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Toyota Grand Highlander

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Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year , also in 1949.

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57-585: The Toyota Grand Highlander is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Toyota since 2023. The Grand Highlander was introduced for the North American market on February 8, 2023. While sharing the nameplate and the GA-K platform with the regular Highlander , the Grand Highlander is longer, taller, and wider, and features entirely different exterior and interior styling. In

114-468: A body-on-frame chassis construction similar to pickup trucks . A term that originated from North America, the term crossover was initially used for any vehicle that blends characteristics between two different kinds of vehicles while, over time, crossover mostly refers to unibody-based SUVs. Crossovers are also described as "car-like SUVs" or "car-based SUVs". The term SUV is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and traditional SUVs due to

171-557: A compact car ( C-segment ). The segment may be called differently depending on the market. In several regions, the category may be known as "compact crossover" or "compact SUV" instead. This category is particularly popular in Europe, India, and Brazil, where it accounted for 37, 75, and 69% respectively of total SUV sales in 2018. In the United States, it accounted for 7% of total SUV sales in 2018. The best-selling vehicle in

228-533: A capable and more efficient alternative to larger truck-based SUVs. Another example is the Volvo V70 XC (also called V70 Cross Country), first introduced in 1999. In 2002, the model was renamed the XC70. Audi has been making Allroad versions of their station wagons since 1999. The Volkswagen Alltrack and Škoda Scout are equivalent variants. The crossover-styled variant of hatchbacks or city cars with

285-474: A crossover SUV segment. These vehicles have been described as pseudo-crossovers. Many manufacturers have released "off-road" versions of station wagons, with larger cargo space and greater practicality, that are marketed as more capable in soft off-road or all-weather situations due to their raised ground clearance, making them a "crossover" between a station wagon and an SUV. In North America, some manufacturers sell station wagons with crossover styling due to

342-622: A distinction between a crossover SUV and body-on-frame SUV, calling both of them SUVs. Several government bodies in the United States also did not acknowledge the crossover distinction, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . In some jurisdictions, crossovers are classified as light trucks as are traditional SUVs and pickup trucks. Outside the United States, the term "crossover" tends to be used for C-segment ( compact ) or smaller vehicles, with large unibody vehicles—such as

399-554: A fleet of long-term test cars at their headquarters in Los Angeles, California . The majority of the Motor Trend editors are each assigned a car, and their duty is to drive that car on a daily basis and report on what's happening. Each month, one to two new vehicles are added to the fleet, to replace the one to two vehicles leaving the fleet. Each long-term test lasts approximately one calendar year . Not every vehicle receives

456-446: A more comfortable ride, better fuel economy, and lower manufacturing costs, but inferior off-road and towing capabilities. Many crossovers lack an all-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive train, which, in combination with their inferior off-road capability, causes many journalists and consumers to question their definition as "sports utility vehicles". This has led some to describe crossovers as pseudo-SUVs. Introduced in 1979, prior to

513-426: A printed update each month, though the vehicles are still there. This section is typically located towards the end of the magazine. Other types of articles are sometimes featured in the Motor Trend magazine . There is typically one special feature per month. For example, in one issue of the magazine, there may be a special feature about Motor Trend ' s "Real MPG" testing. For these tests, Motor Trend measures

570-482: A section of Motor Trend itself. It became the stand-alone publication Truck Trend in 1997. Truck Trend magazine ceased production in December 2019, as one of the nineteen magazines that Motor Trend Group ceased publication during that month. Motor Trend Classic included articles about significant classic cars from around the world made during the last 60 years. A total of 23 issues were produced. The first run

627-482: A sloping rear roofline may be marketed as a "coupe crossover SUV" or "coupe SUV". Although the term " coupe " itself is supposed to refer to a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline, most coupé crossover SUVs are equipped with five doors. The sloping roofline is designed to offer a styling advantage over its standard crossover counterpart. The body style has attracted criticism as being less attractive and less practical than normal crossovers. The BMW X6

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684-639: Is a class of crossover SUVs that is larger than compact crossover SUVs , but smaller than full-size crossover SUVs . Mid-size crossover SUVs are usually based on the platform of a mid-size (also known as a large family car or a D-segment ) passenger car, while some models are based on a full-size car ( F-segment ) or a compact ( C-segment ) platform. Some mid-size crossovers have three rows of seats, while others have two rows, which led to several brands offering multiple models to cater to both sub-segments. In Australia, American mid-sized crossovers are classified as large SUVs. The first mid-size crossovers included

