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The adaptive cruise control was effective in stop-and-go traffic, though the lane-keeping assist exhibited some side-to-side movement. The Sienna was equipped with side curtain airbags for all three rows, and rear passengers received a seat belt reminder. The NHTSA rated the Sienna with four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" rating for crashworthiness and seat belt and child restraint systems, though it received an "Average" rating for front crash prevention.