2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

Not all midsize 3-row SUVs are created equal. Some families buy them thinking they’re just as good as minivans, but, in some cases, the unfortunate third-row passengers beg to differ. The Toyota Grand Highlander is one option that really is almost as good as a minivan. It has one of the roomiest interiors in its class with adult-friendly third-row seating and cargo space you can actually use behind those rearmost seats. In addition to its roominess, the Grand Highlander has modern and user-friendly safety and infotainment tech features. Add in strong resale value and Toyota reliability, and the Grand Highlander is one of the most sensible and practical family SUVs we’ve tested.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Toyota Grand Highlander.

Following a few small updates for 2025, there are no notable changes to the non-hybrid version of the Toyota Grand Highlander for the 2026 model year.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander starts at $42,855 for the base LE trim. All-wheel drive costs an extra $1,600 on most trims, but it’s standard on the top Platinum trim, which starts at $56,040.

Pricing for the Toyota Grand Highlander is slightly higher than that of the segment average, but it’s also one of the biggest and roomiest midsize SUVs available. You pay a little extra for that extra space and for Toyota’s rock-solid reputation for long-term reliability.

Before buying a Grand Highlander, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Toyota Grand Highlander resale value is above average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is powered by a 265-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

This is a perfectly nice powertrain for everyday use. There’s some coarse noise from the engine that’s characteristic of SUVs this size with turbo 4-cylinder engines, but it’s smooth and hushed once you get up to highway speeds. It’s more than enough power for most applications, but nothing so powerful it demands much attention. Light steering inputs and confident braking make for a pleasant driving experience.

The optional all-wheel drive is plenty sure-footed in cold weather, and Toyota doesn’t even try to pretend it’s made for rock crawling, which is refreshing amidst the off-road trend spreading through this class.

Fuel Economy

The Toyota Grand Highlander returns up to 21 city/28 highway/24 combined mpg with front-wheel drive. Upgrading to all-wheel drive brings that rating down to 23 combined mpg on the lower trims and 22 combined mpg on the Limited and Platinum trims because of the 20-inch wheels. Still, these are decent efficiency ratings for such a big SUV.

For better fuel economy in the same family-friendly package, consider the Grand Highlander Hybrid, which returns up to 36 mpg in mixed driving.

We’ll say at the outset that the Toyota Grand Highlander is a midsize 3-row SUV for families who will actually use the third row every day. It’s up there with the Chevy Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas as one of the roomiest in its class, with adult-friendly third-row seating and decent cargo space behind the third row. Precious few players in this class can make these claims.

Anything over 30 inches is pretty good for third-row legroom in a midsize SUV, and the Grand Highlander offers 33.5 inches for stretching out in the way back. As for cargo space, you get 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and a Costco-ready 97.5 cubic feet behind the first row.

OK, so it’s huge inside, but how’s the interior quality? The inside of the Grand Highlander has a just-right balance of quality and toddler-resistant durability to make it both comfortable and suitable for family use. Also, cupholders, USB-C ports, and storage cubbies are generously placed throughout this practical interior, which we love to see in a family hauler.

One of our editors has five children and has tested the Grand Highlander as a real-world daily driver for his family. While it’s still no minivan, he was impressed by how thoughtfully designed this interior is for real families, not just the ones in the commercials. In addition to the space, installing car seats is relatively easy, and ingress and egress to and from the third row don’t require much contortion by the passengers.

On the tech front, a 12.3-inch infotainment display comes standard on every Grand Highlander, as do wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims get more advanced tech features and premium appointments, like a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a head-up display, a panoramic moonroof, and JBL audio.

Toyota has a reputation for putting function over form, and that’s evident in the Grand Highlander’s design. It’s a nice-looking vehicle as long as you prefer subtlety over flash. Upper trims get stylish 20-inch wheels, and Toyota’s multi-layered “Pearl” paint options of Ruby Flare and Wind Chill add a more premium look to the body.

Infotainment system
Every Grand Highlander trim level gets the same 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. We found it fairly intuitive to operate manually or with voice commands by saying “Hey, Toyota” to get the system’s attention. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.

Smart Key
This lets you use your smartphone as a key. Conveniently, you can share it with another smartphone remotely. Sadly, it requires a subscription after a trial period.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0
This standard safety tech suite bundles must-have safety and driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams.

360-degree camera system
Provided only on the Platinum trim, this feature gives the driver a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings. We found it particularly useful in negotiating tight parking garages.

Digital rearview mirror
Found only on the Platinum model, this shows you a clear view of what’s behind the car even if the rear window is blocked with a dorm room’s worth of stuff.

Traffic Jam Assist
Also part of the Platinum trim, this feature can take care of the steering, throttle, and brakes at speeds up to 25 mph, under certain conditions. It’s a fatigue-saver in traffic.

Power for the non-hybrid variant of the Toyota Highlander comes from a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, rated at 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Output is routed to the front or all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all but the Platinum trim, where it’s standard. The Grand Highlander is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Of note, there’s also a Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, which we review separately. Its base hybrid powertrain maximizes efficiency, returning up to 36 mpg combined, while the Hybrid MAX powertrain is more about performance, generating 362 hp.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new-vehicle warranty conforms to the class norms of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first, with powertrains covered for five years or 60,000 miles. Toyota also includes free scheduled maintenance over the first two years or 25,000 miles. We caution buyers, however, not to overweigh free maintenance plans. There just isn’t much scheduled maintenance in the first two years or 25,000 miles of new car ownership, so it’s not much of a savings.

Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the Grand Highlander its top 5-Star overall safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given it mixed scores in what tests it has performed. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard across the board. It bundles advanced safety tech like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.