The 2026 Toyota Highlander will arrive with standard all-wheel-drive on all trims. Hybrids already offered AWD, but now non-hybrids join the AWD only fun.
Toyota just announced its ditching the front-wheel-drive versions of the Toyota Highlander, making it exclusively an all-wheel-drive, three row, family crossover. That means we lose the front-wheel-drive LE, XLE, and Limited trims. Additionally, we say good bye to the special 25th Anniversary Edition and Nightshade versions of the Highlander hybrid.
In total, Toyota will build seven versions of the Highlander. That will probably leave a bit more room in dealer lots for the larger and quite popular Grand Highlander. It entered the market in 2024. The new, larger crossover provides more cargo space and a much more generous third row.
Powertrains
Of the seven Highlander trims, four of them: XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum will get propulsion from a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four-cylinder engine that makes a respectable 265 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque. Before sending power to all four corners, power channels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The other three trims: Hybrid XLE, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Platinum, continue to use the 2.5-liter hybrid setup. On its own, the engine makes 186 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft of torque but then gets help from three electric motors (two up front, one on the rear axle) to generate a total of 243 horsepower and an unspecified amount of torque. Toyota uses a nickel metal hybrid battery as the electric energy source.
Toyota supplied the same hybrid powertrain in the Highlander for several years now and to good effect. In the XLE trim Highlander Hybrid, it achieves 35 mpg across the board, impressive for a three-row family crossover.
On the other hand, Toyota swapped out a V-6 for the turbo 2.4-liter in 2023. It manages a respectable 21 miles per gallon in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, 24 combined.
The Latest Gadgets
Standard equipment includes a three-zone climate control system, an eight-inch center display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a seven-inch partially digital instrument cluster. As you move up the trim ladder, Toyota layers on more stuff.
Pinnacle Platinum trims enjoy nice leather seats, a 10-in head-up display, a fully digital, 12.3-in instrument cluster, and a another 12.3-in center display as well. Not to mention creature comforts like a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second row seats, and a digital rearview mirror too.
Solid All Rounder
I’ve seen and reviewed several Highlanders over the years and found them comfortable and generally spacious. Though the latter statement pales in comparison to the new Grand Highlander. You still get up to 84 cu. ft. of cargo room and a decent 16 cu. ft. with all three rows up. The second row provides competitive levels of space. Leave the third row for kids…young kids.
Toyota definitely leaned on the ride side of the ride and handling spectrum, but that suits this category of crossover fine. Engineers also isolated the cabin well for quiet road trips and you’ll find plenty of cupholders and the ever-important USB ports for device charging. Just don’t expect to wow your friends on a nice set of back roads.
Price The 2026 Toyota Highlander starts at $45,270 for the XLE (not including destination charge) and $47,020 for hybrid XLE (also not including destination charge). Expect them to arrive at dealers around November.
