Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs Honda Prologue

The 2024 Honda Prologue presented a design that was refreshingly normal for an electric vehicle. Its exterior, available in a variety of colours, including Sonic Grey and Pacific Blue on the Touring trim, was understated enough to blend in seamlessly with traditional vehicles. The front featured a smooth black panel with the iconic Honda "H" logo, emphasizing its electric nature by eliminating the need for air cooling. Accessories like skid plates and side cladding allowed for personalization, adding a rugged touch to its appearance. The Prologue's side profile was characterized by its low stance, accentuated by its length and large wheels, giving it a unique silhouette reminiscent of a classic gangster car. Inside, the Touring trim offered a sophisticated interior with a brown and black colour scheme in the U.S. version, while Canadian models featured a black-on-black theme. The dashboard layout was familiar, echoing designs from other Honda models, and the use of piano black plastic and upholstery material added a touch of elegance.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid adopted a conservative design approach, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This resulted in a larger vehicle that maintained the RAV4's familiar aesthetic, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior prioritized functionality, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. However, the use of glossy hard plastics and unlined storage areas detracted slightly from the overall quality. The climate system was user-friendly, featuring large knobs for temperature adjustments, but the infotainment interface had its quirks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Grand Highlander provided a comfortable and practical interior space.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, available exclusively with all-wheel drive in Canada, featured a dual-motor setup delivering 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim, equipped with 21-inch wheels, offered a range of 439 kilometres, while the EX and EX-L trims with 19-inch wheels extended the range to 452 kilometres. Honda focused on delivering a driving experience that felt authentically Honda, with familiar dynamics and a choice of regenerative braking settings. The Prologue's long wheelbase contributed to a comfortable ride, although road and wind noise were noticeable at highway speeds. The vehicle's throttle, brake, and steering response could be enhanced by selecting Sport mode, making it surprisingly enjoyable to drive on winding roads.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max prioritized performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission that avoided the droning typical of CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive towing capacity and acceleration, it came with a fuel economy trade-off, achieving 8.8 L/100 km combined. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The Grand Highlander's ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations in the road could cause some vertical and lateral movement. Handling was secure but limited, with early tire scrub and squeal when pushed hard.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured traditional door handles, simplifying the transition for new EV owners. Inside, it offered up to 3,163 litres of passenger volume, providing ample legroom, especially in the second row. Headroom was less generous, but reclinable rear seats and a panoramic moonroof added comfort. Standard features included heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, with additional amenities like driver’s seat memory and a heated steering wheel on higher trims. The cargo area ranged from 671 to 714 litres, with a flat load floor for easy loading. However, the long hatch area could pose challenges for shorter individuals accessing the full cargo space.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, adding a touch of luxury. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed for easy access to the third row, which offered reasonable comfort for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded. The Grand Highlander excelled in providing ample space for family road trips, though some storage areas were unlined, potentially contributing to cabin noise.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came equipped with keyless access, a wireless charger, and four USB-C ports. Its infotainment system featured an 11.3-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by an 11-inch digital driver-information display. Google Built-In provided native Google Maps and route-planning features. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bose audio system, enhancing the driving experience with Active Sound Control, which added artificial sounds to compensate for the powertrain's silence.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Toyota Connected Services offered various features, including automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The system was user-friendly, though some interface elements could be improved. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system, delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2024 Honda Prologue included the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, with new features like rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims offered additional safety features such as front-park assist and a surround-vision system. While the Prologue had not yet been rated by safety organizations, Honda aimed for top safety ratings.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, though it could be intrusive. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.