2026 Toyota Highlander

The Highlander has been a family-SUV mainstay for over two decades, and the 2026 model continues to trade on Toyota's core strengths: efficiency, reliability, and practicality. The hybrid version achieving 36 MPG combined in a three-row SUV is a genuinely remarkable number that no direct competitor can match. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder replaced the previous V6, which remains a sore point for some long-time Highlander buyers. The turbo-four provides adequate power and better fuel economy, but it lacks the refinement of the old six — it's buzzy at high RPM and the eight-speed automatic sometimes hunts for the right gear. Where the Highlander faces its real challenge is the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, which offer larger third rows, more upscale interiors, and a near-luxury experience at similar prices. The Highlander counters with the hybrid option (neither Korean rival offers one yet in their base models) and Toyota's unmatched reliability track record. If you plan to keep this SUV for a decade, the Highlander's total cost of ownership will be hard to beat.