2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

How does the Toyota Highlander Hybrid drive? The three-row Highlander has the same hybrid powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, though Toyota juiced it up a bit to handle the added weight. Our test Highlander 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 are smooth and don't exhibit the grabbiness found in some other hybrids.

Around turns, this hybrid is surprisingly composed. It's 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 visibility out 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 rearview camera is exceptionally low-quality for a modern vehicle.

Some driver aids, like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning, come standard, but you'll have to upgrade to a higher trim to get things like parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. The Highlander's adaptive cruise reacts a bit too slowly, and the lane keeping feels reactive. Overall, the features offered are solid but could improve functionally.

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.

How’s the tech? Toyota introduced a new optional touchscreen in 2023, and it's a marked improvement over the old model. The 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.

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.

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. Our Highlander Hybrid AWD Nightshade test vehicle rang in around $50,000, which is a lot of money 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.

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 GH 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.