Why So Many People Love the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander 3-Row SUV: It Makes Kid-Life Easier
I really, really, really didn't want a minivan. So I spent a week in the Toyota Grand Highlander 3-row SUV to see: could it do the job?
I knew putting my kids in the Toyota Grand Highlander would be straightforward, as it’s built with families in mind. But I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I did.
A fairly new model for the company, the Grand Highlander bridges the gap between the Sienna minivan and the smaller Toyota Highlander 3-row SUV, and it was an instant best seller for good reason. It has space comparable to the Chevy Traverse and the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and it shares a platform with the Lexus TX. It’s one of our favorite 3-row SUVs, because of the usable third row, easy driving, and cargo space behind the third row.
Dimensions-wise, it’s only a few inches shorter than the Sienna–but it has the charm, styling, and interior layout of an SUV, so parents like myself who aren’t ready to commit to the size (and cost) of a minivan can enjoy the key features without everything else that comes with minivan ownership. The Nightshade Hybrid I test drove was fully loaded with an MSRP of $56,818, while a top-shelf Sienna is around $62,000.
If you’ve got toddlers at home (or you’re a grandparent looking to upgrade your mammaw-mobile game), here are 8 ways it made life with my crazy kids a whole lot easier.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
1. The Toyota Grand Highlander is a Large Barge–But it Doesn’t Drive Like One
The Toyota Grand Highlander is no skinny Minnie. In fact, it’s almost as big as the Sienna. It’s only a few inches shorter, but it’s wider and taller than its minivan sibling. When I saw it parked in my driveway, two things crossed my mind: first, that there was no way that thing would fit in my garage, and second, that it barely fits in my driveway. I spent many years of my childhood in a bus since my dad was a bus driver, and that’s what I expected. Body lean, a sluggish dynamic, anticipating turns, braking early, and getting used to being passed by frustrated drivers.
But that wasn’t the case at all. The model I reviewed was the Nightshade Hybrid, so it didn’t come with the 362-horsepower HybridMax system. Instead, it came with the standard 2.5-liter gas engine with a hybrid battery that generates a combined 245 horsepower. At first, I felt that was a tad low for a car that weighs just shy of 5,000 pounds, but the eCVT did an amazing job getting the heifer moving.
The steering was tight and incredibly responsive, the hybrid system’s braking was sharp, and the acceleration was smooth and a lot quicker than I could have ever assumed. There were several times I got out of it, looked back, and had to be reminded of the Toyota Grand Highlander’s size. It wasn’t just easy to drive, but it was fun.
Watch: These are the highlights of the Toyota Grand Highlander—in all 3 rows!
2. There’s Space for the Whole Family, the Dog, and Shoot, the Whole Living Room
From behind the wheel, it’s not easy to tell how much space is at your disposal (which, in my opinion, is a good thing–there’s nothing worse than driving something big that feels big). When you turn around, though, there’s more space than I knew what to do with. The model I drove had two captain’s chairs in the second row (I’d opt for the bench seat to add an extra passenger), and the legroom they offered was surprising.
Even when I installed my toddlers’ car seats, there was still a plethora of floor space–perfect for a purse, lunch box for road trips, water bottle, filming gear, a diaper bag–you name it. With the third row folded, the trunk space is enormous. But even with the third row in use, the space behind the third row was impressive. A stroller, a suitcase or two, and groceries would easily fit in that space.
Read: The Best SUVs for Families With 3 Kids in Car Seats
3. Standard Features Made it Obvious it’s Designed for Families
What really impressed me, even more than the extra room for cargo and people, was how easy it was to involve my kids in all my daily drives. Installing car seats was a total cinch thanks to the high entry and wide doors. The captain’s chairs in the second row just glided forward with one button, making it super simple to secure the top tether. And with the tall ceiling, I didn’t have to awkwardly fold the seats just to get the headrests off. Plus, the captain’s chairs made finding the lower anchors a breeze – no more digging around in the cushions.
My picky, sunlight-hating toddlers appreciated the second row’s large, built-in sunshades, which lacked the gaps that usually let sunlight in and make them cranky. The rear climate control was easily adjustable without having to navigate a screen–it was a simple, easy-to-interpret system up front with buttons and knobs. The rear climate control system also automatically deactivates the rear A/C if pressure sensors don’t detect passengers, which helps keep mileage high.
For adult rear passengers, temperature and fan speed can be easily controlled and understood from a panel on the back of the center console. Large windows in the rear kept my toddlers engaged with the world around them and helped keep their little tummies from feeling queasy.
Read: Kids Car Seat Challenge: These 3-Row SUVs Fit Child Car Seats Best—Starting Around $40K
4. An ACTUALLY Usable Third Row??
I’ve reviewed a decent amount of 3-row SUVs in the past two years, and I’m hardly ever impressed by the amount of legroom or visibility of a third row, especially in a mainstream SUV. But the Toyota Grand Highlander was impressive. My husband stands at about 6’2”, and he was able to fit into the third row fairly easily. Granted, the seat cushion is low, so his knees were almost touching his chest, so it wouldn’t be the most comfortable seat in the car on a long drive.
