DecodedCars2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV, 4dr SUV Hybrid, 4dr SUV Platinum Max Hybrid
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 187–265 hp
- Transmission
- e-CVT
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 36 combined · 37 city / 34 hwy
- Length
- 201.2 in
- Curb weight
- 4,464–4,905 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 36 MPG combined — 66% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (21.7 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 27 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 201 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 116-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,464 lb (4dr SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 36 MPG combined (37 city / 34 highway), 66% better than the 2026 standard SUV average of 21.7 MPG, for an estimated $1,850 a year in fuel.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Grand Highlander — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Grand Highlander →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Princeton, Indiana
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 4 2026 Grand Highlander configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV | 201.2 in | 78.3 in | 70.1 in | 116.1 in | 66.9 / 66.9 in | 4,464 lb | 55/45 |
| 4dr SUV Hybrid | 201.2 in | 78.3 in | 70.1 in | 116.1 in | 66.9 / 66.9 in | 4,586 lb | 55/45 |
| 4dr SUV Platinum Max Hybrid | 201.2 in | 78.3 in | 70.1 in | 116.1 in | 66.9 / 66.9 in | 4,905 lb | 55/45 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Highlander Hybrid Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 37 / 34 / 36 | +66% | $1,850 | 246 |
| Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 36 / 32 / 34 | +70% | $1,950 | 260 |
| Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 27 / 27 | +35% | $2,500 | 332 |
| Grand Highlander LE/XLE | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | +11% | $2,800 | 371 |
| Grand Highlander Limited | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | +11% | $2,800 | 366 |
| Grand Highlander AWD LE/XLE | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | +15% | $2,900 | 379 |
| Grand Highlander AWD Limited/Platinum | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | +10% | $3,050 | 400 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander.
Similar 2026 standard SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander (this car) | 36 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Toyota 4Runner | 23 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 24 MPG | Not rated | 15 |
| 2026 Toyota Highlander | 35 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 23 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Ford Expedition | 19 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (4)
Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm · Sep 17, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V598000 · 617 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
- Risk
- A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TA19 and 26LA09.
Power Train › Axle Assembly · Jul 8, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V437000 · 5,408 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid, TX Hybrid, TX, Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Grand Highlander vehicles. The rear axle carriers may have been manufactured with insufficient material strength and could break.
- Risk
- A broken rear axle carrier can cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect the rear axle carrier sub-assembly code, and replace the sub-assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB13, 26TA13, 26LB08, and 26LA08.
Equipment › Other › Labels · Mar 24, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V179000 · 8,230 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Toyota Tundra, Tacoma Hybrid, Tacoma, RAV4 Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Lexus GX550, 2024-2026 Tundra Hybrid, 2025 Sequoia Hybrid, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander, Lexus TX500 Hybrid, Lexus NX350 Hybrid, 2025-2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Lexus TX350 vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Risk
- A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 26, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LB04, 26LA04, 26TB07, and 26TA07.
Back Over Prevention › Display Function · Oct 30, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
Not every 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Grand Highlander years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Grand Highlander | 36 | 201.2 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 80 |
| 2024 Grand Highlander | 36 | 201.2 in | Not rated | 4 | 245 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Toyota. How we calculate this →