2026 Toyota Highlander: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Toyota Highlander gets 24 to 35 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD at 35 mpg; the best regular gas version is the 2026 Highlander AWD (4-cyl 2.4 L) at 24 mpg.
How the Highlander ranks in its class
In the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Highlander ranks 1st of 58 for combined mileage (35 mpg), 1st of 55 for yearly fuel cost ($1,800 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 9th of 58 for tailpipe CO2 (253 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 21 mpg, costs $3,500 a year and puts out 426 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 29 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Highlander's best version, 1 other model gets the same and 204 get less. The 2026 Highlander's cheapest version costs $1,800 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 27 cost less, 1 the same and 197 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 1 to 4 of 58)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Toyota HighlanderThis car | 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD | 35 | $1,800 | 253 |
| 2 | 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander | 2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 34 | $1,850 | 260 |
| 3 | 2026 Hyundai Palisade | 2026 Palisade Hybrid AWD | 29 | $2,150 | 300 |
| 4 | 2026 Lexus TX | 2026 TX 500h AWD | 27 | $2,850 | 322 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Highlander AWD, 4-cyl 2.4 L: 21 mpg city, 28 highway, 24 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Highlander version is $2,600 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Grand Highlander costs $833 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Grand Highlander costs $4,165 less to fuel than the Highlander (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
- 2026 Hyundai Palisade
- 2026 Lexus TX
The Highlander against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Highlander (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Highlander | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander | 2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 34 mpg | $1,850 | 1 lower | $50 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Hyundai Palisade | 2026 Palisade Hybrid AWD | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 6 lower | $350 more a year | Compare |
| 2026 Lexus TX | 2026 TX 500h AWD | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 8 lower | $1,050 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2026 Toyota Highlander
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWDHybrid | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,800 | 254 | cheapest |
| 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLATHybrid | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 34 | 35 | $1,800 | 253 | cheapest |
| 2026 Highlander AWD | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 | 371 | +$800 |
The cheapest-to-run hybrid, the 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT (35 mpg, $1,800 a year), costs $800 a year less in fuel than the cheapest-to-run gas version, the 2026 Highlander AWD (24 mpg, $2,600 a year).
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Highlander; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD puts out 254 grams per mile; across the 3 tested versions the figure runs from 253 to 371.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Highlander gas version and hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 22 mpg | 28 mpg | 5 | 7 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 8 | 6 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 8 | 6 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 8 | 6 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 25 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 25 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 25 mpg | 35 mpg | 5 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 24 mpg | 35 mpg | 3 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 5 versions were tested then and 3 now; the best figure went from 35 to 35 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Highlander AWD, 4-cyl 2.4 L | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | no change |
2 2025 versions have no match in 2026.
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV HEV AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 0 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
Owner complaints, 2026
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Toyota Highlander (as HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no complaints for the 2026 Toyota Highlander on 2026-11-14.
Includes agency records filed under: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Toyota Highlander (as HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Includes agency records filed under: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
More Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Highlander itself is at 35 mpg.
Other Toyota models of 2026
More Toyota models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Toyota Highlander gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD with 35 mpg combined (35 city, 35 highway). Among the regular gas versions it is the 2026 Highlander AWD at 24 mpg.
How much does a 2026 Toyota Highlander cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Toyota Highlander costs between $1,800 and $2,600 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD at $1,800; the dearest is the 2026 Highlander AWD at $2,600. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
Is the hybrid Highlander more efficient than the gas version?
In the agency's tests the best hybrid, the 2026 Highlander Hybrid AWD, gets 35 mpg combined and the best non-hybrid, the 2026 Highlander AWD, gets 24 mpg: 11 mpg more for the hybrid.
How does the 2026 Toyota Highlander rank among 2026 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD models?
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is 1st of 58 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Highlander at 35 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 21 mpg. In the list, the next one behind is the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander at 34 mpg.
Did the Highlander change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 5 tested versions and the 2026 model has 3. The best figure went from 35 to 35 mpg (no change).
How did the 2026 Toyota Highlander do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV HEV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
No complaints were returned for the 2026 Toyota Highlander on 2026-11-14.
Does the 2026 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Toyota Highlander: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Toyota Highlander: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Toyota Highlander: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Toyota Highlander: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.