Sweet Spot: The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

One of the things automotive journalists will do is take shots at the automakers for trying to fill every possible gap in a product lineup. "Is there really room for a new vehicle between [vehicle a] and [vehicle b]?", we'll ask.

For example, if you had asked me if there was enough room between the Toyota Highlander and the Toyota Sequoia to squeeze in another model, I'd have said no.

I'd have been wrong.

The Toyota Grand Highlander hits a sweet spot---just a bit smaller than the big truck-based SUVs, with the comfort that comes from being a car-based crossover SUV.

The sweet spot within the sweet spot is the Grand Highlander Hybrid---a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a combined output of 245 horsepower, with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 36 miles per gallon city/32 highway/34 combined. With a continuously variable transmission and all-wheel drive with trail mode, it has a 3,500 pound maximum towing capacity.

There's 22 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row seat, 58 with it folded down and 98 cubic feet with both the second and third row folded.

Third-row passengers get 33.5 inches of legroom...

...folks in the second row get a generous 39.5 inches.

I had the opportunity to do a 250-mile roundtrip on business in the Grand Highlander Hybrid and found it terrifically comfortable, smooth and quiet.

The base price of the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Nightshade Edition (our tester) is $52,610 ($54,060 including destination). As I write this, tariffs are a big question mark. The Grand Highlander is assembled in Princeton, Indiana, which should exempt the vehicle itself, but components from other countries could be taxed, and the price of the vehicle at your local dealer by the time you read this could be higher.

Standard equipment includes a comprehensive suite of active safety features, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, taillights and fog lights, five-door smart key with pushbutton start, heated power outside mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers, an 11-speaker JBL audio system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio, leather-trimmed seating, heated and ventilated power front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, 60/40 split-folding third dow seats, integreated second-row window sunshades, three-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging, 13 cupholders, seven USB-C ports, and a 1500-watt inverter with two 120-volt AC outlets.

Our test vehicle had extra-cost options---$600 for a panoramic view monitor, $1,350 for a panoramic roof, $105 for wheel locks, $378 for carpeted floormats and a carpeted cargo mat, and $325 for a two-year extension of the standard one-year trial of Toyota Connected Services.

The bottom line on the window sticker: $56,818.

If you've done any SUV shopping lately, you'll know that the "sweet spot" theme extends to that price tag. This much room and capability for under $60K is a deal these days. The Grand Highlander Hybrid is a winner.