The Toyota Grand Highlander is one of the Japanese manufacturer’s best-selling SUVs, and it comes in gas-powered and hybrid formats.
I drove the hybrid version of the 2026 Grand Highlander Limited for a week to see if it was worthy of its ranking as a finalist on Cars.com’s Best Family Car list of 2026 and inclusion in the Kelley Blue Book 2026 Best Resale Value awards.
The Grand Highlander Limited I tested is the second-highest trim model of the popular three-row SUV, and it’s priced at just over $53,000. Less souped-up hybrid trims start at a little more than $45,000, while the base model gas-powered version starts at a little more than $42,000. I’ve recently tested Toyota’s other electrified models, including the Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ, as well as the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
My colleague Charles Singh has tested some of Toyota’s main competitors in the gas-powered and hybrid three-row SUV segment, the Kia Telluride and the Nissan Pathfinder.
I think the Toyota Grand Highlander is a noteworthy model because of its standard features, affordable pricing, and practicality. That’s what I learned from a week of real-world testing behind the wheel of Toyota’s largest three-row crossover SUV.
What makes the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander special?
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander stands out from rivals in its segment due to its unique exterior and interior design. According to Cox Automotive, it also has a strong value proposition for a family car (a starting price of more than $42,000 for a gas-powered base model), propelling it to the top of the ranking lists at a time when the average new car costs around $50,000.
Over a week of testing, the Toyota Grand Highlander’s interior and cargo area felt spacious for daily driving needs. I also enjoyed the Grand Highlander’s larger screen for infotainment and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
How does the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander drive? Performance, operation and efficiency
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander offers a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride, and as a hybrid vehicle it has excellent gas mileage. It handles well, and its acceleration is quick enough to keep daily driving fun. A daily driver can easily forget that they are driving a hybrid car until they realize that they average over 30 mpg in city driving and over 50 mpg on highways!
The Grand Highlander Limited Hybrid comes with a 2.5-liter hybrid engine that delivers 245 net combined horsepower. The hybrid SUV gets an estimated 32 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway. Our Limited trim test vehicle drove more than 430 miles on a full tank of gas.
Will the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Fit Your Lifestyle? Cargo, space and practicality
The Toyota Grand Highlander is 201.4 inches long, 72.1 inches tall and 78.3 inches wide (without mirrors). The Limited trim model I tested offers 57.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, which I found ample for hauling luggage and groceries. With both the second and third row seats folded down, space increases to approximately 97.5 cubic feet. With all three rows up, cargo space is limited to 20.6 cubic feet. The Grand Highlander is slightly larger than the cheaper Toyota Highlander, whose price starts at $46,270 before taxes and extra fees.
Is the 2026 Grand Highlander worth it? Pricing, Value and Competition
Pricing for the base Grand Highlander starts at just over $42,000 before taxes and surcharges, which seems modest for a large crossover SUV in light of most modern new car prices. The Grand Highlander is available in four gas-powered and six hybrid trims, ranging from the base model LE to the top-of-the-line Platinum. Pricing for the top trim Max Platinum Hybrid version of the vehicle starts at $60,175, but it comes with features like all-wheel drive, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and a panoramic roof with power sunshades.
I enjoyed the souped-up Grand Highlander Limited, but I’d probably choose the slightly cheaper XLE trim if I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. The hybrid XLE version of the Grand Highlander starts at just under $47,000, while the Limited retails for more than $53,000.
The Toyota Grand Highlander competes in the crowded three-row SUV segment with models from rivals such as the Kia Telluride, Nissan Pathfinder, Mazda CX-9, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Subaru Ascent.
Who should buy the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander?
If you need a large hybrid SUV that gives great mileage and can carry 7 or 8 people depending on the seating arrangement, then you should buy the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander.
The Limited trim model we tested comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has a panoramic view monitor and is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes safety features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beam and Proactive Driving Assist.
Reporting by Keith Lang, USA TODAY/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect