2024 Toyota Highlander and Lexus will continue to develop their lineup of three-row SUVs, according to a report from Automotive News.
The two new SUVs expected to arrive next year for the 2024 model year will accommodate up to eight passengers and occupy the position of being the largest vehicles built on a unibody platform in the Toyota family.
Toyota Motors North America would not comment on future products or confirm the reports. Last year, Toyota announced it would invest $803 million in its Princeton, Ind., plant to produce two new crossover SUVs, including one for Lexus. It is expected that the two new SUVs will be built at Princeton.
For eight seats, the TX will have a second row of seats, but according to the luxury class, it will likely come with a second row captain’s seat.
It will reportedly be based on the upcoming Toyota Grand Highlander, which will be an extended version of the Toyota Highlander.
The Highlander comes with a hybrid option for 2022, and Toyota recently redesigned the Sequoia 2023, which shares a truck-based platform with the Lexus LX600. The Sequoia 2023 comes as standard with Toyota’s twin-turbo V-6 hybrid powertrain.
It is expected that Toyota will continue to roll out its electrification strategy in the two new models, but whether it will be a traditional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid remains unknown.
2024 Toyota Highlander Review
This SUV will effectively be a larger version of the Highlander pictured here. All the evidence suggests that Toyota doesn’t think much about names; the company filed trademark applications in the US and Canada for “Grand Highlander.” It would surprise us if that wasn’t the name.
Toyota has a body-on-frame three-row SUV with the all-new Sequoia 2023; The Grand Highlander is expected to be a unibody crossover. It will be built in the same factory as the Highlander and will probably be an extended version.
Toyota noted that the Grand Highlander and its Lexus partners will “join its diversified electrification portfolio.”
That suggests at least there will be a hybrid option. And judging by some of Toyota’s latest releases such as the Sienna and Venza, a hybrid engine might be the only option. We don’t know yet if it will be a plug-in or plug-in hybrid; it probably won’t be all electric.
Toyota notes that the new SUV will offer semi-autonomous hands-free driving in certain situations and self-parking technology. It will also have a digital lock to allow users to use their smartphone as a key and share the keys digitally.
2024 Toyota Highlander Refresh
The Highlander currently competes in the three-row mid-size SUV segment, but its third-row seats are less spacious than competitors like the Kia Telluride, Volkswagen Atlas, and Chevy Traverse.
A Grand Highlander, perhaps with an extended wheelbase, could help remedy this shortcoming. Size-wise, it will sit somewhere between the Highlander and the full-size body-on-frame Sequoia, and will likely cost several thousand dollars more than the Highlander.
Toyota hasn’t confirmed anything about such a model yet, but we think it could arrive soon after the Highlander’s mid-cycle refresh, which is coming for model years 2023 or 2024 given the current model debuting for 2020.
Mechanically it’s likely to be. share 3.5-liter V-6 and hybrid drivetrains as standard; The plug-in-hybrid Grand Highlander Prime also seems to be possible.
Read next: New 2024 Toyota Camry Mid-Size Car Review: Now Efficiency Meets Style
Toyota Highlander Specs
The 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 engine makes 265 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. While horsepower output drops significantly when compared to the outgoing 3.5-liter V6 (295 hp), torque is up about 17% (263 lb-ft).
Toyota says the power delivery of this new engine is very smooth, but we’ll have to wait until we drive it to find out for ourselves. Toyota also says that the new turbocharged engine offers a massive 50% reduction in NOx and NMOG emissions when compared to the old V6.
The new Highlander engine retains the same 24 MPG combined efficiency as the old V6, according to Toyota. The Turbo Highlander also maintains a maximum towing capability of 5,000 lbs.
Toyota is also offering a 1,500 watt inverter outlet in the new Highlander at select trim levels. Ultimately, the new turbo engine offers more torque and better emissions, while maintaining the same efficiency and load-carrying ability.
Toyota Highlander Interior
The new Toyota SUV will accommodate up to eight passengers in three rows to become the largest unibody SUV on the market, according to The Car Connection.
This configuration can be perfect for your family when you want to enjoy a smooth ride but don’t like the idea of driving a minivan.
2024 Toyota Highlander Release Date
So far, there has been no official information from Toyota regarding the official 2024 Toyota Highlander release schedule. But our speculation is that the Grand Highlander will arrive in the middle of calendar year 2023.
The new Toyota SUV will be produced at Toyota’s plant in Indiana. A late release date could push the model back to the 2024 model year.
2024 Toyota Highlander Price
An estimated price tag of around $36,500, plus destination fees, is expected for the first of its front-wheel-drive Highlander L SUV trim. At the other end of the price spectrum, Platinum should be close to $49K.
