2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

When the Grand Highlander joined Toyota's lineup in 2024, it arrived with the one thing that kept the standard Highlander from achieving greatness: an adult-friendly third row. A longer wheelbase and overall increase in length give the Grand Highlander the third-row legroom that the Highlander lacks, and the extra cargo room doesn't hurt either. With a starting price that's only slightly higher than the Highlander's, the Grand Highlander is an excellent choice for those who want to maximize passenger comfort without upgrading to the beefy Sequoia. Since it's still a relatively new SUV, we don't expect any significant updates for 2026.

Considering the Grand Highlander's larger size, you'd think it would be considerably more expensive and a lot thirstier than the regular Highlander, but that's not the case. Their starting prices differ by less than $1,500 — a pricing spread that holds true as you move up the trim ladder. As for fuel economy, the Grand Highlander is only 1 mpg less fuel-efficient because it's not much heavier than the Highlander. Opting for the Grand Highlander, which is about 6 inches longer, gets you more passenger space in all three rows and more cargo space. And both SUVs come standard with similar features as well. It's almost a no-brainer if you want a roomier SUV.

Shoppers will inevitably cross-shop the Grand Highlander against the Honda Pilot, but a pair of newer challengers are also worth considering. The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are two of our highest-rated vehicles in this class, and both are due for redesigns in 2026. The closely related SUVs will boast new designs inside and out, upgraded tech and new engines, including a powerful hybrid option. Another SUV worth considering is the Mazda CX-90. It offers a luxurious interior and a smooth ride, and it's fun to drive for an SUV.