With the increase in competitors in the 7-seat SUV market, the pressure faced by Highlander, as a veteran market leader, has also increased a lot. In order to cope with the increasingly fierce competition, GAC Toyota has also taken the initiative to change. On May 31, on the eve of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Auto Show, GAC Toyota launched the 2024 Highlander. As a facelift model, the new car has upgraded many aspects of configuration, and the price has also been further reduced.
The 2024 Highlander has launched 11 models with two power options, with an official guide price of RMB 249,800-325,800. In addition, the official APP benefits of RMB 20,000 mean that the actual limited-time benefits price will be further reduced to RMB 229,800-305,800. Compared with the old models, the official price of the 2024 Highlander Dual Engine models has dropped by RMB 43,000, while the official price of the 380T models has dropped by RMB 53,000, significantly improving its market competitiveness.
As an upgraded model, the new car has not changed much in appearance and power. The length, width and height of the new car are still 4965/1930/1750mm, and the wheelbase is still 2850mm. It also provides two seat layouts, 5 and 7 seats. In terms of appearance, only the dual-engine version has changed the tail label "Hybrid" to "HEV", which is a relatively obvious change. In terms of power, it is still the 380T model with a 2.0T gasoline engine and an 8AT gearbox, and the intelligent electric hybrid dual-engine model with a 2.5L engine plus an electric motor to form a HEV hybrid system. The power parameters have not changed.
The upgrade of the 2024 Highlander is mainly aimed at three aspects: immersive luxury space, multi-dimensional intelligent interaction and ethereal and quiet cockpit. For example, in terms of immersive luxury space, the new car mainly upgrades the Rococo style noble and elegant interior, Rococo pattern curved metal brushed trim, and high-grade perforated NAPPA leather seats, exclusive seat adjustment buttons for presidents, smart touch warm light reading lights and other configurations, which are basically visible aspects.
The upgrades to the multi-dimensional intelligent interaction and ethereal and quiet cockpit are mainly aimed at invisible aspects. On the one hand, the new car has upgraded the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 high-computing chip, which is more smooth, and is supplemented by Huawei AI, car-home smart interconnection and other new car functions, which effectively improves the intelligent interaction level of the whole vehicle. On the other hand, the new car has upgraded 17 items of sound insulation materials in five major parts, including the instrument panel, the main and co-driver floors, the second row floors, the rear compartment floors, and the central sound insulation channel floors, to enhance the quietness of driving.
In addition to the overall improvement in price and product strength, Highlander also has a unique competitive advantage over its competitors in the same class, which is the "original quality of Toyota manufacturing". Thanks to the extremely strict Toyota standards, advanced Toyota manufacturing technology and unique car-making ecosystem at the manufacturing level, Highlander leads its competitors in manufacturing standards and technical levels, becoming one of the best representatives of "GAC Toyota Manufacturing", and thus gaining wide favor from the market and consumers.
Since its launch in North America in 2000, the Highlander, as a benchmark model that has opened up the 7-seat SUV market segment, has undergone four generations of evolution and has won the favor of more than 5 million users worldwide. Since its introduction into China in 2009, the Highlander has also won the recognition of more than one million Chinese users in 15 years. Peace of mind, worry-free, and guaranteed are the recognition of users for the Highlander. After a multi-faceted upgrade and transformation, the 2024 Highlander created by GAC Toyota has become a more comfortable, smarter, and more in line with the needs of Chinese consumers. From the transformation of the Highlander, it is not difficult to find that in the future wave of change, GAC Toyota will continue to adhere to the strong advantages of "original quality of large factories" and firmly "roll quality". With the continuously evolving leading technology, the continuously upgraded car experience, and the continuously improved "original quality of large factories", it ensures that users can feel at ease throughout the entire car use cycle and continue to "mass produce happiness" for users.
