While some automakers specialize in a unique niche or focus on a particular segment, Toyota is a jack of all trades. From flashy sports cars like the GR86 and Supra to hardy pickups like the Tacoma and Tundra, efficient hybrid models, and rugged off-road legends like the 4Runner, Toyota does it all. SUVs like the Highlander, Grand Highlander, and Sequoia, as well as the Sienna minivan, represent another area of expertise for Toyota: the family market. It’s hard to imagine a lineup more geared toward the needs of today’s busy families than these four Toyota models. Whether you’re the type of driver who values utility, cargo and passenger space, advanced entertainment, safety tech, or fuel efficiency, the Toyota Highlander, Grand Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna will have you searching “Toyota dealer near me” by the time you’re done reading this post. From ultra-efficient hybrid powertrains and best-in-class towing to advanced safety systems and even a built-in vacuum cleaner, these four Toyota vehicles were designed with the modern family's unique demands in mind.
Highlander
There’s a reason why three-row midsize crossovers are a common sight at Little League fields, grocery store parking lots, school pickup lines, and anywhere else families tend to congregate. Models like the Toyota Highlander can maximize efficiency and passenger/cargo room to create an economical daily driver that’s never hurting for space. With 22 MPG city and 29 MPG highway, 84.3 cu.ft. of maximum cargo room, and seating for eight (or seven if you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs), the Highlander encompasses everything there is to love about the three-row midsize segment. Those searching for an even more efficient version of the Highlander should check out the hybrid, which leverages three electric motors to offer 243 hp along with 35 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway.
Families will appreciate the Highlander’s safety-first design, not to mention the wide array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that come standard as part of the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ package. The Highlander’s robust construction earned it a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it’s the ADAS that really gives this crossover an edge. Features like adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights go a long way toward improving the convenience factor. Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist provide a helpful safety net when you’re behind the wheel. These latter features should be particularly handy when your teen driver borrows the family vehicle, offering parents the peace of mind that only these cutting-edge systems can offer.
Grand Highlander
If you’re intrigued by the Highlander but want something larger, the Grand Highlander has you covered. While the Grand Highlander shares its name and platform with the original Highlander, it offers a few notable upgrades that make it a valuable addition to the Toyota lineup. Introduced in 2024, the Grand Highlander is longer, taller, and wider than its predecessor. Toyota hasn’t just added 6.5 inches to the Highlander’s length and two inches to its height and width. It’s created a wholly unique model that boasts its own interior and exterior styling that immediately set it apart. The Grand Highlander offers 97.5 cu.ft. of maximum cargo space, improving on the Highlander’s by more than 13 cu.ft. However, it’s the spacious third-row seating that’s sure to capture the attention of discerning parents. The third row is often treated as an afterthought and designed with modest dimensions, making it tough for adults or rapidly growing teens to get comfortable. The Grand Highlander is the exception to the rule, with five extra inches of third-row legroom and an extra inch of headroom compared to the Highlander.
Like the Highlander, the Grand Highlander offers a standalone hybrid model dubbed the Grand Highlander Hybrid. While the regular Grand Highlander is no slouch from a performance and efficiency perspective with a 265 hp turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers a thrifty 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway, it simply can’t match the high bar set by the Grand Highlander Hybrid. A little electric assistance goes a long way, allowing the Grand Highlander Hybrid to offer up to 362 hp when opting for the Hybrid Max powertrain. With an EPA-estimated 37 MPG city, 34 MPG highway, and a zero-to-60 time of just 5.6 seconds, the Grand Highlander Hybrid doesn’t ask drivers to compromise on performance in the name of efficiency.