741-650: Is credited to be the first coupe crossover. The first crossover convertible was the AMC Eagle marketed by AMC dealers during the 1981 and 1982 model years as the Sundancer, a factory-authorized conversion of the all-wheel-drive two-door sedans. Several convertible crossover SUVs have entered mass production, including the Toyota RAV4 convertible. Released in North America in the 1998 model year, it

798-549: Is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and traditional SUVs. U.S. magazine MotorTrend in 2005 mentioned that the term "crossover" has become "blurred as manufacturers apply it to everything from the Chrysler Pacifica to the Ford Five Hundred sedan". At that time, the publication proposes that the term "soft-roader" is more appropriate. Some regions outside North America do not have

855-518: Is sometimes considered to include the three-row mid-size crossover class, as in the case of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L . is one of only a few three-door crossovers still in production. While three-door body-on-frame SUVs are not uncommon, crossover SUVs with three doors (including the tailgate door) are less prevalent. The decline of two or three-door vehicles, in general, has led to the decline of this category. Crossover SUVs with

912-405: Is that a crossover is built using a unibody platform, while an SUV is built using a body-on-frame platform. However, these definitions are often blurred in practice, since unibody vehicles are also often referred to as SUVs. "Crossover" is a relatively recent term, and early unibody SUVs (such as the 1984 Jeep Cherokee ) are rarely called crossovers. Due to these inconsistencies, the term "SUV"

969-544: Is the world's first mass-produced unibody off-road vehicle and has been credited as a forerunner of crossovers before that term was used, with the '79 AMC Eagle , being the first US example. The Toyota RAV4 , first introduced in 1994, pioneered the modern concept of a crossover. In the US, the market share of crossovers has grown from under 4% in 2000 to nearly 40% in 2018. The difference between crossover SUVs and other SUVs as generally defined by journalists and manufacturers

1026-708: The Audi Q7 , Range Rover , Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg —usually referred to as SUVs rather than crossovers. In the United Kingdom, a crossover is sometimes defined as a hatchback with raised ride height and SUV-like styling features. The Sunday Times noted the number of "soft-roader" cars on sale in 2019. Crossovers' driving characteristics and performance are similar to those of traditional passenger cars while providing more passenger and cargo space with relatively minor trade-offs in fuel economy and running costs. According to Consumer Reports ,

1083-581: The Golden Wheels Award for a while in the 1970s and having given rise to Truck of the Year and Import Car of the Year , as well as SUV of the Year . Nevertheless, it is still coveted by manufacturers and is usually covered by the mainstream press as the most important distinction awarded in the American auto industry. The magazine releases a special edition every September and October listing

1140-577: The Subaru Legacy SUS (short for "Sport Utility Sedan"), Volvo S60 Cross Country , Polestar 2 , Toyota Crown Crossover , Citroën C4 X and C3L in China, Renault/Dacia Logan Stepway and the Qoros 3 GT . Since the early 2010s, sales of crossover-type vehicles have been increasing in Europe. By 2017, European sales of compact and mid-sized crossover models continued to surge. Analysis of

1197-565: The Toyota Aygo X , Hyundai Casper , Suzuki Ignis , Renault Kwid , VinFast VF 5 , Suzuki Xbee , and the Fiat Panda Cross/City Cross . Subcompact crossover SUVs (also called B-segment crossover SUV, B-SUV, small SUV ) are crossovers that are usually based on the platform of a subcompact (also known as supermini or B-segment ) passenger car, although some high-end subcompact crossover models are based on

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1254-676: The Toyota Corolla and Toyota Carina . At its release, Toyota in Japan used the term "4x4 vehicle" to describe the model, while Toyota in the US called the vehicle a "new concept SUV". By the early 2000s, Toyota was leading the market in its development of car-based trucks in North America with the release of other crossover models such as the Highlander and the Lexus RX . In North America, crossovers increased in popularity during

1311-491: The Toyota Highlander and Pontiac Aztek , both introduced for the 2001 model year. The segment is most popular in North America and China, where larger vehicles are preferred. It makes up 15.8% of the total United States car market. In Europe, the segment covers 2.1% of the total market in 2019 with luxury crossover SUVs dominating most of the share. The Toyota Highlander/Kluger was the best-selling vehicle in

1368-628: The XU70 Highlander Hybrid and XA50 RAV4 Hybrid is available on XLE and Limited and is advertised for a maximum of 245 hp combined. Also available is a turbocharged hybrid powertrain from the Crown Crossover , marketed as "Hybrid MAX," which pairs electric motors with the T24A-FTS and has a 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) towing capacity . Hybrid MAX is available on Limited and Platinum. The 2024 model year Grand Highlander

