Toyota has been rolling out useful SUVs for decades now, and amongst its lineup this year, compact crossovers like the Corolla Cross get a lot right for a low price; the ever-sturdy RAV4 has gone fully hybrid for better fuel savings, and the Land Cruiser and the 4Runner are both continuing their good work in off-road press and road-ready.

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When a road trip is calling, or you need to take the family across the country, you'll appreciate a whisper-quiet cabin and smooth ride. This year's Grand Highlander Hybrid delivers here; owners on Kelley Blue Book rate it 4.8 out of 5 for performance and 4.9 out of 5 for comfort.

At the center of what makes the Grand Highlander Hybrid quiet at speed is the use of sound insulation and noise-reduction measures around the cabin. Acoustic laminated glass for the windshield and front windows helps suppress wind noise at highway speeds, while extra sound-deadening materials in the firewall, body structure, and floor help cut back on tire and road noise.

The Grand Highlander Hybrid is also a very smooth-riding SUV, thanks to the TNGA-K platform it rides on. It has a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear, which helps it absorb rough tarmac easily.

Toyota has also tuned the suspension for comfort first, and despite its size, it is a composed and settled beast. There is no air suspension, nor adaptive suspension, available, but the carefully tweaked chassis rigidity and suspension calibration help deliver a refined ride that feels ideal for family life.

Both powertrain choices for the new Grand Highlander Hybrid use the fourth-gen Toyota hybrid system. The non-MAX models are equipped with an inline-four mated to the hybrid rig, while the Hybrid MAX models get a turbocharged inline-four mated to the hybrid system. Specs are as follows.

2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Models

2.4-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four Hybrid

Front-wheel drive is standard fare on Hybrid models with all-wheel drive as an option, while Hybrid MAX models all get all-wheel drive as standard.

Apart from the output difference, the transmission choices also differ. Both offer smooth driving, but the eCVT in the Hybrid models prioritizes seamless acceleration and fuel efficiency, while the six-speed automatic used in the Hybrid MAX delivers a more direct feel underfoot, which makes it better for those who want slightly better performance.

The Grand Highlander Hybrid can reach 60 mph in around 7.8 seconds, while the MAX models offer a lot more respectable sprint time of 5.6 seconds.

Alongside the added power that hybrid systems can offer, the main point for many family drivers is to save some money on fuel. Both the Hybrid and Hybrid MAX models are relatively fuel-efficient SUVs for their size and weight. FuelEconomy.gov says the most fuel-efficient Grand Highlander Hybrid model is the FWD non-MAX model.

It says that the FWD Grand Highlander Hybrid can achieve 36 combined mpg (37 mpg city/34 mpg highway) and the AWD model can achieve 34 combined mpg (36 mpg city/32 mpg highway).​​​​​​​

The AWD model get you a gas tank range of 585 miles, while the FWD model has a gas tank range of a whopping 619 miles, which makes it one of the SUVs with the highest tank range on the market.

The MAX models can achieve a combined mpg rating of between 22 and 27, and get you a tank range of between 427 and 464 miles. It is estimated that this will cost you between $1,900 and $3,050 a year for gas for the whole 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid lineup.

Driving a family SUV doesn't have to mean resigning yourself to a dull experience - these models offer excitement and power along with practicality.

While the SUV market has moved toward everyday comfort and usability, there are still some around that can tow. The Grand Highlander Hybrid being one of them; it is an SUV that can handle a bit of everything.

It has a standard towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, thanks to standard-fit Trailer Sway Control (TSC) and the impressive torque output. That means that from the off, it is good to tow small boats, small to mid-sized caravans, and small trailers.

If you opt for the Hybrid MAX, towing capacity is higher, at 5,000 pounds. However, to get the maximum towing capacity, you have to add a tow hitch, which is available at build from Toyota. That means longer weekends away with a larger caravan, other vehicles on trailers, and larger boats are all within reach.

For the Grand Highlander Hybrid to compete in the modern market, tech has to be spot on; in typical Toyota fashion, it is well-appointed and easy to use. Toyota's latest Audio Multimedia system runs through a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen across the range; it is quick to load, simple to navigate, and very responsive.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all trims, along with cloud-based navigation, OTA updates, and "Hey Toyota" voice control that handles basic inputs.

Trim levels do play a part, though. The LE gets the 12.3-inch screen, USB-C ports across the three rows, and the core connectivity setup. The XLE is equipped with wireless charging, while the Limited goes a step further with a 10-inch HUD. At the top end, the Platinum trim gets the Digital Rearview Mirror as standard, alongside the full display setup and the most feature-rich cabin configuration.

Audio also gets better as you go up the trims. The LE and XLE models are equipped with a solid base audio rig, while the Limited and Platinum trims are available with an 11-speaker JBL Premium Audio system.