Sequoia
The full-size Sequoia SUV comfortably seats up to eight passengers, delivering 157 cu.ft. of passenger volume and up to 86.9 cu.ft. of cargo capacity when the second and third rows are stashed away. That should be more than enough room for all but the largest families, with plenty of space left over for groceries, sports equipment, camping gear, or whatever other cargo you might want to bring along for the ride. If you want to increase second-row comfort, the SUV’s upper trims offer heated and cooled seats, a panoramic sunroof, a 14-speaker JBL sound system, power-extending running boards, and more. Of course, the Sequoia comes packed with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, but it’s the available 10-inch color heads-up display (HUD) that might represent the SUV’s most novel safety-related feature. By projecting the speedometer, GPS navigation, and Hybrid System Indicator directly onto the lower part of the windshield, drivers won’t have to take their attention off the road to track vital data. It’s one less distraction to worry about, which is an important consideration when you already have a cabin full of kids to keep an eye on.
Those families that value their weekend adventures will be happy to learn about the Sequoia’s impressive towing capacity. With the ability to tow up to 9,520 lbs, the SUV has all the muscle you’ll need to pull a camper, boat, or trailer loaded with all the gear you’ll need for your next family getaway. The Sequoia’s considerable towing capacity places it right toward the top of its segment, besting Ford and Chevy’s full-size models by as much as 1,000 lbs. This sort of brawn is made possible by the Seqouia’s iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, which combines a twin-turbo 3.4L V6 engine with an electric motor to give the SUV 437 hp and a whopping 583 lb-ft of torque. Optional add-ons like a load-leveling rear suspension and an available Tow Technology package bring a full arsenal of convenience-focused upgrades to the mix, gracing the Sequoia with a digital rearview mirror and Trailer Backup Guide with Straight Path Assist feature that’ll put an end to the frustrating trial-and-error approach.
Sienna
The Toyota Sienna has survived the minivan segment's extinction simply because it’s that good. The Sienna is not only the most fuel-efficient minivan on today’s market but also one of the most capable, with available all-wheel drive and all the cargo space one could ask for. The eight-passenger van’s 2.5L I-4 engine and two electric motors give the hybrid Sienna 245 hp and, more importantly for the budget-conscious family, an EPA-estimated 36 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway.
Toyota has also treated the Sienna to a full interior makeover for 2025, imbuing the minivan with the latest in safety and entertainment technology to create a spacious home away from home that’s clearly been designed to meet the needs of families. The Sienna’s second-row captain’s chairs are positioned on tracks that allow the seats to slide forward or backward by as much as 25 inches. This feature should allow drivers to make room for even the bulkiest cargo or give adults plenty of room to stretch their legs. The Limited and Platinum trims double down on the comfort factor with available pop-up ottomans that turn the second-row seats into a throne fit for a king, or at least a pair of overtired parents. A wireless smartphone charger and standard USB-C ports will keep everyone’s devices charged, while an Advanced Rear Seat Reminder uses a sophisticated radar system to detect any passengers who might have been left behind and can even contact drivers via phone. That said, the Sienna’s onboard vacuum cleaner and fridge mark the minivan’s most unique features. Imagine not having to haul your corded vacuum cleaner out to the driveway every time you need to clean up after the kids, or being able to defuse the endless “Are we there yet?” with a strategic juice box or snack. With the Toyota Sienna, it’s all possible.
While we’ve touched on some of the features that make these four models stand out in the family vehicle segment, we haven’t touched on the most compelling reason to buy a Toyota. The brand’s reliability is unmatched in today’s market, with Toyota earning a stellar 76/100 rating from Consumer Reports, placing it second only to Lexus. That sort of reliability means lower insurance costs, fewer unexpected repair bills, and less time spent in the shop instead of shuttling the kids to soccer practice. Toyota of Bowling Green is your one-stop shop for all of Toyota’s family-friendly models. We offer a wide selection of new and used vehicles, whether you’re searching for the Highlander, Grand, Highlander, Sequoia, Sienna, or any other Toyota model. Our competitive pricing and wide inventory means you’ll always be able to find a vehicle that fits your family’s budget. We understand that no two families are alike, and we are eager to work with every customer to find a Toyota model that meets their demands. Whether you need an efficient, practical minivan like the Sienna, a spacious people-mover like the Highlander or Grand Highlander, or the sort of raw towing power only the Sequoia can offer, you’ll find it at Toyota of Bowling Green.
