Shopping for a Toyota Highlander? Consider These 3 Alternatives

Hyundai, Kia and Toyota itself offer three-row midsize SUVs that are worth a look

written by David Gluckman
edited by Greg Migliore
8/19/2026
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What's new: The Toyota Highlander is a stalwart in the midsize three-row SUV segment.
Why it matters: Newer and better options are now on the scene, including a larger and less expensive model from Toyota itself.
Edmunds says: Check out these three-row options from Hyundai, Kia and Toyota before deciding on a Highlander.

The Toyota Highlander nameplate is well known among three-row midsize SUV shoppers. While there isn't much exciting about it, the Highlander combines space, comfort and efficiency — especially if you choose the hybrid version. But our experience and the Edmunds rating system tells us there are better options than this Toyota, one of which comes from the same showroom as the Highlander. It happens that the three midsize three-rows at the top of our rankings are all hybrids, and we think you'll like them better than either the gas-only or gas-electric Highlander.

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Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

Price range (with destination): $45,760-$58,380
Edmunds Rating: 8.3 (out of 10)

Hyundai made big strides with the Palisade's 2026 redesign. What was always a competent three-row family hauler now has the stately presence and luxury-adjacent interior trappings to put it at the top of the charts. You're forgiven if you don't recall what the last Palisade looked like — its styling was somehow at once ungainly and unmemorable. This new one makes a statement.

The hybrid option is also new for this generation, and it has quickly become the favorite over the V6 version. In part that's due to quicker acceleration — 7.4 seconds to 60 mph for the hybrid compared to 8.8 seconds for the V6 model. Better fuel economy helps, too, with the hybrid getting an EPA estimate of up to 34 mpg combined while the gas-only model can only reach 21 mpg. With high gas prices, that means the $2,200 premium for the hybrid powertrain should be paid back in a few years.

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2026 Hyundai Palisade pricing in Ashburn, VA

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Kia Telluride Hybrid

Price range (with destination): $48,035-$59,135
Edmunds Rating: 8.1 (out of 10)

Hot on the heels of the redesigned Palisade came Kia's take on the same shared platform, a fresh Telluride. For 2027, the three-row Telluride adopts the brand's chunky styling with quirky details like the hash marks above each wheel and bands around the sideview mirrors. Retractable door handles make it look even more like a Range Rover, a model with which this Kia has always had a passing resemblance. The Telluride's interior is almost as nice as the Palisade's, but we're not fans of the Kia's climate control screen, which is easily obscured by the steering wheel.

Though their gas-only powertrains now differ, the Telluride and the Palisade share a hybrid setup. It's as good in the Kia as it is in the Hyundai; in fact, the Telluride has slightly better EPA numbers than its corporate cousin, and, at 7.0 seconds, it was quicker to 60 mph in Edmunds' testing. Kia asks slightly more for the Telluride Hybrid, but that's partly because it starts the Telluride's gas-electric range with a higher-spec trim level; a comparable Palisade would cost you $49,120. So really, the Kia is the relative deal.

Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

Price range (with destination): $47,205-$61,770
Edmunds Rating: 7.8 (out of 10)

They may share a name, but Toyota's Highlander and Grand Highlander are different enough to be scored a full point apart on our 10-point scale. The Grand Highlander is a newer entry and, as its name suggests, it's larger than the OG Highlander. Its longer wheelbase provides more legroom in the second and third rows plus a larger cargo area.

As for its hybrid motivation, the Grand Highlander offers two gas-electric powertrains: a 245-hp system like the one in the Highlander Hybrid and a more powerful option called Hybrid Max. If you want fuel efficiency, the plain hybrid is the choice; the 362-horse Hybrid Max is certainly more spritely, but it returns fuel economy more akin to that of competitors' V6 engines. Because the gas-electric Grand Highlander lineup starts with a lower-spec model, the Grand is cheaper — by a few grand. Even if you line up both Highlanders' XLE Hybrid trims, the Grand Highlander is still $1,240 cheaper. More space for less money? That's hard to argue with.

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by David Gluckman

David has years of experience as a writer and editor for print and digital automotive publications, including Car and Driver and Road & Track. He can parallel-park a school bus, has a spreadsheet listing every vehicle he's ever tested, and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. When not searching for the perfect used car, he can be found sampling the latest gimmicky foodstuffs that America has to offer.

edited by Greg Migliore

Greg Migliore is an accomplished journalist with more than two decades covering the auto industry. He was the editor-in-chief of Autoblog for more than seven years and also served as the editorial director of AutoGuide. He's also been an editor at Automobile and Autoweek magazines. A widely quoted industry expert, he has contributed commentary to Autoline After Hours, NPR, Yahoo Finance and America on the Road. He's a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and the Yale Publishing Course. He is a member of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards jury. When not writing, editing or driving the latest new vehicles, Greg can be seen driving around in his extremely low-mileage 2006 Dodge Charger.

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