Which One Would You Choose? ​ Toyota Highlander, Grand Highlander, or Hyundai Palisade?​

When you are looking for family transportation that is fun to drive and easy on fuel, the 2025 Toyota Highlander is a wise choice. For those of us looking for more room, the 2025 Grand Highlander is also a good choice, with a larger third-row seating area and more cargo space overall. Plus, the addition of the Hybrid MAX driveline.

TheCarConnection compared the two Highlander models to another mid-size three-row SUV by looking at both the Highlander and the Grand Highlander and comparing them to the Hyundai Palisade. How did this comparison go?

The Highlander and Grand Highlander offer several features that Hyundai does not, including a wide variety of drivelines. While the Palisade only comes with a V6 engine, Toyota offers a series of more efficient four-cylinder options, including hybrid drivelines. Plus, hybrid models get standard all-wheel drive.

When it comes to interior space, the Grand Highlander offers much more room. TheCarConnection commented that “all three can seat eight passengers, but the Grand Highlander does it best.” With the Grand Highlander, there are 33.5 inches of third-row legroom available. You also get 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind that row, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows down.

The Highlander also holds its own with up to 41.0 inches of second-row legroom. It is also shorter, giving it more maneuverability in tighter spaces—shorter than the Grand Highlander and the Palisade.

When you get into the driveline, you will notice that Toyota offers more drive modes for more traction management in various conditions. On the Grand Highlander, there is a Rock & Dirt mode that is perfect for the High Desert. It does the job through low-speed torque that is spread evenly for optimal traction.

No matter which Highlander or Grand Highlander you choose, it will be more efficient. The Palisade can only get up to 27 MPG, but the Highlander with the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine can do better—up to 29 MPG. Once you get into the hybrid models on both the Highlander and Grand Highlander, you can achieve around 35 MPG.

In the end, the team at CarConnection crunched all the data together and found that the Grand Highlander was the better of the three. The truth is that you cannot go wrong with either the Highlander or Grand Highlander because of its versatility, available efficient hybrid drivelines, and comfortable space to take you and your family anywhere you want to go. Why not check out both?

To see the Highlander and Grand Highlander lineup, contact us, Valley Hi Toyota, to see which one works best for you and your family!