1425-477: The "real-world" fuel economy of a vehicle in a number of conditions, and then compares their results to the EPA estimated fuel economy that manufacturers provide dealerships, who then provide it to their customers. One of the earliest and most enduring of the magazine's creations was its Car of the Year award, given almost continuously since 1949, although the phrase itself would not become entrenched until well into

1482-468: The 1950s. It predates the European Car of the Year award begun in 1964. The first winner was the 1949 Cadillac , which featured an innovative overhead valve V8 engine ; while the company initially turned down the award from the brand new magazine, it now proudly references its COTY wins in publicity materials. The award has gone through several splits and permutations over the years, being called

1539-444: The 2000s, when fuel efficiency standards for light trucks, which had been stuck at 20.7 miles per US gallon (11.4 L/100 km; 8.8 km/L) since 1996, moved upwards by 2005. With increasing fuel prices, traditional SUVs began to lose market share to crossovers. In the United States as of 2006 , crossover models comprised more than 50% of the overall SUV market. Crossovers have become increasingly popular in Europe also since

1596-524: The European new car market by data firm JATO Dynamics reveals that SUVs which mostly consisted of crossovers took almost 40% of the market in 2019, with the crossover segment being a key driver of growth for volume and profits. Motor Trend Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published Motor Trend until 1998, when it was sold to British publisher EMAP , who then sold the former Petersen magazines to Primedia in 2001. Motor Trend bears

1653-608: The North American market, the Grand Highlander is positioned between the smaller Highlander and the larger Tundra -based Sequoia . In the United States, it is available in three grade levels: XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The Lexus equivalent is known as the Lexus TX , and is also exclusive to North America. The Grand Highlander is built around the 2.4-liter T24A-FTS turbocharged inline-4 engine producing up to 265 horsepower (198 kW; 269 PS) and 310 pound-feet (420 N⋅m) of torque. The 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain from

1710-530: The acquisition of a majority stake in TEN by Discovery Communications , it was announced that its U.S. cable channel Velocity would rebrand as Motor Trend Network later in the year. In Italy , the channel Motor Trend began broadcasting on April 29, 2018 at 6:00 am with the Car Crash TV in place of Focus , whose brand has meanwhile passed into the hands of Mediaset . In 2009, Motor Trend introduced

1767-544: The category in 2018, with 387,869 sold worldwide. Full-size crossover SUVs are usually based on full-size cars . They are the largest crossovers and offer exclusively three row seating. The first full-size crossovers included the Ford Freestyle , GMC Acadia , Saturn Outlook , and the Buick Enclave , with older full-size SUVs being built mostly above a body-on-frame chassis. The full-size crossover SUV class

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1824-681: The convertible version, since it could only have two doors and little luggage space. Many manufacturers have capitalized on the SUV trend by offering a version of station wagons, hatchbacks, or MPVs with a raised ride height and the addition of rugged-looking accessories such as a black plastic wheel arch extension kit, body cladding, skid plates , and roof rails. Due to their raised ground clearance, these vehicles may then be marketed as more capable off-road. Some of them may also be equipped with an all-wheel-drive. This strategy has been used by manufacturers to move models upmarket or to help fill an absence in

1881-687: The early 2010s. In the first quarter of 2023 the Tesla Model Y crossover became the best-selling vehicle in the world. Depending on the market, crossovers are divided into several size categories. Since there is an absence of any official distinction, often the size category is ambiguous for some crossover models. Several aspects needed to determine the size category of a vehicle may include length and width, positioning in its respective brand line-up, platform , and interior space. Crossover city cars (also called A-SUVs, city SUVs, city crossovers, or A-segment SUVs) are crossovers that generally ride on

1938-409: The featured vehicle, certain aspects of the vehicle, and what the readers can expect if the featured vehicle is purchased. There are two main types of Motor Trend vehicle comparisons. Regular comparisons usually compare two to three vehicles, looking at what each is like to own, drive, etc. On Motor Trend' s YouTube channel (titled "MotorTrend Channel"), Motor Trend puts up their best comparison of

1995-637: The first MPVs with a crossover-style variant was the Renault Scénic RX4 , introduced in 2000. It featured a lifted ride height, rugged body cladding, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and optional part-time four-wheel-drive. Another example is the Volkswagen CrossTouran , launched in 2006 as a lifted version of the Touran and marketed as a "lifestyle" vehicle. Apart from crossover-style variants equipped with exterior accessories, due to

