The Toyota Grand Highlander is the long-awaited answer to those who’ve lamented the regular Highlander’s
While the Highlander has 16 cubic-feet of space behind its third row, the Grand Highlander lives up to its name with 20.6 cubic-feet. That would be the same as the Volkswagen Atlas
OK, so that’s the field. Let’s see if the Grand Highlander is just grander than the Highlander or grander than the entire field.
So this is what you’re working with back there. The length is clearly a bit better than average, and the D-pillar/liftgate angle is upright. Both of these tend to yield good luggage test results.
The Telluride and Pilot manage to be the current luggage test segment leaders thanks to an ample amount of usable underfloor storage. The Grand Highlander does not enjoy such a benefit. There’s enough room for the jack, the cargo cover (always appreciated) and a few odds and ends, but obviously, it doesn’t free up extra cargo area height. What you see up there in the first two pics is what you get.
On to the bags, then. As with every Luggage Test, I use two midsize roller suitcases that would need to be checked in at the airport (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that just barely fit in the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits easily (23L x 15W x 10D). I also include my wife’s fancy overnight bag just to spruce things up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
First, I simply filled it up to the back seat line. Some notable things here …