But older kiddos or teens would love it, and it would be fairly easy to put another car seat back there, thanks to easy-to-reach and secure top tether points and lower anchor points. Older kids will be plenty comfortable, with charging points, dedicated A/C vents, and multiple cupholders or storage cubbies.
My favorite part, though, is that visibility isn’t terrible from back there. The windows were large enough to let in a good amount of light, and when equipped with the sunroof, it opens up the third row to help ease carsickness.
Read: Buy This Not That: The Best Used Cars That Are Just as Good As New
5. It’s No Cheap Pony, But it Drives a Hard Bargain Against its Competitors
The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander offers various configurations to fit different budgets. The gas-only model starts at $41,360 and can go up to $54,545, with an additional $1,590 for all-wheel drive. The standard hybrid (which comes with AWD as standard equipment) ranges from $44,710 to $53,190. For the Hybrid Max system, expect to pay up to $59,275 for all that extra horsepower.
The Nightshade hybrid model I drove, which is two steps below the top-tier option, had a sticker price of $56,818. The base price is $52,610, but features like the toddler-favorite sunroof, panoramic view monitor, floor mats, cargo liner, and connected services added quite a bit to the final price.
It’s not a cheap SUV, by any means. But when you compare it to the cost of other 3-row SUVs, like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus TX, or Hyundai Palisade, the price isn’t that far off. Plus, it means you get all-wheel drive, excellent mileage, tons of space, and sharp looks.
Related: The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Is One of the Best MPG 3-Row SUVs. But That’s Not Why We Love It
6. Unsurprisingly, Mileage For a Heavy, AWD SUV was Excellent
Like the RAV4 hybrid, all trim levels of the hybrid Grand Highlander come standard with the company’s on-demand all-wheel drive system. It’s “on-demand” because, unless slipping is detected or “Trail Mode” is toggled, the rear e-axle isn’t engaged, and it drives more like a front-wheel drive car to save mpgs. I was already familiar with the hybrid system, so I wasn’t shocked to see an average of 30.4 miles to the gallon during my time with it.
That’s not all that impressive for Toyota’s crazy efficient system, but it is astonishing when you consider how heavy the Grand Highlander is. As of right now, there’s no other AWD, gargantuan family-sized hybrid SUV that gets mileage of that caliber.
7. The Interior Was Simple, But Functional
I’m not normally an advocate for Toyota’s typical black-on-black interiors. I tend to find them underwhelming, but I was instantly charmed by the Grand Highlander Nightshade’s interior design and layout, with subtle white accent stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and dashboard. There were storage spaces and cubbies everywhere I looked, too, which is great for a family that’s always on the move.
The seats were black leather, but insanely comfortable. I’m almost shocked they didn’t come with a massaging option. The center console had a slider, which my husband and I were both shocked to see in 2025, as they were notorious for breaking or sticking with regular use. On the inside, the deep center console was modular, so pieces could be moved around or even removed, so storing nearly anything was possible (and easy).
I also liked that the infotainment screen was in a nice spot–it wasn’t too high up on the dash to block the outward visibility, but it wasn’t too low, and the size was just right. My favorite feature, though, was the cupholder. There were three cupholders, with one large enough to fit my giant water bottle, as well as my iced coffee and sparkling water (I know, I’m that beverage goblin–bad office habits never die, I guess).
8. Grandparents Will Like This 3-row SUV, Too
During my test, I ran into a woman who stopped me while loading the Grand Highlander during my weekly Costco run. She’d asked me how I liked it as a parent, since she just traded in her old, favorite RAV4 for a Grand Highlander to tote her four grandchildren around. She said she loved it when she had her grandkids over, and even when her grandkids weren’t around, she loved how easy it was to drive–and to park. She bought the Platinum version, but she adored the sleek, blacked-out look of the Nightshade trim.
She said she folds the third row when they’re not visiting. She loved the ample cargo space, as well as how easy it was to fold the seats up or down. All they have to do is touch a button. At the end of our conversation, she mentioned she’s trying to convince her daughter-in-law to buy one. I told her if she has the budget, she’ll buy one, and then wonder how she was driving anything else this whole time.
It’s Easy for Me to Recommend the Grand Highlander Hybrid
I know plenty of parents who want a three-row SUV. They tend to ask about cars like the Subaru Ascent, Nissan Pathfinder, or the Kia Telluride, due to their cost and size. I loved all three of those cars, but had one issue with them: their dinky, nearly useless third-row seats. The standard Toyota Highlander isn’t that much better, but the Grand Highlander is absolutely worth the splurge if you’re planning on actually using the third row.
Of course, then there’s the safety rating, too. It’s an incredibly safe SUV, with a Top Safety+ pick from the IIHS, and it scored highly in the NHTSA’s crash testing. So, whether you’re hauling your kids or your grands, you can rest assured that if the worst were to happen, they’d be safe.
The only thing that was hard for me to get used to was the size. It would definitely be the only car you park in a two-car garage, and it would take up most of your driveway. But if I was able to get used to it, anyone could. Especially when you start to see how seamless moving the family is with the Grand Highlander. I’m not in the market for a three-row right now, but when I am, the Grand Highlander is at the very tippy top of my shopping list.
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