2052-598: The former's unpopularity, the Subaru Outback being the most popular model. An early model of off-road-styled station wagons was the Subaru Legacy Outback (later Outback) in 1994. At the time, Subaru was absent in the growing SUV segment. Lacking the finances to design a ground-up SUV, Subaru added a two-tone paint scheme, body cladding, and a suspension lift to the Legacy wagon. It was marketed as

2109-444: The increasing crossover market shares, many manufacturers began developing MPVs from the ground up with crossover characteristics – and often marketed them either purely as an MPV or as a "crossover MPV" – such as the 5th generation of Renault Espace . The innovative unibody all-wheel drive AMC Eagle was available in two- and four-door sedan versions when introduced in 1979. Some examples of sedans with crossover characteristics are

2166-443: The innovative station wagon with a sliding roof "mashed up various vehicle types." It was available only with a conventional rear-wheel drive . Others cite the front-wheel drive 1977 Matra Rancho as a slightly earlier forerunner to the modern crossover. Marketed as a "lifestyle" vehicle, it was not available with four-wheel drive. In 1981, American Motors Corporation (AMC) introduced four-wheel drive subcompact models built on

2223-561: The late 2010s, the segment had emerged as the most popular segment in several regions. For example, nearly 1 in every 4 cars (24.2%) sold in the United States in 2019 was a compact crossover. It also comprised 5.6% of the total European car market. The best-selling vehicle in the segment in 2019 was the Toyota RAV4, with 961,918 units sold globally. In late 2020 the Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford Mustang Mach-E debuted as battery electric compact crossover SUVs. A mid-size crossover SUV

2280-616: The latest new vehicles. The September issue looks at the latest cars ( sedans , coupes , etc.) for the next coming calendar year , whilst in October the magazine looks at off-roaders , MPVs and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). Truck Trend magazine presented features and the latest news about the truck, SUV, and crossover segments. Additionally, the Readers' Rides section allowed readers to post images and information about their own vehicles. Truck Trend began in 1995 as "Truck Trends,"

2337-551: The market share of compact crossovers in the US increased from 6 to more than 11%. In 2014, for the first time ever, sales of compact crossovers outpaced mid-size sedans in the United States. In 2019, the American magazine Car and Driver stated that "so many of these vehicles are crowding the marketplace, simply sorting through them can be a daunting task". Due to its popularity and to cater to customers' needs, many manufacturers offer more than one compact crossover, usually in slightly different sizes at different price points. By

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2394-643: The month on a series called "Head 2 Head," featuring MotorTrend editors comparing cars on YouTube. "Big Test" comparisons typically feature anywhere from five to seven vehicles, all being compared against each other. In a way, a vehicle comparison is like a large road test featuring many vehicles, rather than just one. The Trend provides readers with the latest what's happening in the automotive industry. This section may feature news about manufacturers, recalls, etc. "Newcomers" (recently redesigned or all-new models), along with short informative articles about them, can also be found in this section. Motor Trend keeps

2451-546: The platform of a city car ( A-segment ). Crossover city car is a newly introduced automotive vehicle segment , with the first vehicle in the segment being the Fiat Panda Cross , though the Suzuki Ignis helped bring the segment more attention. Cars in this segment are generally styled as hatchbacks . Since the late 2010s, the segment has received significantly more attention. As of 2023 , examples include

2508-496: The same body was introduced either as a substitute for or a complement to the subcompact crossover SUV. Most crossover-styled hatchbacks do not have all-wheel-drive. Forerunners of the SUV-themed hatchback are the 1983 Fiat Panda 4x4 , the 1994 Outback Sport , the 1996 Toyota Starlet Remix , and the 2003 Rover Streetwise . The Volkswagen Golf Country, a conversion by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, was also sold between 1990 and 1991, and

2565-505: The segment in 2019 was the Honda HR-V, with 622,154 units being recorded as having been sold worldwide. A compact crossover SUV (also called C-segment SUV or C-SUV ) is a vehicle that is usually based on the platform of a compact car ( C-segment ), while some models are based on a mid-size car ( D-segment ) or a subcompact ( B-segment ) platform. Most compact crossovers have two-row seating, but some have three rows. The naming of

2622-420: The segment may differ depending on the market. In several regions outside North America, the category may be known as "mid-size crossover" or "mid-size SUV", not to be confused with the North American definition of a mid-size crossover SUV, which is a larger D-segment crossover SUV. The first compact crossover was the 1980 AMC Eagle that was based on the compact-sized Concord line. Its four-wheel drive system

