I Drove a Very Popular SUV. Toyota’s Grand Highlander Gets Our OK

The Toyota Grand Highlander is one of the Japanese manufacturer’s top 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 is deserving of its ranking as a finalist on Cars.com 2026 Best Family Car list and inclusion on 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 starts at just over $53,000. Less souped-up hybrid trims start at a little over $45,000, while the base model gas-powered version starts at just over $42,000. I’ve recently tested the other electrified models from Toyota, including the Toyota bZ and the Lexus RZ, as well as the Chevrolet Blazer EV.

My colleague, Charles Singh, has tested a couple 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 notable model because of its standard features, affordable pricing and practicality. Here’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 Stand Out?

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander stands out from rivals in its segment because of its unique exterior and interior designs. It also has a strong value proposition for a family car (starting at just over $42,000 for a gas-powered base model), which propels it to the top of ranking lists at a time when the average new car costs nearly $50,000, according to Cox Automotive.

In 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 large screen for infotainment and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

How Does the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Drive? Performance, Handling and Efficiency

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander offers a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride, and it has excellent gas mileage as a hybrid vehicle. It handles well, and its acceleration is quick enough to keep daily driving fun. A daily driver might easily forget they are driving a hybrid car until they realize they’re averaging over 30 mpg in city driving and 50-plus mpg on highways!

The Grand Highlander Limited hybrid comes with a 2.5-liter hybrid engine that offers up to 245 net combined horsepower. The hybrid SUV achieves an estimated 32 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway. Our Limited trim test vehicle got over 430 miles on a single 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 sufficient for luggage and grocery hauls. With the second and third row seats both folded, the space expands significantly to about 97.5 cubic feet. With all three rows up, the cargo space is limited to 20.6 cubic feet. The Grand Highlander is slightly bigger than the cheaper Toyota Highlander, which starts at $46,270 before taxes and additional fees.

Is the 2026 Grand Highlander Worth It? Pricing, Value and Competition

The base Grand Highlander starts at just over $42,000 before taxes and additional fees, which seems modest for a larger 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. The top trim MAX Platinum hybrid version of the vehicle starts at $60,175, but it comes with bells and whistles like all-wheel drive, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a panoramic roof with a power sunshade.

I enjoyed the souped-up Grand Highlander Limited, but I would likely opt for the slightly cheaper XLE trim if I was looking to get the most bang for my bucks. 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 competitors such as the Kia Telluride, Nissan Pathfinder, Mazda CX-9, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Subaru Ascent.

Who Should Buy the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander?

You should buy the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander if you need a large hybrid SUV that gets great mileage and can haul up to 7 or 8 people, depending on the seating configuration.

The Limited trim model we tested comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has a panoramic view monitor and comes 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 Beams, and Proactive Driving Assist.

Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect