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CGI Refresh Imagines a More Premium Grand Highlander
Digital artist Dimas Ramadhan of the Digimods DESIGN channel has released a new set of CGI images imagining a mid-cycle refresh for the 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander. The renderings push the three-row mid-size SUV toward a bolder, more upscale look—an aesthetic nudge that reflects how crowded and competitive the family crossover segment has become.
The Grand Highlander arrived as the Highlander’s larger sibling on Toyota’s TNGA-K platform and is built in Princeton, Indiana, at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI). Since its U.S. debut for the 2024 model year, the Grand Highlander has been positioned as a premium, family-friendly option with multiple powertrains and a spacious cabin, giving Toyota a strong foothold in the North American three-row SUV market.
What the CGI facelift changes
Ramadhan’s concept focuses mainly on the front end—the traditional hot spot for mid-cycle updates. Key visual ideas in the renderings include:
- New LED headlight signatures and reshaped daytime running lights
- A body-colored honeycomb grille topped by a Toyota script instead of a small emblem
- Redesigned front bumper with a more sculpted, premium stance
- Fresh alloy wheel designs that refine the profile
The rear receives subtler tweaks, though the CGI file feels unfinished in places—most noticeably by the absence of rear badging or a clear Toyota wordmark. Still, the overall impression is sportier and more premium than the current production model.
Powertrains likely to remain unchanged
Toyota’s current Grand Highlander lineup already spans a useful range of powertrains, so the CGI project doesn’t propose mechanical revisions. Expect continued use of:
- 2.4-liter turbocharged T24A-FTS (around 265 hp)
- 2.5-liter A25A-FXS hybrid (combined output roughly 245 hp)
- Hybrid Max, pairing the turbo with electric assistance for a combined ~362 hp
Given that Toyota offers gasoline and hybrid choices plus localized U.S. production, a visual refresh or special edition would be a more probable near-term move than new engines.
Market context: Why a refresh makes sense
Competition has stepped up rapidly. Recent debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show and elsewhere include the refreshed 2026 Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder, the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride, and Hyundai’s updated Palisade. The Grand Highlander also goes head-to-head with the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-90, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and the revamped Jeep Grand Cherokee.
With rivals refreshing designs and tech, Toyota may feel pressure to sharpen the Grand Highlander’s presence with revised front-end styling, upgraded interior trim or technology bundles, and special edition packages to maintain showroom momentum.
Highlights
- CGI suggests a bolder, premium front fascia and new wheel options
- No expected change to the varied hybrid and gas powertrains
- Built on the TNGA-K platform alongside Lexus TX at TMMI
"The concept nails a premium direction without radically changing the underlying SUV," says one industry observer. "It’s the kind of visual update that keeps a model fresh between full redesigns."
Final thoughts
Ramadhan’s CGIs offer a plausible, tasteful facelift for the Grand Highlander: sharper headlights, a more aggressive grille, and subtle rear and wheel updates. Whether Toyota will follow with a similarly styled mid-cycle refresh—or prefer incremental feature updates and special editions—remains to be seen. For buyers, the Grand Highlander continues to deliver space, hybrid efficiency options, and a more premium take on the family three-row crossover.
What do you think of the CGI makeover? Would these styling tweaks make the Grand Highlander more competitive in the mid-size SUV market?
Source: autoevolution
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