This year's Grand Highlander Hybrid is a three-row SUV, and not a small one. It measures in at 201.4 inches in length by 78.3 inches in width by 72.1 inches in height, and rides on a 116.1-inch wheelbase.

It may be too large for some drivers in the city, but all that size means there is a lot of room inside for family ferrying, at a massive 153.3 cubic feet of interior volume (149 cubic feet if you opt for the panoramic sunroof).

While we see some three-row SUVs boast a lot of room in the first two rows and not the third, this isn't the case for the new Grand Highlander Hybrid; all three rows have a respectable amount of space and even open up enough room for some adults in the back.

It may have dealt with a fair bit of criticism in years gone by, but this family vehicle can still sort out its core priorities with confidence.

The new Grand Highlander Hybrid gives you a choice when it comes to seating. LE and XLE models come standard with a second-row bench seat, allowing for seating up to eight people.

If you don't regularly use that extra seat, the XLE trim can also be optioned with second-row captain's chairs, which does reduce seating capacity to seven, but does create a more open pathway to the third row.

The Limited and Platinum models are equipped exclusively with captain's chairs, and give the cabin a more upscale feel while making moving between rows a lot easier.

The captain's chairs themselves aren't simply placeholders. They feature individual fold-down armrests that allow third-row passengers to get in without sliding a seat forward. The second row also includes a one-touch slide mechanism that makes it easy to get to the rear seats.

One of the main reasons you should check out a Grand Highlander Hybrid as your next family SUV is because of the amount of space you get inside. Even with all three rows in place, you get 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. So, enough for a grocery run or several suitcases.

If you need more room, the 60:40 split-folding third-row seats expand cargo capacity to 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row, while folding both rear rows down opens up a massive 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space.​​​​​​​

Toyota has also made the space easy to use. You get a low load floor, wide tailgate opening, and large underfloor storage compartments. Combined with several cabin storage bins, cupholders, and cubbies around the cabin, the Grand Highlander Hybrid is built to carry a lot around.

You can also get a trunk lid that can open with a hands-free kick sensor, your key fob, a button on the dash, and the old-fashioned way: a button on the lid. Toyota also says that the maximum payload is 1,500 pounds.

Buying a good family SUV also means looking for an SUV that doesn't spend most of its time in the garage. According to J.D. Power ratings, the 2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid is rated 82 out of 100 for dependability. RepairPal also says that it has a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, and low annual maintenance costs of $489.

This makes it cheaper than the average mid-sized SUV, which RepairPal says costs $573 a year, while it is much cheaper than the average modern vehicle, which costs $652 a year for maintenance.

Alongside the high overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Kelley Blue Book, owners also rate it 4.7 out of 5 for reliability, with 90% of owners recommending buying one. As we have found with reams of Toyota models in the past, its bulletproof reputation still holds, regardless of the size of the vehicle.

The mid-size SUV that nails three important pillars of a family SUV - space, comfort, and reliability. Which is that SUV to have it all?

With family safety being a paramount consideration when buying a new SUV, you want to make sure that it is as well covered as it can be. This year's Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is just that and is designed to be very safe out on the road. The NHTSA gives it a five-star safety rating, and at the time of writing, there are no safety recalls.

The IIHS says that this year's Grand Highlander Hybrid is rated highly for crash worthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and seat belt ratings. It has given "Acceptable" ratings for small front overlap crashworthiness and headlight ratings, and "Good" ratings (the highest they award) for moderate overlap front and side crash worthiness, front crash prevention for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian mitigation, seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use.

Unlike many rivals that reserve their best driver-assistance tech for expensive trims, as standard, you get the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite. That means even the entry-level LE gets features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Proactive Driving Assist.

Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic and Safe Exit Alert are also standard across the lineup, and so is Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking, so maneuvering its huge size is easier. Higher trims get even more, with the Limited and Platinum getting Toyota's Panoramic View Monitor for a 360-degree camera view around the vehicle.

Found an error? Send it info@www.topspeed.com so it can be corrected.

Sources: Toyota, NHTSA, FuelEconomy.gov, IIHS, Kelley Blue Book, and J.D. Power.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid starts at a base MSRP of $45,210 for the entry-level LE trim. Pricing scales up depending on the trim level and the more powerful "Hybrid MAX" powertrain option.

The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid’s towing capacity depends on which of the two hybrid powertrains it has:

Standard Hybrid (2.5L 4-Cylinder): Tows up to 3,500 lbs.

Hybrid MAX (2.4L Turbocharged): Tows up to 5,000 lbs

The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid (including the standard hybrid and the Hybrid MAX) is exclusively made in the United States at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) plant in Princeton, Indiana.

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/toyota-grand-highlander-hybrid-family-suv/