2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the vehicle stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, combined with aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle priced at $98,420, including destination charges. Notable design features included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights, contributing to its aerodynamic profile with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, offering a luxurious and fragrant cabin experience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry. It was not a body-on-frame vehicle, limiting its towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. The Grand Highlander was notably larger than its competitors, measuring 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase, providing a spacious interior. Its design drew inspiration from rugged vehicles, featuring a blockier style compared to the smaller Highlander, with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights reminiscent of the 4Runner. Toyota offered the Grand Highlander in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, with Softex synthetic leather on the XLE and real leather on the higher trims. The Platinum trim could be equipped with Portobello upholstery. Standard features included a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large center console. The Grand Highlander excelled as a comfortable road-trip vehicle, with quality materials and seamless fit and finish, making it a reliable choice for long journeys.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The SE P360 offered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric range. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was offered in early-build models but was temporarily unavailable. The Range Rover Sport was expected to introduce a fully-electric version in 2024. The test vehicle's 395-hp engine provided ample power, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. It offered a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg, with real-world figures reaching 22.3 mpg. The SUV featured a new vehicle architecture with a 35-percent increase in torsional stiffness, adaptive damping air suspension, and various driving modes. However, it struggled to match the agility of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled with advanced suspension and technology, boasting 11.1 inches of ground clearance and impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. The gas and hybrid engines were available with front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Hybrid Max was AWD-only. The Hybrid Max delivered impressive acceleration, achieving 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The standard turbo gas-engine Grand Highlander was expected to account for 85% of sales. While the Grand Highlander was larger and less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander, it offered solid brakes and adequate acceleration. Toyota provided three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models. The Grand Highlander excelled in comfort and road-trip capability, with a spacious interior and quality materials.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustability, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, however, was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle included a full-size spare, reducing underfloor storage space.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The spacious interior provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults in the third row. The Grand Highlander was a practical choice for those seeking a roomy and versatile vehicle.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was also included.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering an improved interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available with a subscription.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included advanced driving assistance systems such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, but the adaptive cruise control and steering assist were not as smooth or reliable as expected.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested, but it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings.