In order for you a Toyota SUV with seven seats, probably the most reasonably priced choices are the Highlander and the Grand Highlander. For some motive, Toyota has opted to cost each GA-Ok platform-riding SUVs carefully to one another regardless of the latter being longer, taller, and wider. So shut, in reality, that the Highlander has grow to be costlier than the Grand Highlander for 2026 – if you happen to take into account the price of entry into the nameplates.
That is as a result of for the brand new mannequin yr, Toyota has eliminated the bottom LE variant for the Highlander, whereas additionally providing all-wheel drivetrain as normal throughout the vary. With a uniform $200 enhance, the Highlander now begins at $45,270 for the XLE AWD – up by $4,950 from the $40,320 MSRP of the earlier base LE FWD – and $47,020 for the Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD. Compared, even with the worth enhance for 2026, the Grand Highlander begins at $44,130, or decrease than the beginning value of the 2026 Highlander.
|
2026 |
2025 |
Distinction |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
XLE AWD |
$45,270 |
$45,070 |
$200 |
|
XSE AWD |
$47,340 |
$47,140 |
$200 |
|
Restricted AWD |
$49,725 |
$49,525 |
$200 |
|
Platinum AWD |
$52,925 |
$52,725 |
$200 |
|
Hybrid XLE AWD |
$47,020 |
$46,820 |
$200 |
|
Hybrid Restricted AWD |
$51,475 |
$51,275 |
$200 |
|
Hybrid Platinum AWD |
$54,675 |
$54,475 |
$200 |
No Updates For 2026
In fact, shifting as much as the comparable trims put the Grand Highlander and Highlander on the identical floor, with the previous being pricier, albeit solely barely. The 2026 Grand Highlander XLE AWD is priced at $45,730, whereas the Restricted AWD sells for $50,460. The highest-spec Platinum AWD will get a price ticket of $54,545. Of observe, the costs talked about do not embody supply and dealing with charges, that are $1,450 for the Highlander and $1,500 for the Grand Highlander.
Similar to the Grand Highlander, the Highlander does not get any updates for the 2026 mannequin yr apart from the year-marking VIN tag and normal AWD. Nonetheless, Toyota has simplified the trim ranges for the seven-seat SUV, now solely accessible in XLE, XSE, Restricted, and Platinum for the pure gasoline fashions, whereas the hybrid model is out there in XLE, Restricted, and Platinum. The LE, Hybrid XLE Nightshade, and classy Hybrid Restricted twenty fifth Version have been dropped for the 2026 mannequin yr.
Toyota Highlander Gross sales Have Been Considerably Down This 12 months
Toyota’s determination to cost the Highlander at nearly the identical degree because the Grand Highlander is a bit ironic, given their gross sales numbers to this point this yr. The Grand Highlander has been promoting effectively primarily based on the January to June gross sales knowledge, shifting 65,419 items or a rise of 18.1% in comparison with the identical interval final yr. In the meantime, Highlander’s gross sales have been considerably down this yr, with Toyota solely delivering 30,056 items throughout the identical interval, representing a 50% year-on-year decline.
Whether or not this technique to extend the purpose of entry into the Highlander nameplate will work for the automaker stays to be seen, however we consider there’s one other trigger at play right here. Launched in 2019, the current-generation Highlander is beginning to age, versus the Grand Highlander, which was solely launched in 2023. Toyota could possibly be making ready to introduce a significant revamp quickly, which explains the simplification of the lineup and upcoming pricing.
The 2026 Highlander items are scheduled to achieve dealerships in November of this yr.
Supply: Toyota