Toyota Grand Highlander vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a spacious and comfortable ride. 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 surpassed competitors like the Kia Telluride in size, providing ample interior space. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative and blocky, reminiscent of rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. It featured a trapezoidal grille with a horizontal slit above, echoing the design of the 4Runner. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with options for Softex synthetic leather or real leather upholstery. The interior boasted a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a spacious centre console. The second-row captain's chairs and built-in step facilitated easy access to the third row, making it a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, available exclusively in the Sport design in Canada, showcased a more assertive and truck-like presence. The GR Sport trim, inspired by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, featured red brake calipers, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and a wide mesh grille. The RAV4's interior offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with a larger 12.9-inch option on top trims. The touchscreen integrated climate controls, while the digital displays provided customizable options for vehicle info and driver assist systems. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's interior was optimized for storage, with clever features like a dashboard shelf and deep door pockets. Despite its compact footprint, it offered 960 millimetres of rear legroom and a total cargo capacity of 1,798 litres with the rear seats folded. The GR Sport trim, with its lower ground clearance and enhanced suspension, delivered a sportier ride without compromising comfort.

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 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander's size made it less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart, the Highlander, but its brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. The vehicle offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack. This combination increased the RAV4's power to 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. The all-wheel-drive system included a large front motor rated at 203 horsepower and a smaller rear motor for assistance and traction. In EV mode, the RAV4 excelled in quiet cruising, while Auto mode delivered a satisfying power band with an unofficial 0-100 km/h time in the low five seconds. The RAV4 offered Hybrid and Charge modes for different driving scenarios. The transition of power was seamless, and paddle shifters allowed for manual control. Despite its weight, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid maintained a spirited ride, with the GR Sport trim offering enhanced handling and reduced body roll.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander stood out with its generous interior space, surpassing rivals like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. With a length of over 5 metres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it offered a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, providing ample storage for road trips. Even with all three rows up, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander's interior was designed for comfort, with good visibility and plenty of headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid maintained its compact dimensions but optimized interior space with clever storage features. The base SE trim offered power-adjustable and heated front seats, while higher trims featured synthetic leather upholstery and ventilated seats. The RAV4's interior included a dashboard shelf, deep door pockets, and a centre console with flexible storage options. Despite its compact size, it provided 960 millimetres of rear legroom and a total cargo capacity of 1,798 litres with the rear seats folded. The GR Sport trim offered a sportier ride with enhanced suspension and reduced body roll.

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 the temperature. 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. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enhanced 10.5-inch touchscreen system. The touchscreen integrated climate controls, while the digital displays offered customizable options for vehicle info and driver assist systems. The RAV4's operating system, Arene, provided a responsive and quick interface. The subscription-based Voice Assistant responded to a range of prompts, and the system allowed for locating chargers along the route. The RAV4's technology package offered a comprehensive and user-friendly experience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the Grand Highlander was equipped with an impressive list of advanced driver assistance systems.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features. The system included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and a safe exit alert. The RAV4's enhancements aimed to improve responsiveness and detection, contributing to its strong safety record. Crash-test ratings were pending, but the redesign addressed previous shortcomings.