2679-556: The service, adding coverage of motorsports competitions such as Blancpain GT Series , Pirelli World Challenge , Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters , V8 Supercars , British Touring Car Championship , TCR International Series , FIA European Formula 3 Championship , European Le Mans Series , Australasian Safari , Motoamerica , Endurance FIM World Championship , Motocross World Championship , AMA EnduroCross Championship , and FIM SuperEnduro World Championship . In April 2018, following

2736-442: The similarities between them. Compared to traditional SUVs, crossovers are known to be less capable of use in off-road conditions or hauling heavy loads, while instead offering other advantages such as superior fuel economy and handling . Compared to traditional cars with lower ride height and a lower roof such as sedans and hatchbacks , crossovers offer larger cabin space and enhanced driving position. The 1977 Lada Niva

2793-477: The tagline "The Magazine for a Motoring World". As of 2019 it is published by Motor Trend Group . It has a monthly circulation of over one million. Publication was monthly but changed to quarterly in 2024. The contents of Motor Trend magazines are divided up into sections, or departments. Motor Trend magazine provides its readers with written "road tests" of vehicles. These road tests are published in each issue and are meant to give readers information about

2850-412: The terms "SUV" or "crossover" being coined, the AMC Eagle is retroactively considered to be the first dedicated crossover automobile. The mass-market Eagle model line was based on a unibody passenger car platform, with fully-automatic four-wheel drive and a raised ride height. Furthermore, a writer for Motor Trend characterized the 1963 Studebaker Wagonaire as the "first crossover" because

2907-503: The three top-selling crossovers in the US in 2018 ( Toyota RAV4 , Honda CR-V , and Nissan Rogue ) return an average of 10% less fuel economy than the top three selling sedan equivalents in the mid-size segment ( Toyota Camry , Honda Accord , Nissan Altima ), but provide almost 1.5 times the cargo space. Furthermore, the average mid-size crossover in the US costs less than 5% more than the average mid-size car. Compared to truck-based SUVs, crossovers typically have greater interior comfort,

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2964-419: The two-door AMC Spirit , the "Eagle SX/4" and "Eagle Kammback." These low-priced models joined the compact AMC Eagle line and they foreshadowed the market segment of comfortable cars with utility and foul-weather capabilities. The first-generation Toyota RAV4, released in 1994, has been credited as the model that expanded the concept of a modern crossover. The RAV4 was based on a modified platform used by

3021-428: Was an almost unheard-of feature on regular passenger cars at the time, and it came with full-time all-wheel drive, automatic transmission, power steering, power front disk brakes as standard, and numerous convenience and comfort options. Later models included the 1994 Toyota RAV4 , 1995 Honda CR-V , 1997 Subaru Forester , 2000 Nissan X-Trail , 2000 Mazda Tribute , and the 2001 Ford Escape . Between 2005 and 2010,

3078-516: Was awarded by the IIHS , as it did not receive a Good rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test to be qualified for a safety award. Mid-size crossover SUV A crossover , crossover SUV , or crossover utility vehicle ( CUV ) is a type of automobile with an increased ride height that is built on unibody chassis construction shared with passenger cars , as opposed to traditional sport utility vehicles ( SUVs ), which are built on

3135-581: Was eight issues: two undated issues in 2005, and six additional bimonthly issues in 2006. Several years later the title was relaunched, and that second run was fifteen issues: quarterly from Spring 2010 through Spring 2013, then a combined Spring/Fall 2013 issue, with the final Summer 2014 issue appearing a year later. Motor Trend On Demand is an online television service. It features television series from Motor Trend , Automobile Magazine , Hot Rod , Super Street and Four Wheeler , such as Roadkill . In 2015, TEN bought Torque.TV and integrated it into

3192-500: Was offered through the 1999 model year. Other examples include the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet , Range Rover Evoque Convertible , and Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet . This category was heavily criticized by journalists, enthusiasts, and analysts for numerous reasons, such as its design and high price tag. Some also questioned its purpose, as the practicality that crossovers usually have did not carryover to

3249-550: Was offered with part-time four-wheel drive and off-road exterior cladding. In the 2000s, the Volkswagen CrossPolo started the modern crossover-style hatchback trend and was marketed as an SUV-like "lifestyle" vehicle. The Dacia/Renault Sandero Stepway, the crossover-style version of the Sandero launched in 2009, is an example of a well-received crossover-style hatchback, making up 65% of Sandero sales. One of

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