When the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander debuted, it aimed to redefine the family SUV, and a key part of its success lies within its meticulously crafted interior. For 2025, Toyota continues to enhance the Grand Highlander lineup, reinforcing its commitment to spaciousness and comfort with new trims like the Hybrid Nightshade Edition and the value-packed LE grade. Let’s take a closer look inside the Grand Highlander and explore what makes its interior a standout feature in the competitive SUV market.
The Grand Highlander immediately impresses with its sheer size. Toyota explicitly designed this SUV to offer adult-sized comfort in all three rows, a significant advantage over many competitors where the third row is often best suited for children. This focus on passenger space is evident throughout the cabin, ensuring that even on long journeys, everyone can ride in comfort.
One of the most compelling aspects of the Grand Highlander Interior is its cargo capacity. Boasting 97.5 cubic feet of storage when both the second and third rows are folded down, the Grand Highlander provides cavernous space for luggage, sports equipment, or anything a family needs to haul. Even with all three rows in use, the rear cargo area is generous enough to accommodate everyday essentials. This versatility makes the Grand Highlander an ideal choice for families with active lifestyles.
Alt Text: The spacious and modern interior of the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade Edition in Cement color, showcasing the premium leather-trimmed seating and large touchscreen.
Premium Comfort and Design
Stepping inside the Grand Highlander, you are greeted by a thoughtfully designed interior that blends functionality with a touch of elegance. The Hybrid Nightshade Edition, built upon the Hybrid Limited grade, exemplifies this premium approach. It features leather-trimmed seating with standard heating and ventilation for both front occupants, ensuring comfort in any climate. Second-row passengers also benefit from heated outboard seats, a feature often appreciated during colder months.
The interior ambiance of the Grand Highlander Hybrid Nightshade is further enhanced by a 12.3-inch touchscreen, seamlessly integrated into the dashboard and running Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system. Paired with a premium JBL sound system boasting 11 speakers, the infotainment setup provides both immersive audio and intuitive control. Continuing the premium feel, the Hybrid Nightshade interior includes a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and ambient lighting, creating a sophisticated and comfortable environment for both driver and passengers.
The design language emphasizes width and openness. The soft-padded instrument panel appears to float above available wood-effect ornamentation, which extends into the door trim, creating a cohesive and upscale feel. The center console features independent driver and passenger armrests, adding a touch of personalized comfort and convenience. High-quality stitchwork throughout the cabin further contributes to the modern and refined elegance of the Grand Highlander interior.
Versatility and Practicality for Modern Families
Beyond aesthetics and comfort, the Grand Highlander interior is designed for real-world family needs. Practicality is woven into every aspect, from storage solutions to passenger accessibility.
The new LE grade, while positioned as a value option, still retains the Grand Highlander’s signature spacious interior and essential comfort features. It offers eight-person seating, ensuring ample room for larger families. The 60/40 split-fold down second and third-row seats provide flexible configurations for passengers and cargo. Thirteen cup and bottle holders are strategically placed throughout the cabin, a testament to the vehicle’s family-oriented design. Even in the base LE trim, a 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard, along with three-zone climate control, ensuring comfort for all passengers.
Thoughtful storage solutions abound within the Grand Highlander interior. The center stack includes a wireless charger on select grades, along with multiple USB ports and generously sized cup holders. The passenger side even features a pocket designed to hold a small bag, helping to keep the cabin organized. Second-row passengers have their own air conditioning controls and USB-C ports, while third-row occupants are also catered to with USB ports, smartphone/tablet storage, and cup holders. Accessibility to the third row is enhanced by wide-opening rear doors and thoughtfully placed support grips.
Alt Text: Detailed view of the luxurious black leather interior of the Toyota Grand Highlander Limited, highlighting the spacious second row and premium seat materials.
Technology Seamlessly Integrated
The Grand Highlander interior is not just about space and comfort; it’s also packed with technology designed to enhance the driving experience and keep everyone connected and entertained. The standard 12.3-inch touchscreen acts as the central hub, running Toyota’s intuitive Audio Multimedia system. This system offers wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, allowing seamless smartphone integration. Available Wi-Fi Connect turns the Grand Highlander into a mobile hotspot, keeping passengers connected on the go.
For audiophiles, the available JBL Premium Audio system transforms the cabin into a concert hall. Higher trims like Limited and Platinum feature a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, providing a customizable and modern display for driver information. Features like Traffic Jam Assist (Platinum grade) and a Digital Rearview Mirror further showcase the advanced technology integrated into the Grand Highlander interior, aiming to make driving safer and more convenient.
Grand Highlander Interior Across Grades
The Grand Highlander offers a range of grades, each with its own interior features and appointments, allowing buyers to choose the level of luxury and features that best suit their needs and budget.
- LE Grade: Fabric-trimmed seating, 8-way power driver’s seat, 8-person capacity, 12.3-inch touchscreen, 7 USB ports, combination meter with 7-inch MID. Focus on essential comfort and space.
- XLE Grade: SofTex®-trimmed seating, 10-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, 2nd-row sunshades, Qi wireless charger, digital key capability. Adds comfort and convenience upgrades.
- Limited Grade: Leather-trimmed seating, heated and ventilated front seats, heated 2nd-row seats, memory driver’s seat, heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, 12.3-inch touchscreen with JBL Premium Audio, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Elevates to premium luxury.
- Hybrid Nightshade Edition: Black leather-trimmed seating, leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, matte gray metallic interior trim, 12.3-inch touchscreen with JBL Premium Audio, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Stylish and sporty interior enhancements.
- Platinum Grade: Heated and ventilated 2nd-row seats, panoramic moonroof, head-up display, panoramic view monitor, digital rearview mirror, Ultrasuede® and leather-trimmed options. Ultimate luxury and technology features.
Alt Text: Rear passenger view inside the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade Edition, emphasizing the generous legroom and comfortable seating in the second row.
Conclusion: A Grand Interior for Grand Adventures
The Toyota Grand Highlander interior is more than just a cabin; it’s a space designed to enhance every journey, whether it’s a daily commute or a cross-country road trip. With its focus on spaciousness, premium comfort, practical versatility, and seamlessly integrated technology, the Grand Highlander interior truly sets a new standard for family SUVs. For those seeking an SUV that prioritizes passenger experience and cargo capacity without compromising on style or features, the Grand Highlander interior is undoubtedly a key highlight, making it a compelling choice in its class. As the 2025 models arrive with even more choices, exploring the Grand Highlander interior is a must for any discerning SUV buyer.
