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Exploring Kona, Hawaii in the First-Ever 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

by Randi
written by Randi

Toyotas are popular vehicles on the big island of Hawaii, especially the Tacoma midsize pickup truck, so it was most fitting for the Japanese automaker to host the national media drive of its first-ever 2024 Grand Highlander in Kona. Dubbed the “Ultimate Family SUV” by company insiders, the family’s new utility slots between the top-of-the-line Sequoia and the original Highlander launched back in 2001. It’s perfect in size for larger households, versatile enough for adventurous voyages, and comes in an array of variations including a HYBRID MAX.

Kona’s weather was beautiful for the weeklong test-drive, and the surrounding landscape represented the ideal backdrop for a Toyota SUV experience, especially the volcanic rock formations omnipresent across the land. Trail hiking, kayaking, jet skiing, and parasailing come to mind when you stare down the Grand Highlander and envision its capabilities in the tropical environment. For interested parties,  the latest SUV from Toyota is hitting dealerships this summer with a starting MSRP of $43,070 for the gas engine model, $44,670 for the hybrid, and $54,040 for the Hybrid MAX powertrain. Moreover, the two hybrids are helping Toyota meet its “Beyond Zero” vision to reach carbon neutrality with eco-friendly products, services, and operations; and finding new ways to positively impact society.

“Grand Highlander will serve as the ultimate tool that can take our customers anywhere from the school pickup line to the ultimate long weekend road-trip,” said Lisa Materazzo, Group Vice President of Toyota Marketing. “We’ve sold over 3.3 million Highlanders in the U.S. and developed a loyal customer base in the process – and we think customers will give Grand Highlander similar praise when it comes to dealerships this Summer.”

Built from the ground up, the Grand Highlander is strong on the road for quick bursts of acceleration when required and pretty agile for its size. I felt no qualms prancing through the island towns and off-road beaten paths, especially with the Hybrid MAX and its 362-horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 to 3,000 RPM. Additionally, the stealthy Hybrid MAX powertrain is backed by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine with a 5,000-lb towing capacity, Direct Shift 6-speed automatic transmission, and full-time electronic AWD. With grippy Continental Crosscontact all-season tires, I was assured extended safety knowing all four wheels were working for both my safety and convenience. To help tackle all types of terrain, the Grand Highlander features three Drive Modes (Sport, Eco, Normal) while Multi-Terrain Select adds Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, and Snow mode (gas AWD and Hybrid MAX) to elevate your journey to trail-rated status. However, I would swap to an all-terrain tire if frequenting mother nature is your jam.

Three trim options include the Grand Highlander XLE, Grand Highlander Limited, and Grand Highlander Platinum, along with three engine choices. The gas engine receives a respectable 265-horsepower and the standard hybrid inherits 245-horsepower. If you want the best efficiency, select the Hybrid XLE with 36 combined mpg. In fact, for the remainder of 2023 Toyota expects the two hybrids to represent 25% of sales and then jump to 36% in a full calendar year. This is a testament that shoppers are looking for alternative routes to reducing gasoline requirements and extending their drives with fewer fill-ups.

Step inside Grand Highlander to welcome yourself to a brave new world of technology, comfort, and safety. Toyota instilled the urbane cabin with elements to support sophisticated families, their habits, and gear. The SUV has three rows of seating, including reclining middle-row captain chairs, an 11-speaker JBL Audio sound system, oversized cup holders and storage pockets, 7 USB ports, and an available panoramic glass roof. The cabin is cozy, roomy, and free from outside road noise. The 12.3” center touchscreen featuring Wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay commands your infotainment and visual needs. In addition, the Grand Highlander specifically incorporates Facial Recognition that identifies your mug to set up your profile from music to seat settings. And if you select the Hybrid MAX, your Toyota will come with Ultrasuede, leather-trimmed seats, and bronze-themed touchpoints. As well, there is room for up to 7 carry-on suitcases behind the 3rd row!

When cross-shopping compare the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander to the VW Atlas, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and other similar-sized SUVs. Its new styling, advancements, and venturesome capabilities will pleasantly appease you. Various color options to ensure your midsize SUV stands apart include Storm Cloud, Wind Chill Pearl, Ruby Flare Pearl, Midnight Black Metallic, Blueprint, Coastal Cream, and Celestial Silver Metallic. Ready for some exploratory driving with Toyota? Well, the Grand Highlander is patiently awaiting.

