Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander: Which Toyota 3-Row SUV Should You Buy?
Published October 22, 2026 · Last updated October 30, 2026
Buy the Grand Highlander if adults ride in your third row or you need real cargo space; buy the Highlander if you want the smaller, easier-to-park SUV with the same engines. In the Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander matchup, the biggest difference is size: the Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer, with 33.5 inches of third-row legroom against 28.0 and 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space against 84.3. The Grand Highlander starts lower, at $42,560, because it offers a front-wheel-drive LE, while the 2026 Highlander comes only with all-wheel drive from $46,270. Matched trim for trim with AWD, the Highlander costs $760 to $1,820 less.
Highlander or Grand Highlander: The Short Answer
- Choose the Grand Highlander if you use all three rows: an adult-sized third row, 20.6 cubic feet behind it against 16.0, a 12.3-inch touchscreen and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 on every trim, and a lower starting price.
- Choose the Highlander if the third row is occasional and you park on the street: it is 6.5 inches shorter, matched trim for trim with AWD it costs $760 to $1,820 less, and a 2026 model still includes two years of ToyotaCare maintenance.
- Best performance: the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX, with 362 hp and a 5,000-pound tow rating.
- Our take: for most New York families, the Grand Highlander is the better buy.
Model-year timing: We compare the 2026 Highlander, the last Highlander with gas and hybrid power, with the 2027 Grand Highlander, priced in Toyota's October 1, 2026 release. The 2027 Highlander goes all-electric, with pricing not yet announced as of October 30, 2026; see our 2027 Highlander EV guide and 2027 Grand Highlander guide. Prices exclude the $1,595 destination charge, the same for both. Browse Highlander inventory, Grand Highlander inventory, all new Toyotas or current specials.
Highlander vs Grand Highlander at a Glance
| Spec | 2026 Toyota Highlander | 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $46,270 (AWD); hybrid $48,020 | $42,560 FWD; $44,160 AWD; hybrid $45,910 | Grand Highlander |
| Price range | $46,270–$55,675 | $42,560–$60,475 | — |
| Engines | 265-hp 2.4L turbo; 243-hp hybrid | 265-hp 2.4L turbo; 245-hp hybrid; 362-hp Hybrid MAX | Grand Highlander |
| Drive | AWD standard | FWD or AWD | Split |
| EPA mpg (combined, AWD) | Gas 24; hybrid 35 | Gas 23; hybrid 34 (36 FWD) | Tie |
| Fuel | Regular | Regular (gas, hybrid) | Tie |
| 0–60 mph (Car and Driver) | 7.2 s (2023 gas) | 7.0 s (2024 gas); 5.8 s (Hybrid MAX) | Grand Highlander |
| Length / wheelbase | 194.9 / 112.2 in | 201.4 / 116.1 in | Highlander (parking) |
| Seats | 7 or 8 | 7 or 8 | Tie |
| Third-row legroom | 28.0 in | 33.5 in | Grand Highlander |
| Cargo (behind 3rd / 2nd / 1st row) | 16.0 / 48.4 / 84.3 cu ft | 20.6 / 57.9 / 97.5 cu ft | Grand Highlander |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb; hybrid 3,500 | 5,000 lb; hybrid 3,500; MAX 5,000 | Tie |
| Ground clearance | 8.0 in | 8.0 in; Woodland 8.5 in | Tie |
| Touchscreen / safety suite | 8 or 12.3 in; TSS 2.5+ | 12.3 in on every trim; TSS 3.0 | Grand Highlander |
| IIHS 2026 / NHTSA | No award / 5 stars | No award / 5 stars (2027) | Tie |
| Brand reliability (RepairPal) | Toyota 4.0/5, 8th of 32 brands | Tie | |
| 5-year depreciation (iSeeCars) | 36.7% | 29.5% | Grand Highlander |
| Warranty (basic / powertrain) | 3 yr/36,000 mi / 5 yr/60,000 mi; hybrid battery 10 yr/150,000 mi | Tie | |
| ToyotaCare maintenance | 2 yr/25,000 mi (2026 models) | 1 yr/10,000 mi (2027 models) | Highlander |
Want Today's Price on a Highlander or Grand Highlander?
Send the trim you are leaning toward, gas or hybrid, and how to reach you. A Plaza Toyota specialist replies with stock, our price with current incentives and a test-drive slot, normally within an hour while we are open. Torn between the two? Tell us who rides in your third row and we will quote both side by side, with no deposit.
