Indiana's Toyota plant unveiled its newest SUV to the world this week. Here's a look.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV was developed to compete with roomy family haulers like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Chevrolet Traverse.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV was developed to compete with roomy family haulers like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Chevrolet Traverse.

The world got its first official look at the Toyota Grand Highlander on Wednesday night. It's the newest product to roll off the assembly lines at the company's plant in Gibson County, Indiana.

It made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show.

The SUV offers a third row of seating and 98 cubic feet of space in the cabin (with all seats folded down). The Detroit Free Press described it as "a new, bigger member to its family of SUVs, offering a larger third row of seats to compete with vehicles like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Chevrolet Traverse family hauling SUVs."

The Grand Highlander boasts a 12.3-inch multimedia display in the dash, with a configurable center console large enough to fit a tablet. There's also a wireless charger, two USB ports, and three cup holders – including one capable of holding a large water bottle.

The company said the Grand Highlander comes with three available powertrains:

  • A "well-balanced" 2.4L turbo gas engine

  • The "efficiency-leading" 2.5L hybrid with a manufacturer-estimated 34 combined MPG

  • The "ultimate performance-seeking," 362 horsepower Hybrid MAX.

So how much will the Grand Highlander cost? Toyota hasn't announced pricing, but industry website Car and Drive had this to say:

If we had to guess, we'd expect the new XL version to range somewhere between $43K and $56K. That would make it a little pricier than the regular Highlander, but don't forget the Grand is more than just a size up.

Car and Driver

The Grand Highlander joins the set of other Toyota vehicles made by the more than 7,000 workers at the Princeton facility, which also produces the Highlander, Highlander Hybrid and Sienna. The plant assembles more than 400,000 vehicles annually.

TMMI originally announced that it would make the new SUV, and eventually a Lexus version, in April 2021. The additions signified an $803 million investment in the 27-year-old plant, tacking on 1,400 new jobs.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV was developed to compete with roomy family haulers like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Chevrolet Traverse.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV was developed to compete with roomy family haulers like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Chevrolet Traverse.

The Grand Highlander is offered in three grades across three different powertrains – the XLE grade, Limited and Platinum.

Toyota Grand Highlander XLE Grade

  • Exterior:

    • 18″ Alloy Wheels

    • Black Painted Grille

    • Roof Rails

    • Heated Outer Mirrors

  • Interior:

    • Softex-trimmed Seating

    • 10-way Power Driver & 8-way Power Passenger Seats

    • 7-Passenger Capacity w/ 2nd Row Captains Chairs or 8-Passenger Bench

    • Heated Front Seats

    • 2nd Row Sunshades

  • Multimedia/Technology:

    • Digital Key (requires active Remote Connect trial or subscription)

    • 12.3” Touchscreen

    • 7” MID

    • 6 Power USB / 1 Media USB

    • Wireless Charger

  • Safety & Convenience

    • TSS 3.0

    • Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert

    • 5 Door Smart Key

    • Power Liftgate

    • Garage Door Opener

    • Auto-dimming Mirror

Toyota Grand Highlander Limited Grade

  • Exterior:

    • 20″ Alloy Wheels

    • LED DRL

    • Power Fold Outer Mirrors

    • LED Fog Lamps

  • Interior:

    • Leather Seating

    • Heated & Ventilated Front Seats

    • Heated 2nd Row Seats

    • Memory Seat function for 1st row

    • Heated Steering Wheel

    • Power outlet (100W Gas) (1500W HV/Hybrid MAX)

    • Ambient Lighting

    • Removable 2nd row center console storage

  • Multimedia/Technology:

    • 12.3″ Premium Multimedia w/ 11 Speaker JBL Audio

    • 12.3″ Full Digital MID

  • Safety & Convenience

    • Parking Sensors w/ Automatic Braking

    • Rain Sensing Wipers

    • Kick Power Liftgate

    • Puddle Lamps

Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum Grade

  • Exterior:

    • 20″ Clad Alloy Wheels

  • Interior:

    • Heated & Ventilated 2nd Row Seats

    • Panoramic Moonroof

    • Paddle shifters (AWD Gas and Hybrid MAX)

    • Dial Multi-Terrain Select (AWD Gas and Hybrid MAX)

  • Safety & Convenience

    • Head Up Display

    • Puddle Lamps

    • Panoramic View Monitor

    • Digital Rearview Mirror

    • Traffic Jam Assist (requires active Drive Connect trial or subscription)

    • Front Cross Traffic Alert

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Toyota unveils Grand Highlander made in Gibson County, Indiana