 

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New 2022 Range Rover Revolutionary Design

by Decisive Media
written by Decisive Media

The 2022 Range Rover Long Wheelbase, Jaguar Land Rover’s limousine-sized SUV, is more luxurious than ever. Intent on staying ahead of the full-size luxury SUV class, it’s loaded with upscale conveniences, technology, and performance features.

Jaguar Land Rover discontinued its limousine style XJ sedans in place of an ultimate luxury SUV, under its Range Rover model, stretched for plenty of back seat room and executive comfort. Not to mention the fuel-saving mild hybrid technology and third-row seating option.

2022 Range Rover Interior

The elegantly designed Range Rover demonstrates a shift to modernize the brand, to retain its reputation as the “Gold Standard” of luxury SUVs. The price point, however, leaves no doubt in our minds that the Range Rover models are aimed at wealthy buyers who can afford a luxury mobile with top-of-line materials, convenience, and performance.

Models/Pricing: The new 2022 Range Rover comes in 16 different trim levels, with either a long wheelbase (LWB) or a short wheelbase (SWB) option. Each model offers different prices, sizes, numbers of seats, and engines:

Autobiography SWB and LWB ($147,400 to $154,000 MSRP).

First Edition SWB and LWB ($158,200 to $163,500 MSRP)

SE P400 SWB and LWB ($104,000 to $110,000 MSRP)

SE P530 SWB and LWB ($118,700 to $124,700 MSRP)

SV Autobiography LWB ($215,200 MSRP)

SV Autobiography Dynamic SWB ($183,100 MSRP)

SV Autobiography Dynamic Black SWB ($186,700 MSRP)

Westminister SWB and LWB ($105,600 to $119,900 MSRP)

Interior options include four, five, or seven-seat configurations, depending on the wheelbase, which can consist of a third row in the long-wheelbase model.

Power: The new Range Rover offers several engine options, ranging from a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder with a 48-volt hybrid battery for the P400 that produces 395 horsepower or a 4.4-liter eight-cylinder twin-turbo that generates a staggering 523 horses. Although the LWB P400 I tested was huge, it handled like a smaller SUV with more power and smoothness.

Considering most Range Rover owners rarely venture off-road, it’s good to know that all models have off-road capabilities, such as all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, and an air suspension system that raises the vehicle for ground clearance. It handles rough city streets and floods with a breeze and turns into a snowmobile during wintery conditions.

Fuel Economy: The entry-level P400 averages 18 City/26 Highway mpg, while the V8 P530 is rated at 16 City/21 Highway mpg.

Visit www.decisivemedia.net for a complimentary subscription to my blog to get updated car-buying tips and reviews on the latest new cars, SUVs, and trucks. Randi Payton, Decisive Media Network

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2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L Extended to meet the Demands of Larger Families

by Decisive Media
written by Decisive Media

The 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L duo is no sheep in wolf’s clothing. Instead, they are extra-large in size, off-road capable, luxuriously laden (especially the Grand), powerfully impactful, and technologically loaded with every possible amenity. Moreover, as the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer continue increasing market share in the premium, full-size SUV market, the L models are competing with the Suburban and Escalade ESV for customers requiring additional storage in the rear of the third-row. The American SUVs have also been mechanically updated with a family of new Hurricane Twin Turbo engines for greater efficiency and performance.

The original Jeep Wagoneer was introduced in 1962 as a 1963 model, and today the second coming maintains some of the original DNA such as large glass openings and trapezoidal wheel wells. However, jeep stretched out the Ls because 30% of the segment uses the third row and prefers cargo capacity of at least 40 cubic feet behind row three. As a result, the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L have been lengthened 12″ while the wheelbase was extended 7.” The increase gives owners of the Wagoneer L 42.1 cubic feet and Grand Wagoneer L owners 44 cubic feet of space behind the third row to pack up luggage for eight with no qualms. Problem solved!

Remember that parent company Stellantis is not branding the pair of legends as Jeeps but as standalone Luxury outliers of the brand. Customers have been pleasantly surprised with the American SUV’s refreshing touchpoints and level of sophistication. Think of them as the nomads of the family that ventured off for a lifetime of adventure but eventually returned home to share the excitement. My neighbor was so enthralled with the Grand Wagoneer after I brought one home for a week of evaluations last year that he threw out his Lincoln Navigator research and purchased the Jeep grandmaster. But he was happy to see that it also featured power-folding running boards, an original Navigator trait.

