2026 vs 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander: What Changed
By Plaza Toyota · Updated November 3, 2026 · 2721 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
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Call (855) 529-1806For Our Best DealThe 2026 vs 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander decision is mostly about the lineup, not the hardware. Body, engines, cabin dimensions and safety tech all carry over. What moves is the menu of trims: a rugged Woodland Edition hybrid arrives, two hybrid versions leave, the XLE picks up equipment and the entry LE costs about $300 more.
So the real question for a family on a budget is simple: is anything new for 2027 worth more than a discount on a 2026 sitting on our Brooklyn lot today? Here is what changed and how we would decide.
2026 vs 2027 Grand Highlander at a glance
| Feature | 2026 Grand Highlander | 2027 Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | LE, XLE, Limited, Platinum, Hybrid Nightshade | LE, XLE, Woodland Edition, Limited, Platinum |
| Hybrid MAX | Limited and Platinum | Platinum only |
| New grade | — | Hybrid Woodland Edition (AWD) |
| Dropped | — | Hybrid Nightshade, Hybrid MAX Limited |
| XLE heated wheel | Limited and Platinum only | Standard from XLE up |
| Engines | 2.4L turbo 265 hp; hybrid 245 hp; Hybrid MAX 362 hp | Unchanged |
| Towing | 5,000 lb (gas, MAX); 3,500 lb (hybrid) | Unchanged |
| Safety / screen | Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, 12.3-inch touchscreen; no 2026 IIHS award | Unchanged |
| Seats / max cargo | 7 or 8; 97.5 cu ft | Unchanged |
| Starting MSRP | $41,360 at launch, raised once mid-year | $42,560 (LE FWD) |
New for 2027: Woodland Edition hybrid
Woodland is Toyota's outdoorsy badge, already used on the RAV4 and bZ, and it now lands on the biggest three-row crossover in the showroom. It is sold only as a hybrid with all-wheel drive, so it shares the 245-hp powertrain and Toyota's 34-mpg combined estimate with other hybrid AWD grades.
The changes are about rough roads and muddy gear, not rock crawling:
- Half an inch of extra ground clearance from taller springs and all-terrain tires on matte black 18-inch wheels
- Black badges, mirror caps, shark-fin antenna, window and headlight trim, plus roof rails with cross bars
- LED fog lamps, mud guards and a tow hitch
- Black leather-trimmed seats, captain's chairs in the second row and a heated steering wheel
- A removable second-row console that doubles as a cooler for six 12-oz cans, Woodland floor mats, a cargo tray with pop-up dividers and brighter cargo lighting
- A 120V/1500W outlet for a laptop, camp lights or an inflator for a kayak
Hybrid towing stays at 3,500 lb, so Woodland suits a small utility trailer or a pair of jet skis better than a camper. Toyota's release doesn't price each grade; published price tables put Woodland at $51,780, which is $3,000 above a Hybrid XLE with AWD.
Powertrains: turbo, hybrid, Hybrid MAX
Nothing changes under the hood. Both years offer the same three choices:
- 2.4L turbo four, 265 hp: FWD or AWD, 5,000-lb towing, 24 mpg combined with FWD and 23 with AWD on 2027 estimates.
- 2.5L hybrid, 245 hp: the fuel saver, up to 36 mpg combined on a front-drive XLE and 34 with AWD; 3,500-lb towing.
- Hybrid MAX, 362 hp: the quick one, with full-time AWD, 5,000-lb towing and 27 mpg combined.
The shift is in where Hybrid MAX lives. A 2026 buyer could get it on a Limited; for 2027 it is Platinum-only at $60,475. If you want MAX power without Platinum money, a new 2026 Hybrid MAX Limited from dealer stock is now the only way to get it.
Trims & Platinum
Below the Woodland, the 2027 changes are equipment tweaks rather than new grades:
- XLE (gas and hybrid): a heated steering wheel becomes standard, along with new 18-inch dark gray wheels. On the 2026, a heated wheel was reserved for Limited and Platinum.
- Gas Platinum: a new wheel design.
