2026 Toyota Grand Highlander $42,855 This Fall

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander SUV, in LE, XLE, Limited, Platinum, and Nightshade grades, is powered by a choice of a 265 horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged 16-valve D-4S injection engine with Dual Variable Valve Timing is paired with a Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission, a 245 horsepower Hybrid 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Double Overhead Cam engine with an Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission or a 362-horsepower Hybrid MAX’s 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbo 16-valve D-4S injection engine with VVT-I is paired to a Direct Shift-6AT 6-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission. A 12.3-inch touchscreen, three-zone automatic climate control with second- and third-row vents, and seven USB-C charging ports are standard while available features include leather-trimmed seats on the Limited grade or heated and ventilated second row seats on the Platinum model. Grand Highlander starts at $42,855 (including $1,495 DPH fee) for the gas engine models (LE FWD grade), $46,205 for the Hybrid models (LE grade), and $56,685 for the Hybrid MAX models (Limited grade). 2026 Grand Highlander models are expected to start arriving at Toyota dealerships in the Fall of 2025.

Grand Highlander review video.

Test Drive: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Limited

Toyota launched the Grand Highlander for the 2024 model year. Richard Saxton test drives the Hybrid Limited trim level powered by a 245 total horsepower 2.5-liter Hybrid drivetrain with standard electronic on-demand All Wheel Drive. The Grand Highlander has a 3,500 lb. towing capacity on the Hybrid grades. Standard on the Grand Highlander is a 12.3-inch touchscreen displaying Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system. For 2025 the Grand Highlander is offered in five grades across three different powertrains – the LE, XLE, Hybrid Nightshade, Limited, and Platinum. XLE, Limited, Hybrid Nightshade, and Platinum models are expected to start arriving at Toyota dealerships in late December of 2024. LE models are expected in the first half of 2025.  

Click to watch review.

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Starts At $44,405 This Summer

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is powered by a 265 horsepower 2.4L turbo gas engine with an EPA-estimated 24 combined MPG for XLE FWD, a 245 horsepower 2.5L hybrid with an EPA-estimated 36 combined MPG for the XLE FWD, or a 362 horsepower Hybrid MAX engine with with an EPA-estimated 27 combined MPG and 5,000 pound towing capacity. All three powertrains come with Sport, Eco, Normal drive modes while Multi-Terrain Select has Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, Snow modes on the gas AWD and Hybrid MAX powertrains. Standard on the Grand Highlander is a 12.3-inch touchscreen displaying Toyota’s latest Audio Multimedia system. The 2024 Grand Highlander will have a starting MSRP of $44,405 (including $1,335 delivery, processing and handling fee) for the gas engine models, $46,005 for the hybrid and $55,375 for the Hybrid MAX powertrain when it hits dealerships this Summer.

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Coming Late This Year

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, offered in the XLE grade, Limited and Platinum trims, is powered by a 2.4L turbo gas engine, a 2.5L hybrid with a manufacturer-estimated 34 combined MPG, or the 362 horsepower Hybrid MAX which offers 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity. Controls are centered around the standard 12.3-inch multimedia display. Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert is standard on all grades. Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking is available on Limited and Platinum grades. A Panoramic View Monitor is available and provides a live rotating 360-degree view around the vehicle. The price and on-sale date of the all-new 2024 Grand Highlander will be announced later this Summer.

2012 Top 40 Selling U.S. Passenger Vehicles

Make/Model       Feb. 2012         Year-to-date

1. Ford F-Series  47,273  YTD  85,766
2. Toyota Camry  34,543   YTD  62,838
3. GM Chevrolet Silverado-C/K Pickup  32,297  YTD 59,147
4. Nissan Altima  32,953  YTD  55,310
5. Honda Civic  27,087  YTD  48,970

6. Honda CR-V  24,759  YTD 43,719
7. Chrysler Ram P/U  22,595  YTD  40,504
8. Toyota Corolla  22,151  YTD  40,139
9. Ford Focus 23,350  YTD  37,750
10. Ford Escape  18,666  YTD  35,925

11. GM Chevrolet Cruze  20,427   YTD  35,476
12. Ford Fusion 21,773  YTD  35,387
13. GM Chevrolet Malibu 19,987  YTD  34,663
14. Honda  Accord  20,702  YTD  34,361
15. Toyota Prius  20,593  YTD  32,148

16. Hyundai Sonata  17,425  YTD  31,914
17. GM Chevrolet Equinox  17,851  YTD 31,513
18. Hyundai Elantra  13,820  YTD  24,720
19. Volkswagen Jetta 12,838  YTD  23,800
20. Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee 12,724  YTD  23,407

21. Nissan Rogue 13,423  YTD  23,327
22. Toyota Rav4  12,679  YTD  22,498
23. GMC Sierra  11,306  YTD  20,823
24. Chrysler Dodge Caravan  12,668  YTD  20,762   
25. Ford Explorer  10,440  YTD  20,406

26. Kia Optima 1,558  YTD  20,372
27. Toyota Tacoma  10,674  YTD  19,572
28. Nissan Versa 10,190  YTD  19,608
29. Kia Soul  10,876  YTD  18,967
30. Ford Edge  10,535  YTD  18,850

31. Nissan Sentra  10,605  YTD  17,671
32. Chrysler Jeep Wrangler  9,319  YTD 17,215
33. Chrysler 200  9,717  YTD  16,724
34. Honda Odyssey 9,566  YTD  16,464
35. Kia Sorento  8,386  YTD  15,708

36. Chrysler Town & Country  9,621  YTD  15,258
37. Honda Pilot  8,879  YTD  15,244
38. Toyota Highlander  8,156  YTD  15,012
39. GM Chevrolet Traverse  7,966  YTD  14,606
40. Volkswagen Passat  8,189  YTD  14,507

Consumer Reports' Tests Show Dodge Durango & Charger Improve Most

Over the past three years, Consumer Reports has recommended only one Chrysler-built model, the DodgeRam 1500 pickup but that is changing since all the model redesigns and new launches over the past two years. Consumer Reports found that Chrysler’s vehicles are getting better, but their level of improvement varies considerably. They tested eight Chrysler models for their current issue: Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, and Dodge Charger sedans; the Chrysler Town & Country minivan; and Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot SUVs.

The Durango (pictured above) and Charger, which received significant redesigns, have improved the most. Consumer Reports tested two all-wheel-drive versions of the large Durango, one with a V6 and the other with a V8. Their overall test scores—65 and 66, respectively—are dramatically better than the class-low 45 of the previous Durango V8. Their scores are comparable with that of the redesigned 2011 Ford Explorer (65), although they are well below rivals like the Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse.

The V6-powered Charger Rallye (pictured above) tested improved to 71, compared with the previous Charger V6’s dismal 58. It now scores close to the Ford Taurus and Buick LaCrosse. The freshened Town & Country, which is a virtual twin of the Dodge Grand Caravan, is also considerably improved, although its 17-mpg overall fuel economy remains the lowest of all minivans we’ve recently tested. Although they performed well enough, none of those three are recommended because they are too new for Consumer Reports to have reliability information.

They were not impressed with the 200, Avenger, Compass, Journey, or Patriot. Despite some improvements, they’re still mediocre overall, scoring at or near the bottom of their respective categories and too low to be recommended.

Good news on improvement for a company that was in bankruptcy two years ago.

SUV/CUV 2009 Sales Race Through October

Honda CRV, the eighth best-selling vehicle overall in 2009, leads the SUV/CUV sales race in 2009 with 158,573 sold through October, down 7.4 percent from the same ten months in 2008 but that's because the competition is heating up as SUV shoppers crossover and more entries arrive to carve up the sales pie.

Ford Escape, which Ford calls a CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle), has sales of 138,739 in 2009, up 2.3 percent from 2008, putting it in eleventh spot in overall sales, trailing CRV by less than 20,000 units in the  race.

Toyota Rav4 rounds out the top three with sales of 120,834 so far this year is a gain of 1.6 percent over 2008.

GM's Chevrolet Traverse, new to the market this year, has sold 75,156 in 2009.
Toyota's Lexus RX350 sales are at 73,641, a 7.7 percent rise from 2008.
Ford Edge sales are 72,624, a drop of 27.2 percent.
Chrysler's Jeep Wrangler sales of 70,350, is just a 2 percent drop from 2008.
Toyota Highlander sales this year are 67,463, down 24.2 percent from last year.
Subaru Forester sales are 65,610, up 33 percent from the same period a year ago.
Nissan Rogue sales are 65,570, up 8.1 percent over last year.
Hyundai Santa Fe sales are 64,515, up 6.8 percent from last year.
GM's Chevrolet Equinox sales are 63,850, up 8 percent from last year.
GM's Chevrolet Tahoe sales are 57,443, a 29.1 percent decline.
Toyota Venza, another new entry, has sales of 44,451 this year.
GM's GMC Acadia sales are 43,957, a decrease of 26.8 percent from 2008.
Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee sales are 43,146 this year, down 31 percent from 2008.
Nissan Murano sales are 43,120, a drop of 29.1 percent from 2008.
Dodge Journey sales are 41,520 in 2009, up 4 percent over last year when it came to market.
Ford Explorer, the one-time dominant SUV leader, has sales of 41,138 this year, a 39.8 percent decline from 2008.
Kia Sportage sales are at 40,042, a 37 percent jump from a year ago, just crossing the 40,000 threshold through the end of October 2009.