2026 Toyota Highlander vs Toyota Grand Highlander: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Grand Highlander — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–0 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($42,260 vs $46,270) and more available power (362 hp vs 265 hp). The Highlander doesn't win a category on our scorecard; it makes sense mainly if you find a meaningfully better deal on one locally.
Scorecard: Highlander 0 pts · Grand Highlander 4 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 Highlander | 2026 Grand Highlander | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $46,270 | $42,260 | Grand Highlander |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.39 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 52.7% | — | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 35 mpg | 36 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 265 hp | 362 hp | Grand Highlander |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | Tie |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 16 cu ft | 20.6 cu ft | Grand Highlander |
| Standard seats (1) | 7 | 7 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 1% off MSRP | 0.9% off MSRP | Tie |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 10 | — | No data |
| Weighted points | 0 | 4 | Grand Highlander |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — Highlander 35 mpg vs Grand Highlander 36 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Grand Highlander — 20.6 cu ft vs 16 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Grand Highlander — $42,260 vs $46,270 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Highlander 5,000 lb vs Grand Highlander 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Highlander starts at $46,270 and tops out at $55,675; the Grand Highlander runs $42,260 to $60,175 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Highlander buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP across 19 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 3.5% off. Verified Grand Highlander buyers paid a median 0.9% off MSRP across 29 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 2% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Highlander: 0.39 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 67th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Grand Highlander: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Highlander 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 Highlander | 2026 Grand Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $46,270 | $42,260 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $55,675 | $60,175 |
| Horsepower | 243–265 hp | 245–362 hp |
| Max torque | 310 lb-ft | 400 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 24–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 22–36 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 7 / 8 | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 16 cu ft | 20.6 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Highlander | Grand Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 194.9 in | 201.4 in |
| Width | 76 in | 78.3 in |
| Height | 68.1 in | 72.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in | 116.1 in |
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 8 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Highlander lists for a median $30,260 — 52.7% of today's median new price of $57,374. There's no 5-year retention figure for the Grand Highlander yet.
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More on the Toyota Highlander
More on the Toyota Grand Highlander
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Highlander better than the Grand Highlander?
On our data, no — the Grand Highlander comes out ahead. Our pick: the Grand Highlander — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–0 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($42,260 vs $46,270) and more available power (362 hp vs 265 hp). The Highlander doesn't win a category on our scorecard; it makes sense mainly if you find a meaningfully better deal on one locally.
Which is more reliable, the Highlander or the Grand Highlander?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the Highlander or the Grand Highlander?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the Highlander or the Grand Highlander?
The Grand Highlander starts lower: $42,260 vs $46,270 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP on the Highlander (19 deals) and 0.9% on the Grand Highlander (29 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the Highlander or the Grand Highlander?
It's a wash: 35 mpg vs 36 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026 Toyota Highlander vs Toyota Grand Highlander: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/toyota-highlander-vs-toyota-grand-highlander, updated November 8, 2026.