Toyota Grand Highlander Woodland Infuses the Big SUV with Extra Off-Road Capability
tags:- The 2027 model year sees the Grand Highlander Woodland being added to the range.
- It features a slightly raised suspension, all-terrain tires, and some additional interior power outlets.
- There’s also a fun onboard cooler for all your favorite outdoorsy drinks.
Many off-roading enthusiasts pick Toyota as a favorite brand, loving nothing more than strapping a tent to the roof, attaching some extra jerry cans to the sides, then mostly using their SUV to drive to Whole Foods because they’ve run out of muesli again. In reality, everyday practicality is a little more useful, but dialing up some extra off-road capability is no bad thing if your family is at least a little adventurous.
Enter the Woodland version of the 2027 Grand Highlander. Part of Toyota’s expanding off-road-enhanced lineup, the Grand Highlander Woodland joins the likes of the bZ and the Sienna in getting a trim level that is aimed directly at customers who own several pairs of hiking footwear.
Available only with the 245-hp 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain, the Grand Highlander Woodland isn’t the kind of thing you’re going to see getting air off a sand dune. Well, it might be able to do it just once.
Added off-road capability is pretty mild, limited to an additional half-inch of ground clearance thanks to taller springs, as well as a set of Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires. There’s also a tow hitch, and the 18-inch wheels come with a matte black finish.
Interior upgrades that should be useful for both camping trips and day-to-day duties include standard all-weather floor mats and a couple of extra 12V power outlets (one in the second row and one in the luggage area). There's also a neat second-row console-cooler combo that can just squeeze in a six-pack of kombucha or similar. It’s removable to make access to the third row easier.
Taken all together, it’s hardly a 4Runner Trailhunter, and the Woodland trim is not available with the punchier 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid engine and its 362 horsepower. This does drop the Woodland’s tow rating from a max of 5000 pounds for the other two Grand Highlander engine offerings to 3500, which may limit choices for families wanting to tow a camping trailer.
However, we rate the standard Grand Highlander hybrid well for its smooth ride, roomy and practical interior, and great fuel economy. After all, if you’re someone who actually enjoys nature, shouldn’t you want your vehicle of choice to offer a lesser environmental impact?
Put another way, a suitably gnarly 4Runner might be able to get further into the backcountry, but the Grand Highlander Woodland will burn less fuel getting you to that far-flung trailhead. The whole family can hike from there, the kids getting a much-needed break from screens.
As some mud-colored icing on a pragmatic and practical family hauler, there’s much to like about the Grand Highlander Woodland. And if you really want, yes, you can put a roof tent on it too.
The 2027 Grand Highlander Woodland starts at $53,375 and is expected in dealerships by the end of the year.
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Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.