Is the Grand Highlander Bigger Than the Highlander?
The Grand Highlander is bigger in every direction: 6.5 inches longer, 2.3 inches wider and 2.0 inches taller, on a wheelbase stretched by 3.9 inches.
On New York streets, the Highlander slips into a tight parallel spot in Astoria or a narrow Midtown garage space more easily. The Grand Highlander spends its extra length on the third row and cargo area. If even the Highlander feels too big, see Toyota RAV4 vs Highlander.
| Dimension | 2026 Highlander | 2027 Grand Highlander | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 194.9 in | 201.4 in | +6.5 in |
| Width | 76.0 in | 78.3 in | +2.3 in |
| Height | 68.1 in | 70.1 in | +2.0 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in | 116.1 in | +3.9 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.0 in | 8.0 in (Woodland 8.5 in) | Same |
Which Has the Roomier Third Row?
This is the clearest difference. The Grand Highlander's third row offers 33.5 inches of legroom, 5.5 more than the Highlander's 28.0, and its second row has 39.5 inches against 38.7. Edmunds rates the Highlander's third row as best for children and calls the Grand Highlander's comfortable for adults (Highlander, Grand Highlander).
Both seat seven or eight. The Highlander comes with second-row captain's chairs, with an eight-seat bench available on some grades; the Grand Highlander LE seats eight, and the Woodland Edition and Platinum seat seven.
Which Has More Cargo Space?
The Grand Highlander wins every cargo measurement. Behind the third row it holds 20.6 cubic feet against 16.0, room for a folded stroller plus a week of groceries. The gap grows with the seats folded: 57.9 against 48.4, then 97.5 against 84.3.
| Cargo area | 2026 Highlander | 2027 Grand Highlander | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind 3rd row | 16.0 cu ft | 20.6 cu ft | +4.6 cu ft |
| Behind 2nd row | 48.4 cu ft | 57.9 cu ft | +9.5 cu ft |
| Behind 1st row | 84.3 cu ft | 97.5 cu ft | +13.2 cu ft |
Which Has More Power and Towing Capacity?
The gas engines are identical: a 2.4-liter turbo four with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft and an eight-speed automatic. Every 2026 Highlander has AWD, with torque vectoring on the XSE, Limited and Platinum; the gas Grand Highlander offers front-wheel drive or AWD. In Car and Driver testing, a 2024 Grand Highlander XLE reached 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and a 2023 Highlander Platinum in 7.2 (via 0-60 Specs: Highlander, Grand Highlander).
Highlander Hybrid vs Grand Highlander Hybrid is just as close: a 2.5-liter hybrid with 243 hp in the Highlander and 245 hp in the Grand Highlander, both with an eCVT. Only the Grand Highlander offers the Hybrid MAX, a turbo hybrid with 362 hp, 400 lb-ft and a six-speed automatic that Car and Driver clocked at 5.8 seconds to 60 mph. Both gas models tow 5,000 pounds and both regular hybrids 3,500; the Hybrid MAX tows 5,000.
Which Gets Better Gas Mileage?
The two are within 1 mpg, and both run on regular fuel. With AWD, the gas Highlander is rated 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined and the gas Grand Highlander 21/27/23 (21/28/24 with FWD). The Highlander Hybrid is rated 35 mpg combined; the Grand Highlander Hybrid is rated 34 with AWD and 36 as a front-wheel-drive Hybrid XLE, and the Hybrid MAX 27.
| Version | Combined mpg | Gallons a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander gas AWD | 24 | 500 | $2,177 |
| Grand Highlander gas AWD | 23 | 522 | $2,272 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD | 35 | 343 | $1,493 |
| Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD | 34 | 353 | $1,537 |
| Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE FWD | 36 | 333 | $1,452 |
The AWD Highlander saves about $95 a year as a gas model and $44 as a hybrid. Either hybrid saves about $685 to $735 a year over gas.
Which Has Better Tech and Safety?
The Grand Highlander has the newer technology: a 12.3-inch touchscreen, seven USB-C ports and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 on every trim. The Highlander starts with an 8-inch touchscreen on the XLE and XSE (12.3 inches on Limited and Platinum) and uses Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+.
