2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Price Range: $48,020 - $55,675

Good

The 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a decent pick if you're looking for a fuel-efficient family crossover. Its cramped third row remains one of its biggest sticking points. We prefer the longer Grand Highlander Hybrid, which has a spacious, adult-friendly back seat and doesn't cost much more.Read full review

Rank #7

7 Midsize hybrid SUVs

3 Offers Near Ashburn, VA

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Edmunds suggests you pay

$47,980

1 for sale near you

Edmunds suggested price is based on sales in VA thru 8/3/26, including destination fee, but not other dealer fees. Final assembly in USA.

Pros

Comfortable ride
Airy and open cabin
Excellent fuel economy

Cons

Third row is tight, for kids only
Below-average cargo space behind third row
Engine sounds coarse and unrefined at full throttle

Overview

Written by automotive expert James Riswick

Updated: 4/1/2026

Sandwiched between the compact Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the larger Grand Highlander Hybrid sits the 2026 Highlander Hybrid. Despite its midsize stature, the Highlander Hybrid packs in a third row of seats, adding to its appeal. But those seats are for occasional situations at best, and most adults will fight to avoid sitting back there. The 2026 Highlander is the final model year of this generation, and as such, changes are minor as Toyota prepares for the arrival of the electric-only 2027 model.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

6.4

out of 10

We drove the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Driving experience

6.9/10

How does the Toyota Highlander Hybrid drive? Our test Highlander Hybrid accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. That's slower than pretty much any other non-hybrid three-row, though on average, it's only by about a second. On the bright side, power is readily available and smoothly delivered. The brakes give you consistently smooth stops.

Around turns, the Highlander Hybrid is not an athlete, but it's easy to drive and won't toss you around unduly. On straighter roads, the Highlander Hybrid's ride quality is plush. It smooths over most road imperfections yet remains controlled without feeling too floaty.

There's good natural visibility out of the front thanks to a low hood and narrow front pillars. Thick rear pillars and chunky rear headrests make it harder to see out of the back. The standard rearview camera is exceptionally low-quality for a modern vehicle, but the optional 360-degree parking camera is high-def.

Some driver aids come standard, but you'll have to upgrade to a higher trim to get luxuries like parking sensors and that surround-view camera system. The Highlander's adaptive cruise reacts a bit too slowly, and the lane keeping feels reactive. Overall, the features offered are solid but could be improved.

Comfort

6/10

How comfortable is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid? The wide front seats are comfortable even on long drives, and the available second-row captain's chairs deliver nearly the same level of comfort. Alas, the third-row seats remain one of the standard Highlander's greatest liabilities. Thin padding, a low seat cushion and limited legroom make them a no-go for most adults.

At highway speeds, the Highlander is nicely insulated from wind, but road noise on the highway makes it difficult to listen to a podcast or have a conversation at typical volume. The gas engine sounds unrefined when you go full throttle, but otherwise it's not intrusive.

Ergonomically, the interior is a mixed bag. The steering wheel and climate controls are all intuitive, but the steering wheel doesn't offer a good range of adjustment. The driver's seat is also high in its lowest position, and your elbows will slide right off the door armrests.

Have small children? You can easily install a large rear-facing car seat in the second row thanks to the generous amount of movement of the captain's chairs. The car seat anchors are also easy to locate and access, though there are no anchors in the third row.

In-cabin tech

7.6/10

How’s the tech? The Highlander's display is sharp, and the system responds quickly to user inputs. High-level functions like radio and navigation are always present on the left rail, so even if you're using the standard wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you're never more than one click away from getting to the place you need. It's great to see an interface with such a thoughtful design.

The only thing we're not wowed by is the lack of power points. The front row features three USB ports and a wireless charging pad (the data port is, oddly, an old-school USB-A port), but there are only two ports in the second row and none in the rear. The Grand Highlander Hybrid has seven.

Storage & cargo

6.1/10

How’s storage and cargo? The lack of three-row midsize hybrid competitors works to the Highlander's favor; three-row compact hybrids have less cargo space and non-hybrid midsize SUVs offer a lot more. However, Toyota also produces the longer Grand Highlander Hybrid, which is nearly the same vehicle, with up to 29% more cargo capacity.

In terms of in-cabin storage, there's decent space for your things, with a few useful shelves across the dash. Door pockets are also sizable.

Value

5.3/10

Is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid a good value? This Highlander generation dates back to 2020 and seems to be stuck as the rest of the segment advances. Top trim levels of the Highlander Hybrid can seem rather pricey considering what you get.