- Hybrid MAX Platinum: chrome, silver and gunmetal trim give way to black on the grille mesh, hood trim, roof rails, window trim, mirror caps and antenna.
The blacked-out MAX Platinum effectively absorbs the look of the departing Hybrid Nightshade. If you liked the Nightshade's dark trim but not a top-trim price, a leftover 2026 Nightshade is the cheaper route.
Seating & cargo
Space is identical across both model years, which is good news, because space is why people buy this SUV. The third row offers 33.5 inches of legroom and 37.2 inches of headroom, enough for adults on a ride to JFK. With all three rows up, Toyota says it swallows seven carry-on suitcases, and folding the rear seats opens 97.5 cubic feet.
Seat counts follow the trim. An LE seats eight with a second-row bench, an XLE offers either eight seats or seven with captain's chairs, and the Woodland comes only as a seven-seater. If you need eight seats for a car-pool rotation, skip the Woodland.
Safety hardware is shared too: Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on both years. Note that the Grand Highlander does not appear on the IIHS 2026 Top Safety Pick list.
2026 vs 2027 prices
Toyota launched the 2026 lineup at $41,360 for a gas LE and $44,710 for a Hybrid LE, then raised prices once during the model year. Against the latest 2026 sticker, the 2027 gas LE costs about $300 more, according to Carscoops. Against 2026 launch pricing, both LE versions are $1,200 higher. Compare your exact grade on Toyota's full-line pricing sheet.
| 2027 grade | FWD | AWD |
|---|---|---|
| LE | $42,560 | $44,160 |
| XLE | $45,430 | $47,030 |
| Limited | $50,060 | $51,660 |
| Platinum | — | $55,745 |
| Hybrid LE | — | $45,910 |
| Hybrid XLE | $47,180 | $48,780 |
| Hybrid Woodland Edition | — | $51,780 |
| Hybrid Limited | — | $53,410 |
| Hybrid MAX Platinum | — | $60,475 |
For grade-by-grade equipment and arrival updates, see our 2027 Grand Highlander trims and release-date guide. This page focuses on the 2026-or-2027 decision.
Buy a 2026 now or wait for a 2027?
Buy a 2026 Grand Highlander now if:
- You want a Hybrid MAX Limited or a Hybrid Nightshade, since neither returns for 2027.
- You'd rather put the price gap toward current Toyota offers on an outgoing model year.
- You need eight seats or a gas engine and don't care about a heated wheel on the XLE.
Wait for a 2027 if:
- You want the Woodland Edition's extra clearance, all-terrain tires and outdoor kit.
- You're buying an XLE and want the heated steering wheel as standard.
- You prefer the blacked-out look of the 2027 Hybrid MAX Platinum.
Either way, get your trade appraised first; it usually moves the monthly payment more than the model-year gap does.
Get Plaza Pricing on a 2026 or 2027 Grand Highlander
Tell us the grade, powertrain and seat count you need. We'll quote a 2026 from stock and let you know when 2027 models reach Nostrand Avenue.
Toyota Grand Highlander 2026 vs 2027: FAQs
What is the difference between the 2026 and 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander?
What is the Grand Highlander Woodland Edition?
Is the 2027 Grand Highlander more expensive?
Plaza Toyota is part of Plaza Auto Mall, family-run on Nostrand Avenue since 1975. If you are shopping three-row SUVs, the competition is a short walk away, so you can sit in each third row the same afternoon.
Cross-shop the Honda Pilot at Plaza Honda, the 2027 Kia Telluride and the 2027 Hyundai Palisade. Need sliding doors instead? Look at the 2027 Toyota Sienna.
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Sources: Toyota Newsroom, 2027 Grand Highlander announcement (Oct 1, 2026) and 2026 Grand Highlander announcement (Jul 31, 2025); Toyota full-line pricing; Carscoops 2027 price table (Oct 2, 2026); IIHS 2026 Top Safety Picks.
Toyota Grand Highlander Inventory in Brooklyn, NY
These Grand Highlanders are on the lot at 2721 Nostrand Avenue. Ask about incoming 2027 models; delivery is free within 25 miles.
