The Toyota Highlander has long been a favorite for families seeking a reliable, spacious, and safe SUV. For the model years 2024 and 2025, both the standard Highlander and the Grand Highlander models continue this tradition with impressive safety features and crash test performances. Understanding these safety ratings is crucial for any potential buyer. This in-depth review breaks down the Toyota Highlander’s safety scores, directly from the rigorous evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We’ll explore various crash tests and safety feature assessments to provide a comprehensive overview of what makes the Highlander a secure choice for you and your loved ones.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver and Passenger Side Scrutiny
The IIHS small overlap front test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a fixed object like a tree or utility pole. This is a particularly challenging test because it bypasses the main frontal crash structure of the vehicle. The Toyota Grand Highlander underwent both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front tests, and the results offer valuable insights into its structural integrity.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Evaluation
The 2024-2025 Toyota Grand Highlander earned an Acceptable (A) rating in the overall driver-side small overlap evaluation. This rating is based on several factors, including the structural performance, safety cage integrity, injury measures for the driver, and the effectiveness of restraints and dummy kinematics.
Action shot of the Toyota Grand Highlander driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, showcasing the vehicle’s impact dynamics.
In terms of structural performance and safety cage, the Grand Highlander received an Acceptable (A) rating. Crucially, driver injury measures were all rated as Good (G) for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. This indicates a low risk of significant injuries in these areas during a driver-side small overlap crash. Furthermore, driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated as Acceptable (A).
Post-crash dummy positioning in the Toyota Grand Highlander driver-side test, demonstrating good maintenance of survival space.
The technical measurements from the driver-side test reveal specific details about occupant compartment intrusion. For instance, the maximum intrusion at the upper dash was 10 cm, while the steering column intrusion was 5 cm. These measurements, along with dummy injury metrics like HIC-15 for head impact (112) and chest compression (21 mm), contribute to the overall Acceptable rating.
Close-up view of the dummy’s head interaction with airbags during the driver-side small overlap test in the Toyota Grand Highlander.
It is noted that during the test, the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then rolled to the side, moving towards the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags. This is an area for potential improvement, although the overall protection remained reasonably effective.
Assessment of driver space maintenance and leg/foot injury risk after the Toyota Grand Highlander driver-side small overlap crash test.
Despite the head airbag interaction detail, the driver’s space was maintained reasonably well, and the risk of injuries to the legs and feet was considered low, as indicated by the Good ratings for lower leg/foot injury measures.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap front test is equally important, ensuring that front passengers receive comparable protection to the driver. For the Toyota Grand Highlander, the overall passenger-side evaluation earned a Good (G) rating.
The structure and safety cage performance on the passenger side was rated Acceptable (A), mirroring the driver-side result. However, passenger injury measures were uniformly Good (G) across head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics also received a Good (G) rating.
Technical measurements for the passenger side test showed slightly different intrusion levels compared to the driver side. For example, the lower hinge pillar intrusion was 9 cm on the passenger side versus 6 cm on the driver side. However, the dummy injury measures remained low, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 62 and chest compression of 16 mm, both indicating a low risk of significant injuries.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Traditional Frontal Impact Assessment
The moderate overlap front test represents a more traditional frontal crash scenario, involving a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end. The 2024-2025 Toyota Grand Highlander achieved a Good (G) overall rating in this test.
Both the structure and safety cage, as well as all driver injury measures (head/neck, chest, leg/foot for both left and right sides), and driver restraints/dummy kinematics were rated Good (G). This excellent performance across the board demonstrates robust protection in a common type of frontal collision.
Technical measurements in the moderate overlap test indicated minimal footwell intrusion and instrument panel movement, further supporting the Good structural rating. Driver injury measures were also favorable, with low values for head impact (HIC-15 of 309), neck tension, and chest compression.
Side Crash Test: Updated Side Impact Evaluation
The side crash test has been updated to be more challenging, reflecting higher-speed side impacts with a heavier barrier. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was subjected to this updated side test and achieved a Good (G) overall rating.
The structure and safety cage held up well, earning a Good (G) rating. Driver injury measures for head/neck, torso, and driver head protection were all Good (G). However, the pelvis injury measure for the driver was rated Acceptable (A). Rear passenger injury measures were all Good (G) across head/neck, torso, pelvis, and rear passenger head protection.
Technical measurements showed minimal B-pillar intrusion (-21.0 cm, meaning the crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline), indicating good structural resistance in a side impact. Driver and passenger injury metrics were generally low, although the Acceptable pelvis rating for the driver suggests a slightly higher, though still moderate, risk of pelvic injury in a severe side impact.
Headlight Performance: Ensuring Visibility
Headlight performance is a critical safety factor, particularly for nighttime driving. The Toyota Grand Highlander, in all trim levels, is equipped with LED projector headlights. These headlights earned an Acceptable (A) overall rating from the IIHS.
The low beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves in testing, although they created some glare. The high beams offered fair to good visibility, with high-beam assist compensating for some low-beam limitations on curves.
Technical measurements detail the average minimum useful illumination distance for both low and high beams in various scenarios. For example, low beams provided an average of 130.9 meters of illumination on the straightaway right edge.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian Detection System
Front crash prevention systems, especially those that detect pedestrians, are increasingly important safety features. The 2024-2025 Toyota Grand Highlander comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes pedestrian front crash prevention. This system earned a Good (G) overall rating.
In both day and night tests, the system successfully avoided collisions with a crossing child at 12 mph and 25 mph. It also avoided collisions with crossing and parallel adults at various speeds in both day and night conditions, utilizing both low and high beams. These tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the Grand Highlander’s standard front crash prevention system in mitigating pedestrian collision risks.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): Ease of Use for Families
For families with young children, the ease of use of child seat anchors (LATCH) is a significant consideration. The Toyota Grand Highlander received a Good (G) rating for its LATCH system.
The Grand Highlander has three rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and additional positions with tether anchors. While some lower anchors are borrowed positions, the system is generally well-designed for accommodating child seats. Specific details on each seating position are provided in the full report, outlining the ease of locating and using the anchors.
Conclusion: Toyota Highlander – A Safe and Family-Oriented SUV
Overall, the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander reviews regarding safety are overwhelmingly positive. The vehicles have demonstrated strong performance in a range of IIHS crash tests, achieving mostly Good ratings and some Acceptable ratings in challenging areas like the small overlap front test. Features like standard front crash prevention for pedestrians and a well-rated LATCH system further enhance its safety profile.
For families prioritizing safety, the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander are compelling choices. These safety reviews and crash test ratings provide valuable data points for making an informed decision, solidifying the Highlander’s position as a safe and reliable SUV in the market. When considering your next family vehicle, the Toyota Highlander’s safety credentials should be a significant factor in your decision-making process.
