The Highlander has been a pretty successful entry in Toyota’s SUV lineup for the last 23 years, and in fact, last year the automaker sold 171,289 of them. That’s pretty solid, but those looking for an SUV with a usable third-row likely looked elsewhere. The Highlander has a third-row, but it’s one of the smallest in its class. So, for 2024 an all-new model arrived: the Toyota Grand Highlander. As the name implies, it’s bigger.
We already have a full spec-by-spec comparison of the Highlander and it’s Grand sibling, which shows it’s 6.5-inches longer, giving you a full 5 inches of additional legroom. So, the choice between the two is easy, if you want more room in the way back, go Grand.
But, what if you want a bit more luxury? Have no fear the Lexus TX arrived for 2024 as well. It’s based on the same GA-K platform as the Grand Highlander, and we also have a spec-by-spec comparison between the Toyota and Lexus cousins. I’ve just spent a week with a Grand Highlander 4WD Platinum, and back in October I got a chance to review the Lexus TX, so if you were wondering what they are like out on the open road, and if the Grand Highlander stacks up to the TX, let’s get at it!
Does the Toyota Grand Highlander look as good as the Lexus TX?
Of course looks are subjective, but I think the Toyota Grand Highlander looks almost as good as the Lexus TX. The TX 350 I reviewed was painted in a pretty Nightfall Mica paint color and has a gorgeous set of 20-inch multi-spoke wheels. However, I think this Storm Cloud blue Grand Highlander looks quite good, and those who don’t buy into the Lexus grille will likely give the nod to the Toyota in the looks department. For a one-to-one comparison, I’ll give the edge to the Lexus TX.
Does the Toyota’s interior stack up to the Lexus?
It does, actually. The Grand Highlander has a ton of great materials throughout its cabin. My driving log included a first impression where I noted: “The Grand Highlander has a pretty impressive interior, easily feels as upscale as the Lexus. I particularly like the seats, they are a great looking shade of brown. The materials are really impressive throughout.”
Plus it’s got all the luxury and convenience items you’d expect, such as leather seating, heated-and-cooled front and second-row seats, a heated wheel as well as loads of ambient and LED lighting. The seats are nicely bolstered and the ergonomics are pretty solid. Toyota’s new touchscreen looks more integrated than in previous models and features a host of real buttons below to control the HVAC system. The TX has an almost identical layout but integrates most HVAC functions into the screen.
Here is a quick look at both the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX that I reviewed. Pretty similar eh?
The Lexus TX felt a bit more upscale in some areas, while retaining some of the same hard plastics in others. So, particularly when you start to compare cost (more on that later), the edge has to go to the Grand Highlander.
How about the technology?
Well, if you measure technology in screen size, the TX has an advantage. The Grand Highlander has a standard 12.3-inch screen, while the TX gets a slightly larger 14-inch screen. The infotainment system tech is similar and both were fairly easy to use. There are a bunch of USB chargers up front in the Grand Highlander, you can see at least three that are visible without opening any compartments (there are seven USB-C ports total). It was quite easy to pair my phone to use wireless CarPlay, and the wireless charger works well…when your phone stays on it. For some reason Toyota decided not to add a method to keep your phone in place, so on the first turn it slides right off of the pad. Our tester had the digital rearview mirror which has a nice widescreen view of what’s behind, though the perspective is a bit wonky sometimes compared to a real mirror. Overall though, the Grand Highlander stacks up nicely to the TX with regard to tech features. I’ll call this one a draw.
How is the interior space compared to the Lexus?
Well, it’s the same platform, so it’s gotta be the same, right? Well, no not exactly. Because of packaging and interior layout the Grand Highlander slightly edges out the TX on cargo space with 20.6 cubic feet of room behind the third row vs. 20.2 cubes in the TX. Not exactly light changing, well, unless that extra .4 cubic feet is used for some sort of organ transplant situation. Then maybe, but for day-to-day use the Toyota and Lexus are about the same. Most of the other legroom, shoulder room and headroom measurements are identical. Quick note, I’m 6 foot even and could sit in the 3rd row in relative comfort. It might not work on a 10-hour road trip, but for a trip around town it’s plenty big, and you can still get a decent amount of stuff with the third row in place.
Is the Grand Highlander as good to drive as the TX?
I’ll say this up front, the Hybrid MAX powertrain is pretty stout, and it wasn’t really a fair fight against the TX 350. The 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine puts out an impressive 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Even though it weighs nearly 5,000 pounds (4,920 pounds to be exact), the Grand Highlander gets up to speed easily in almost any situation. The TX that I tested also had a 2.4-liter turbo four but only made 275 horsepower. However, if you go for the similar hybrid powertrain in the Lexus, it’ll get you 366 horsepower and 409 pound-feet. All that power still gets an EPA-estimated 27 MPG combined city/highway in the Toyota, which is better than the gas-only TX 350 (23 MPG combined). So for a one-to-one comparison, I preferred the higher-powered Toyota. The Lexus TX 350 weighs less (4,575 pounds) but I experienced some lag from the turbo off the line, while the Grand Highlander felt quicker and more powerful. The bigger engine wins, and if you wanted to get that engine in the Lexus, it’ll cost almost $70,000.
The bottom line
So, the Toyota Grand Highlander looks pretty good inside and out, features a ton of solid technology features and has just the right mix of space and comfort. Compared to the Lexus TX, it’s really going to come down to two things: price and preference. I know buyers who need to have the luxury badge, thus making this an academic comparison. For those who don’t, the price comparison makes the Grand Highlander a much more attractive purchase. The cheapest TX you can get, a FWD 350, still starts at just more than $55,000, which is about 10 grand more than the entry-level Grand Highlander. Opt for the big Hybrid Max engine over at Toyota and your’e in for $54,390 for the Limited and $58,475 for the top-spec Platinum like our tester.
Is the Grand Highlander as good as the Lexus TX? Yeah, I think it is. If you’re looking at three-row SUVs with a great mix of powertrains and features, go check it out.