The Highlander uses high-quality synthetic leather on the door, center armrest, and the upper part of the dashboard. But there's also a ton of hard plastic everywhere, and the ratio of hard plastic increases as you move to the back rows. As an older vehicle, the Highlander also doesn't have the latest and greatest tech features, and moving up the trim ladder adds considerable cost without an abundance of added features. The related (and more versatile) Grand Highlander Hybrid represents a better value.

MPG

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? Most versions of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid are rated at 35 mpg across the board (Limited and Platinum models have a 34 mpg highway rating). That's an 11-mpg improvement in the EPA's combined rating compared to the standard Highlander, and the improvement is most noticeable at city speeds, where the spread is 14 mpg. The Highlander Hybrid carries nearly the same fuel economy ratings as the Kia Sorento Hybrid and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, even though it's a larger vehicle. On our real-world evaluation route, we observed 33 mpg from our test vehicle. That's really good for a big three-row SUV, though it's slightly below the EPA estimates.

X factor

5/10

The Highlander Hybrid is one of the only electrified three-row midsize SUVs on sale today. And while its back row isn't outrageously useful, it does afford the Highlander some versatility if you want to shuttle all of your friends on a quick trip around town. However, the presence of the more spacious Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid takes a lot of the wind out of the standard Highlander's sails. The Grand Highlander has two hybrid powertrains to choose from, and its third-row space and cargo room are among the most generous in the segment. The price difference between similarly equipped Highlander and Grand Highlander hybrids is marginal, calling into question why the standard Highlander exists at all.

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2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid pricing in Ashburn, VA

Edmunds suggests you pay

Build & Price

2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid trim level differences

The 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes in XLE, Limited and range-topping Platinum trims. All versions come with standard second-row captain's chairs and seat seven passengers, though you can opt for a second-row bench seat on the XLE. All Highlander Hybrids have a four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system that combine to produce a total of 243 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims. Compare the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid trim levels in-depth.

Which Highlander Hybrid trim does Edmunds recommend?

While there's no longer a base model, we'd still recommend the Highlander Hybrid in the XLE trim. It has several key family-friendly upgrades over the base model: easier-to-clean synthetic leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, second-row window sunshades, and a wireless phone charger, just to name a few. You'd miss these features if you didn't have them.

Competitors to consider

The Highlander Hybrid's strongest competition comes from its larger sibling, the Grand Highlander Hybrid. It offers similarly excellent fuel economy but features a larger and more comfortable third row of seats. Other midsize three-row SUVs include the Kia Sorento Hybrid and the recently redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

Edmunds spotlight: All-wheel drive for all

While you previously had to opt for higher trim levels of the Highlander to get all-wheel drive, Toyota's decision to do away with the base LE trim means the full range now gets AWD as standard. While that's true for the non-hybrid models as well, it also means that the lack of a true base model trim raises the price of both versions of this popular midsize SUV.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

35 reviews

5(66%)

4(8%)

3(14%)

2(5%)

1(7%)

See all 35 reviews of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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Most Helpful Owner Review

Great vehicle BUT

Tired Car Shopper, 01/04/2026

2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Really liked the car….ride and drive. The storage is nice. However the 3rd row seat is not usable except for small children. Perhaps the Grand Highlander is better but we were not looking for a vehicle that large. The price doesn’t seem to have many discounts. We purchased a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid for less money and more up front storage and a usable 3rd row seat ….if/when needed.

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2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Features & Specs

Trim:

XLE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$48,020
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	35 MPG
Cost to Drive	$136/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Reliability

The 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls.

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Hybrid component Warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles
Hybrid component Warranty: 10 years / 150,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 2 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 25,000 miles

Where the Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranks:

#7 in Midsize hybrid SUVs

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FAQ

Is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2026 Highlander Hybrid both on the road and at the track, giving it a 6.4 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2026 Highlander Hybrid gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Highlander Hybrid has 16.0 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Learn more

Is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid reliable?

To determine whether the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Highlander Hybrid. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Highlander Hybrid's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2026 Highlander Hybrid and gave it a 6.4 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2026 Highlander Hybrid gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 1 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2026 Highlander Hybrid is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

The least-expensive 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $48,020.

Other versions include:

XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $48,020
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $52,475
Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $55,675

Learn more

What are the different models of Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

If you're interested in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the next question is, which Highlander Hybrid model is right for you? Highlander Hybrid variants include XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT), Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT), and Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). For a full list of Highlander Hybrid models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more