Neither earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Highlander was rated Marginal in the updated moderate overlap test for rear-passenger protection; the Grand Highlander was rated Acceptable in the driver-side small overlap test and Good in the others. Both have five-star overall NHTSA ratings (2026 Highlander, 2027 Grand Highlander).
Which Is More Reliable and Holds Its Value Better?
RepairPal rates Toyota 4.0 out of 5, eighth of 32 brands, and estimates Highlander repairs at $489 a year. iSeeCars gives the Highlander a 7.8 out of 10 reliability score and a 39.6% chance of reaching 200,000 miles; neither source has model-level data yet for the Grand Highlander, launched for 2024. Resale favors the Grand Highlander: iSeeCars projects it loses 29.5% over five years against 36.7% for the Highlander.
The factory warranty is identical: 3 years or 36,000 miles bumper to bumper, 5 years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain and 10 years or 150,000 miles on the hybrid battery. ToyotaCare is not. A 2026 Highlander includes scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles (Toyota), while the 2027 Grand Highlander gets 1 year or 10,000 miles (Toyota); both add 2 years of roadside assistance. Toyota Certified Gold used models add a 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (certified inventory).
Which Costs Less, Trim for Trim?
The Grand Highlander starts lower because it still offers a front-wheel-drive LE at $42,560 and an LE AWD at $44,160, while the Highlander starts with the XLE AWD at $46,270. Matched trim for trim with AWD, the Highlander costs less: $760 as an XLE, $935 as a Limited and $1,820 as a Platinum, with the same $760 and $935 gaps between the hybrids. More detail: Toyota Highlander & Grand Highlander Trims Compared.
2026 Toyota Highlander trims
| Trim | MSRP | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| XLE | $46,270 | 265-hp turbo, 8-in touchscreen |
| XSE | $48,340 | Sport styling, torque-vectoring AWD |
| Limited | $50,725 | 12.3-in screen and cluster, JBL audio |
| Platinum | $53,925 | Adds head-up display |
| Hybrid XLE / Limited / Platinum | $48,020 / $52,475 / $55,675 | 243-hp hybrid, 35 mpg combined |
2027 Toyota Grand Highlander trims
| Trim | MSRP | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| LE | $42,560 FWD; $44,160 AWD | 8 seats, 12.3-in touchscreen, TSS 3.0 |
| XLE | $45,430 FWD; $47,030 AWD | Captain's chairs, heated steering wheel |
| Limited | $50,060 FWD; $51,660 AWD | Digital cluster, JBL audio |
| Platinum | $55,745 (AWD) | Head-up display, 360-degree camera |
| Hybrid LE / XLE | LE AWD $45,910 · XLE $47,180 FWD / $48,780 AWD | 245-hp hybrid, up to 36 mpg |
| Hybrid Woodland Edition | $51,780 (AWD) | New: 8.5-in clearance, all-terrain tires |
| Hybrid Limited | $53,410 (AWD) | Limited equipment, hybrid |
| Hybrid MAX Platinum | $60,475 (AWD) | 362 hp, 5,000-lb towing |
Before you come in, look over this month's Toyota specials in Brooklyn, run a Toyota finance pre-approval and get an estimate for your trade-in.
Highlander and Grand Highlander Inventory at Plaza Toyota
Below are the Highlanders and Grand Highlanders on our Nostrand Avenue lot, including the final gas and hybrid Highlanders and the Grand Highlander Hybrid. Call (855) 529-1806 to line them up side by side. Delivery is free within 25 miles.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Grand Highlander if your family uses all three rows: it has the adult-friendly third row, much more cargo space, newer tech, the only Hybrid MAX and stronger projected resale, and it starts at a lower price. Buy the Highlander if you want a three-row Toyota that is easier to park, you use the third row only now and then, and you would rather save $760 to $1,820 on a matched AWD trim and keep two years of ToyotaCare. For most New York families, the Grand Highlander is our pick.
Most room for the money
33.5-in third-row legroom, 97.5 cu ft of cargo and TSS 3.0, from $42,560 (AWD from $44,160).
Easier to park
6.5 in shorter, standard AWD and the same 265-hp turbo, from $46,270.
Up to 36 mpg
36 mpg combined with FWD, from $47,180.
362 hp
400 lb-ft, 5.8 seconds to 60 mph in Car and Driver testing and a 5,000-lb tow rating.
