2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

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 as a true crossover rather than a body-on-frame vehicle like the Sequoia. Its substantial size, with a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, provided a spacious interior that surpassed competitors like the Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander's design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. Inside, it offered a range of trims with varying upholstery options, and its interior was praised for its comfort and quality materials, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid debuted with a redesigned look for its sixth-generation model, offering a more cohesive yet conventional design compared to its predecessor. Its rugged appearance, enhanced by black plastic elements, hinted at its off-road potential. Inside, the Forester retained some of its previous charm with a beveled dashboard centre section and a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with the front seats providing ample cushioning and support. The hybrid model included heated outboard rear seats, adding to its comfort. While some felt the Forester lost some of its distinctiveness, it gained mass appeal with its modern design and practical 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 boasted 362 horsepower and 400 combined net pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander excelled in road manners, though its size made it less maneuverable in tight spaces. It offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid featured a 2.5-litre horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder "boxer" engine, producing 194 horsepower. Its parallel hybrid system employed two motor/generators and a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The Forester's all-wheel drive system, combined with hybrid components, promised better traction off-road. While acceleration was adequate, the hybrid transmission sometimes made it feel slower. The hybrid system functioned smoothly, with consistent braking and predictable handling. The ride quality was firm, but the Forester excelled off-road with its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control, making it a versatile choice for both urban and adventurous drivers.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was notably larger than its rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm. This extra size translated to impressive cargo capacity, with a total of 2,761 litres, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. Even with all seats in place, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, ensuring comfort for passengers, even in the third row.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid impressed with its unimpeded forward view, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The front seats offered ample space, and the cockpit had an open, airy feel. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom and headroom, enhanced by a standard panoramic sunroof. While storage options were adequate, the Forester Hybrid offered 779 litres of cargo space, with a hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for added convenience. Its upright tail design allowed for bulkier items, making it practical for various needs.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant, available via a connected-services subscription, responded to voice commands for tasks like adjusting temperature and changing radio stations. The system included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. While Toyota's tech offerings had improved, careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid featured an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Subaru's Starlink infotainment system received praise for its user-friendly interface, with large on-screen buttons and easy-to-navigate menus. Physical buttons flanking the screen allowed for no-look temperature adjustments. The Forester Hybrid also included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard. This suite included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, and adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The IIHS awarded the non-hybrid model top scores, earning it a Top Safety Pick award. Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features was standard, including frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The top-trim Forester Hybrid added features like rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor. The systems functioned smoothly, with the option to disable audible alarms for lane-keep assist.