2026 Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander is one of the most trusted names in family SUVs for good reasons. It checks the boxes that families need filled, like 3-row seating and a lot of cupholders, but it’s more than the sum of its parts. It has the long-term reliability, stellar safety ratings, and strong resale value that the Toyota brand is famous for, enhancing the value proposition and peace of mind for the driver. It also has good fuel economy for an SUV this size, and its impressive list of standard features now includes all-wheel drive. There’s also a more fuel-efficient Highlander Hybrid and a roomier Grand Highlander (and its own hybrid variant), which we review separately.

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

Every 2026 Toyota Highlander gets standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Previously, front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, and all-wheel drive was optional. Also, the LE trim was discontinued, leaving the XLE as the new base model.

The 2026 Toyota Highlander has a high starting price for a midsize SUV, but it’s priced close to similarly equipped rivals with all-wheel drive. The Highlander dropped its base LE trim for 2026, leaving what used to be the mid-range XLE as the new base trim.

Before buying a Highlander, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Toyota 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 Highlander is powered by a 265-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. In our time with the Highlander and its turbocharged 4-cylinder, we’ve found it potent and torquey, and we don’t miss the old V6 that used to power this family SUV.

Engine aside, the Highlander remains true to its mission, which it carries out well: Serve as a comfortable and adept family hauler. It rolls down all manner of roads with confidence in a relaxed way. Highlander XSE models, with their sport-tuned suspension, add a bit more firmness for those who like to take their corners on the faster side of speed limits.

Toyota’s tried-and-true 8-speed automatic transmission shifts with aplomb, and the Highlander is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The standard all-wheel-drive system also improves this SUV’s all-weather traction, and the Dynamic Torque Vectoring feature in the upper trims further enhances responsiveness and stability.

Fuel Economy

The 2026 Toyota Highlander is one of the more efficient vehicles in its class. It’s rated at 21 city/28 highway/24 combined mpg, which is good compared to other SUVs in this segment with all-wheel drive.

For even better efficiency, consider the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which returns up to 35 combined mpg and also has standard all-wheel drive.

All Toyota Highlander models have three rows and can seat seven or eight passengers. The XLE and Limited trims are available with a 7- or 8-seat configuration, and the XSE and Platinum models come exclusively with second-row captain’s chairs, which means max seating for seven.

We’ve found plenty of space in the first two rows (front: 42 inches; second row: 38.7 inches). However, legroom is tight in the third row, with 28 inches of space, far less than rivals like the Chevy Traverse and Honda Pilot. The third row in the Highlander is best left to smaller children. There are three seats across the third row, but even if they’re all kids, fitting three people back there is a tight squeeze.

The good news is that the Highlander shares a showroom with the Grand Highlander. One of the main things that makes it so “grand” is its much more adult-friendly third row. It’s significantly roomier with an extra 5.5 inches of third-row legroom.

Now that the LE trim is gone, Toyota’s SofTex faux leather is standard, while genuine leather is optional. Standard creature comforts include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a hands-free power liftgate, and a wireless phone charging pad. Top trims have premium amenities such as heated and ventilated front seats, a digital rearview mirror, and a 10-inch head-up display (HUD).

Regarding cargo capacity for the strollers, groceries, sports gear, and everything else this vehicle will be tasked to carry, the Toyota Highlander has 16 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, 48.4 with them folded, and 84.3 with the second row folded. Those figures are all about midpack in this segment. For reference, the Grand Highlander has 20.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row and a whopping 97.5 cubic feet of room when you fold all the back seats down.

The Toyota Highlander’s exterior design conveys a nice balance of handsomeness and ruggedness but never goes overboard. This SUV is a family vehicle meant for family life without needing a massive grille, knobby tires, or tons of chrome.

Hands-free power liftgate
The days of manually heaving and reaching to open and close the Highlander’s rear door are over. A real convenience, this family SUV has a standard power tailgate capable of hands-free operation for when your arms are full of groceries or children.

Wireless smartphone connectivity
Whether you’re team Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you can use your phone’s in-vehicle capabilities without connecting a cord.

Multiple USB ports
This has become an essential feature in family vehicles to ensure everyone’s devices are topped off. The Highlander comes with five of them.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.5
We’ve long admired that Toyota doesn’t make you pay extra for active safety and driver-assist features. The Highlander includes driving aids like adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, and even blind-spot monitoring.

Dual 12.3-inch displays
This high-tech duo of screens is standard in the Limited and Platinum trims. One controls infotainment functions, while the other is a digital driver display that can change with various driving modes.

14 cupholders
Although we’ve learned that the abundance of cupholders in the Toyota Highlander often results in more bathroom stops on long road trips, it’s a small price to pay for a hydrated family.

The Toyota Highlander uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine makes 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Standard all-wheel drive is a nice new perk for 2026. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, which is typical for this segment.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new-vehicle warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first, with powertrains covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This coverage is typical for the segment. Toyota includes complimentary scheduled maintenance over the first two years or 25,000 miles.

Safety

This generation Toyota Highlander earned the Top Safety Pick honor for 2024 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it scores a 5-Star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Moreover it provides a generous list of standard advanced safety features, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist.