2025 Toyota Grand Highlander: Large and In-Charge

There truly are no Scottish roots to the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander, but just like that big ginger bear who exudes all the sweetness of a honey squeeze while standing firm and proud like a caber at the caber toss, this year’s Grand Highlander is one to consider if you need plenty of room – and a bit of a soft touch.

Make no mistake about it, this big bear is squarely in the Large SUV category, which means you’ll need to ensure that you have plenty of room for it. Other than making sure I did not run over something small with lungs that could scream, I enjoyed driving this big boy.  

Nothing overly fancy here, as this Grand Highlander is meant to be a bit of a utilitarian party bus for people who have chores to complete. You’ll get about 20 cubic feet of storage space if you leave the third row of seats up, and almost 98 cubic feet of space if you fold down the second row.

Synthetic leather seats and a 12.3-inch touchscreen are just some of the standout standard features. Factor in a standard turbo offering 265 horses and you really do have something large and in-charge to show off to your Bear brothers. 

For the class, its average mpg of 34 (with Front-Wheel Drive) is impressive. Along with a smooth ride and an easy-to-use infotainment system, this year’s Grand Highlander is more than just grand; it’s a good, easy, safe bet for those who need something not-so-sporty but a lot on the dependability side.

There is a third row of seats, which U.S. News and World Report calls “adult friendly”.  Yeah, well, I feel that only four Bears and maybe an agile otter will be fully comfortable inside.  (Your ‘gear’, however defined, will be comfortable as well.)

On higher-end trims, a second-row bench seat is available, which I would recommend. 

(The Grand Highlander is in the same big league as the Nissan Armada, which I reviewed in July.)

As always, please first test drive any vehicle you are thinking of buying.  I know that’s a pain in the arse, but we are not your average car consumers.  For starters, we are not of average size, so finding a vehicle that is comfortable will always be a challenge.

And please – take your time and do your homework.  It will pay dividends every year, namely as you continually get in and out of the vehicle and don’t find your manliness crushed each time you go in Reverse. 

Or Park.