Final Scorecard
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Grand Highlander | From $42,560 (AWD $44,160) vs $46,270 |
| Price by matched trim | Highlander | $760 to $1,820 less |
| City size | Highlander | 6.5 in shorter, 2.3 in narrower |
| Third row and seating | Grand Highlander | 33.5 vs 28.0 in of legroom |
| Cargo | Grand Highlander | 20.6 / 97.5 vs 16.0 / 84.3 cu ft |
| Fuel economy | Tie | Within 1 mpg; both on regular fuel |
| Performance and towing | Grand Highlander | 362-hp Hybrid MAX; 5,000 lb hybrid towing |
| Technology | Grand Highlander | 12.3-in screen and TSS 3.0 on every trim |
| Safety ratings | Tie | 5-star NHTSA; no 2026 IIHS award for either |
| Complimentary maintenance | Highlander | ToyotaCare 2 yr/25,000 mi vs 1 yr/10,000 mi |
| Resale value | Grand Highlander | 29.5% vs 36.7% 5-year depreciation |
| Overall for NYC families | Grand Highlander | More space for less to start |
Still deciding? Compare grades in Highlander & Grand Highlander Trims Compared, see the Grand Highlander against Toyota's biggest SUV in Toyota Grand Highlander vs Sequoia, or read Toyota Highlander vs 4Runner and Toyota RAV4 vs Highlander.
Delivered free within 25 miles. We bring your new or used Toyota to your door at no charge anywhere inside 25 miles, which reaches most of the five boroughs and part of Nassau County. For maintenance, our service team can collect it anywhere in the NYC metro area.
Ask Our Team About DeliveryToyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander?
Size, mainly. The Grand Highlander is 6.5 inches longer, with 33.5 inches of third-row legroom against 28.0 and up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space against 84.3. Both use the same 265-hp turbo four and offer a hybrid, but only the Grand Highlander offers the 362-hp Hybrid MAX, front-wheel drive and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. The 2026 Highlander starts at $46,270 with AWD; the 2027 Grand Highlander starts at $42,560.
Which is bigger, the Highlander or the Grand Highlander?
The Grand Highlander. It is 201.4 inches long on a 116.1-inch wheelbase, against 194.9 and 112.2 inches for the Highlander, and holds 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row against 16.0. The Highlander's smaller size makes it easier to park on city streets.
Which gets better MPG, Highlander or Grand Highlander?
They are within 1 mpg. With AWD, the gas Highlander is rated 24 mpg combined against 23, and the Highlander Hybrid 35 against 34. The front-wheel-drive Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE is the best of either, at 36 mpg combined.
Which is the better value?
For most families, the Grand Highlander: it starts lower, at $42,560 with front-wheel drive and $44,160 with AWD against $46,270, it has much more third-row and cargo space, and iSeeCars projects 29.5% five-year depreciation against 36.7%. Matched trim for trim with AWD, the Highlander costs $760 to $1,820 less, so it is the better value if you don't need the room.
How does the Highlander Hybrid compare with the Grand Highlander Hybrid?
Both use a 2.5-liter hybrid with an eCVT, 243 hp in the Highlander and 245 hp in the Grand Highlander, and both tow 3,500 pounds. The Highlander Hybrid is rated 35 mpg combined from $48,020; the Grand Highlander Hybrid is rated 34 with AWD from $45,910, or 36 as a front-wheel-drive Hybrid XLE. Only the Grand Highlander adds the 362-hp Hybrid MAX.
2026 Toyota Highlander vs Grand Highlander: is the 2026 the last gas and hybrid Highlander?
Yes. The 2027 Highlander is all-electric, with up to 320 miles of estimated range and pricing not announced as of October 30, 2026. From 2027, Toyota's gas and hybrid three-row SUV is the Grand Highlander, which keeps gas, hybrid and Hybrid MAX power.
Test-Drive the Highlander and Grand Highlander at Plaza Toyota
Come to Plaza Toyota at 2721 Nostrand Ave in Brooklyn, drive both SUVs back to back and fit your own car seats in the third row. We are part of Plaza Auto Mall, a family business on Nostrand Avenue since 1975, and we deliver free within 25 miles. No Hassle, No Pressure, No Middlemen. Sales line: (855) 529-1806.
*Prices are manufacturer MSRPs and leave out the $1,595 destination charge (the same for both SUVs), taxes, title and registration. Data as of October 30, 2026; sources are linked in each table. EPA estimates are for comparison; real-world mileage varies. Ask the dealer for details.
