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For 2025, the Toyota Grand Highlander adds more choice and value with the new Hybrid Nightshade Edition featuring blacked-out styling and the introduction of a more affordable LE trim. Toyota also adds new exterior color options and makes the removable second-row center console standard on more trims, while keeping the same gas, hybrid, and Hybrid MAX powertrain lineup families already love.
- Excellent trunk space for the class. The cargo area is wide and deep, fits a full stroller with room to spare, and the seats fold flat easily. Huge upgrade over the regular Highlander.
- Multiple powertrain options that actually make sense. Gas, hybrid, and Hybrid MAX let families choose efficiency or performance without giving up space. The Hybrid MAX especially feels powerful but still easy to drive. EPA-estimated 36 MPG combined.
- Thoughtful third-row amenities. Ceiling vents, USB-C ports on both sides, and legit cup holders make the third row usable, not just “emergency seating.”
- Smooth, confident drive. For a midsize SUV, it accelerates well, merges easily, and feels stable on the highway without being bulky around town.
- Good car seat flexibility overall. Sliding second-row seats on tracks make a big difference for rear-facing clearance and third-row legroom, and the lower anchors and tethers that are there are easy to access.
- Simple, user-friendly tech. The screen-to-button ratio is solid, climate controls are intuitive, wireless CarPlay works well, and nothing feels overly complicated or distracting.
The Exterior
The Grand Highlander exterior keeps things clean and functional rather than flashy, which honestly works for a family SUV this size. It’s noticeably bigger than the regular Highlander, with proportions that prioritize space and visibility, and the design feels practical without being boring.
- Larger overall footprint with a longer, more family-friendly profile
- Wide rear opening that makes loading strollers and groceries easier
- Simple, understated styling that won’t feel dated quickly
- Available larger wheels and subtle trim details that add polish without going over the top
First Row
The first row feels very Toyota in the best and most honest way. There are a lot of buttons, but they’re big, clearly labeled, and exactly where you expect them to be, which matters when you’re driving kids around and don’t want to dig through menus. I love that about this car!
- Comfortable, supportive seats with great headroom and an easy driving position
- Clean, user-friendly dashboard with a good screen-to-button ratio (climate controls stay physical, which I love)
- Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on a large, clear display
- Heated steering wheel and power liftgate controls right on the dash where you want them
- Tons of well-placed USB-C ports and a visible wireless charging pad
- Practical storage throughout, including cup holders that actually fit a Stanley and a decent-sized center console
Second Row
The second row is still very family-friendly, but it’s important to be clear about how it works. The seats do not tilt with a car seat installed, so third-row access depends on how you’re setting things up.
- Available captain’s chairs or a bench seat, depending on trim
- Second-row seats are on long sliding tracks, which helps a lot with rear-facing car seat clearance
- Clearly marked lower anchors and tether anchors that are easy to access
- Comfortable second-row legroom with ceiling vents and USB-C ports on both sides
- Built-in sunshades for kids, which I always appreciate
- Third-row access requires planning, since the seats don’t tilt with a car seat installed
Third Row
The third row is one of the biggest improvements over the regular Highlander, and while it’s not best-in-class, it’s actually usable in real life. It feels like Toyota was at least trying here, especially compared to the old Highlander.
- Adult-sized third row with good headroom and shoulder room for a midsize SUV
- Comfortable for kids and even adults on shorter drives
- Ceiling vents, USB-C ports, and cup holders on both sides, which is huge back here
- Forward-facing car seat placement is limited because not every seating position has a tether anchor
- The main usable spot for a forward-facing car seat is the passenger-side third-row seat
- Legroom improves significantly when the second row is slid forward, and the difference is noticeable
It’s not perfect, and I still wish Toyota gave us tether anchors in every third-row seat, but compared to the current Highlander, this is a major step in the right direction.
Trunk
The trunk is honestly one of the stars of the show on the Grand Highlander. This is where it really separates itself from the regular Highlander.
- Wide, deep cargo area that easily fits a full-size stroller with room to spare
- Much more usable space behind the third row compared to the regular Highlander
- Flat load floor and low lift-over height, which makes loading heavy items easier
- Seats fold down easily and go flat when you need max cargo space
- Enough depth to handle groceries, backpacks, and sports gear without playing Tetris
Safety
The safety setup is very on-brand for Toyota and very mom-friendly. Nothing feels flashy or overcomplicated, but the basics are done really well, especially when you’re driving a bigger vehicle and hauling kids every day.
- Standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
- Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert standard, which is a must in parking lots
- Lane Departure Alert with Lane Keep Assist and adaptive cruise control for highway driving
- Proactive Driving Assist that gently helps with braking and steering in certain situations
- Available surround-view / panoramic camera that makes parking and tight spaces way less stressful
- Available Traffic Jam Assist on higher trims for stop-and-go traffic
You also get seat belt pretensioners in the front seats and the outboard second-row seats, which is a big deal for families. That means the driver, front passenger, and the two outer second-row seating positions all have pretensioners designed to tighten the belt in a crash to reduce forward movement and improve protection where kids and adults are most likely riding.
The 2025 Grand Highlander comfortably fits a family of 4-6 with captain's chairs and up to 7 with the bench seat. In the second row has lower anchors in both outboard seating positions and a tether anchor in every second row seat. The anchors are easily accessible and are not hidden in the seat bight. This allows for easy installation of a baseless car seat--or any car seat. With ample front-to-back space a rear facing car seat can be installed comfortably even behind a taller front passenger (though this requires moving the second row backward on its tracks.) Rotating car seats are an excellent choice for third row access since the Grand Highlander lacks a car seat tilt feature. If no car seat is installed, there is a wide aisle to climb into the third row by tilting and sliding the second-row seat forward. In the third row there is one set of lower anchors behind the passenger seat (3P) and two tether anchors in 3P and 3C. The tethers are located in fabric slits in the vehicle seatback. You'll have to reach under the fabric cover to access them. Because the middle seat in the third row is very narrow, you cannot install two car seats simultaneously across the center and outboard seats. That effectively gives you one useful tether anchor in the third row, which is something to keep in mind. If you install a car seat in the third row center seat, visibility will be dramatically reduced and the seat's narrowness will make installation much more challenging than in an outboard seat.
The third row buckles are less accessible, and most boosters will obscure them. The Chicco KidFit fits well because of a tiny cutout towards the back of the booster, which allows for access. Although the Graco Turbobooster is about the same width, it is much harder to buckle.
If you use a forward-facing car seat in the third row simultaneously with a rear-facing car seat in front of it, prioritize a low-profile seat, like the Chicco Fit3X. This will angle the child's legs lower, giving them valuable legroom instead of pressing their legs unsafely against the second row seatback. If you need to fit a car seat rear-facing in the third row the Nuna Rava and Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 work here. The Poplar works rear facing, but not later in the forward-facing position.
Now for three across: while possible in the Grand Highlander, it's not my top choice for three adjacent seats. Seats must be 17" or less and the center seat is limited to infant seats or the Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1, Chicco Fit3X, or Nuna Exec. The middle second row seat is small and considerably shallower than the outboard seats. The small bases of the above seats nestle in well there and give enough space on either side for a narrow adjacent installation. Toyota also requires that both portions of the 60/40 split bench be adjusted to the same position and that both seat backs are aligned at at the same angle. This is also the case for a single car seat installation in 2C.
If you're troubleshooting a challenging car seat installation, Toyota permits removing the second row and third row center head restraints, if needed for a flush installation. They also encourage reclining the vehicle seatback to match the angle of the car seat.
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