The Wagoneer drives big and heavy but moves fluidly. You know immediately that this massive SUV will garner ancillary attention on the road. For the launch of the L models, I headed to the mountainside of Boseman, Montana to extensively test drive and off-road the set. I started with a gorgeous Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian 4×4 with the 3-liter Hurricane 510 (equating to 510-horsepower) that pushes out 500 lb-ft of torque. This engine replaces the model’s previous 6.4-liter V8 that delivered 471-horsepower and 455 lb.-ft. of torque. Consequently, acceleration was never an issue during highway passing, and quickly overtaking smaller vehicles was thrilling. On the other hand, the Wagoneer L receives the base Hurricane Twin Turbo with 420-horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque which swaps with the prior 392-horsepower and 404 lb-ft. of torque 5.7-liter V8 engine. Both Hurricanes matched with the respected TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission. Stellantis says the pair produces fewer emissions while delivering more power and exemplary performance as the company aims for 50% of the fleet to be electrified by 2030.

2023 Grand Wagoneer L features the pinnacle of premium SUV interiors with a modern American style and Uconnect 5 12-inch touchscreen radio.

Stylistically, the SUV’s unique physique is long, wide, tall, rounded in the front, and squared off towards the rear. Yet, the Wagoneer L will need to continue establishing its identity and disposition with US car buyers. Standard 20″ or 22” aluminum wheels featuring various finishes and textures come standard on the Grand L. However, I’m a massive fan of the 22″ tinted polished rims with black inserts outfitted on my ride. This setup corresponds with the black wheel well trim, Piano Black exterior accents, the sporty black roof, dark tow hooks, and Jeep’s familiar, darkened 7-slot grille. Most of these features, along with the premium 23-speaker 1,375-watt McIntosh MX1375 Reference Entertainment System and front console cooler, are part of the $5,495 Obsidian Appearance Package..

I felt pretty fancy when I climbed into the cockpit to take command of the two-spoke steering wheel. Looking around the “lounge on wheels” in amazement, I wondered how Stellantis could pull off this level of opulence and wizardry, especially the Grand Wagoneer L that exponentially advances utility and comfort. For example, the Grand features either Nappa leather or Palermo leather-trimmed and quilted seats, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, two 10.1″ touchscreens as part of the available $2,195 Rear Seat Entertainment system, a start button surrounded by a knurl-patterned bezel, and a 10.25″ rear comfort screen situated between the captain chairs with configurable controls including the seat back massage.

Additionally, the exquisite interior is set off by wood-like panels in the Wagoneer  L and genuine handcrafted Satin American Walnut in the Grand Wagoneer L, an aluminum rotary gear select dial, a digital rearview mirror, a tri-pane panoramic sunroof for sunshine to all passengers, and a fancier Uconnect 5 with a 10.1″ or 12″ touchscreen for operating everything from Apple CarPlay to navigation. I’m also thrilled that product planners kept the physical “volume” and “seek” knobs! Moreover, the 2023 Grand Wagoneer L receives a 10.25″ touchscreen on the dashboard of the front passenger with control capabilities for various situations. One is Co-Pilot (navigation, device management), the other is entertainment (via HDMI or Rear Seat Entertainment control), and the last is the ability to watch the vehicle’s exterior cameras.

When it’s time to hit the trails or go camping with the family, the Wagoneer L’s Selec-Terrain traction management system will certainly come in handy. You can set the SUV in Rock, Sand/Mud, Snow, Auto, and Sport modes, and manually raise or lower the Quadra-Lift air suspension. Three 4×4 systems include Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II with active low range and a rear electronic limited-slip differential. Your ride will be able to swim in 24″ of water, raise 10″ for more ground clearance, and tow up to 10,000 lbs. A few advanced safety technologies include Active Driving Assist, Night Vision with Pedestrian and Animal Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, Surround View Camera, Intersection Collision Assist, ParkSense Automated Parking System, and Drowsy Driver Detection.

In Montana, I also drove the new Wagoneer L Carbide 4×4 dictated by a slick black-out design theme. Of course, the Wagoneer L is subdued compared to the Grand Wagoneer L, but it is still prominent. Highlights of the $3,695 Carbide appearance package consist of 20″ Gloss-Black aluminum rims, a tri-pane panoramic sunroof, Black Onyx grille rings, Gloss Black grille texture, Smoke accent interior stitching, and Global Blacks seats, instrument panel, and doors.

The premium American icon is reborn to excite the market with innovation and capability. Expect an MSRP of $71,080 for the 2023 Wagoneer L Carbide and $98,090 for the Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian 4×4. Keep in mind that options will increase both prices as a Grand Wagoneer L can tip the scale past $109,000.

2023 Grand Wagoneer L features the pinnacle of premium SUV interiors with a modern American style and Uconnect 5 12-inch touchscreen radio.

2023 Wagoneer L Carbide

 

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