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Toyota Grand Highlander vs Toyota Highlander

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2026 Toyota Highlander — two standard SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Toyota Grand Highlander

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS3 – 3Tie: 3 categories each
Toyota Highlander

2026 Toyota Highlander

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota Grand Highlander is more fuel-efficient: 36 vs 35 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $50 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Grand Highlander (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Toyota Grand Highlander is the bigger car, about 6 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Toyota Grand Highlander has had fewer recall campaigns (7 vs 47).

The two cars

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).

The 2026 Toyota Highlander is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 195 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,123 lb (4dr SUV L FWD).

Basics

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

36 MPG
Best combined MPG
35 MPG
37 city
City / highway MPG (best)
35 city
$1,850
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,900

Performance & space

265 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
265 hp
–
Seats (most)
7
201.2 in
Length
194.9 in
78.3 in
Width
76 in
70.1 in
Height
68.1 in
4,464 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,123 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
14
4
Recalls (2026)
0
7
Recalls, all years since 2005
47
46
Owner complaints (latest year)
4

Interest

5,779
Wikipedia views, 30 days
21,118

Buying used

–
Best used year
2024
–
Year to avoid
2021

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Toyota Grand Highlander if…

  • You want more room (6 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (7 vs 47 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota Highlander if…

  • You want something easier to park (6 in shorter)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Pros & cons of each

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

  • 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.

2026 Toyota Highlander

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 35 MPG combined — 75% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (20 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Seats up to 73 rows of seating.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander specs →Full 2026 Toyota Highlander specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →