Toyota Highlander Pricing Soars, Now Costs More Than The Grand Highlander

Toyota Highlander sales are down nearly 50% this year, so it comes as little surprise the company is making adjustments for 2026. These aren’t necessarily welcome developments as consumer choice has been reduced, while the cost of entry has soared by nearly $5,000.

The big news on the gas side is the elimination of the LE trim, which started at $40,320. The Hybrid lineup has also been streamlined as the XLE Nightshade and Limited 25^th Edition are no more.

More: Toyota’s Second Best-Selling Crossover Just Got More Expensive

On top of that, the Highlander is now available exclusively with all-wheel drive. Between this and the elimination of the base model, the starting price has soared to $45,270 for an increase of $4,950.

That’s a huge jump and it means the Highlander now costs thousands more than the Grand Highlander. The larger three-row crossover begins at $41,360 and you can get an all-wheel drive variant for $42,960. In fact, the Grand Highlander XLE AWD is only $460 more than the Highlander XLE AWD. It’s almost like Toyota is begging customers not to buy the smaller model.

That appears to be the extent of the changes for 2026, so customers will find two familiar powertrain options. This includes a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that develops 265 hp (198 kW / 269 PS) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel drive system, which enables the crossover to return 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

Customers can also opt for a Highlander Hybrid, which has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, a nickel metal hydride battery, and a rear-mounted electric motor. This gives the model a combined output of 243 hp (181 kW / 246 PS) as well as a fuel economy rating of up to 35 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, 35 mpg combined.

2026 Toyota Highlander Pricing

Prices exclude a $1,495 destination fee