2026–27 Toyota Highlander vs Toyota Sequoia: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Sequoia — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–3.5 across 6 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (55% vs 52.7%) and more available power (437 hp vs 265 hp). Choose the Highlander if the lower sticker matters most ($46,270 vs $69,900 to start).
Scorecard: Highlander 3.5 pts · Sequoia 4 pts across 6 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 Highlander | 2027 Sequoia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $46,270 | $69,900 | Highlander |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.39 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 52.7% | 55% | Sequoia |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 35 mpg | 22 mpg | Highlander |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 265 hp | 437 hp | Sequoia |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 9,120 lb | Sequoia |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 16 cu ft | — | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | 7 | — | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 1% off MSRP | — | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 10 | 0 | Sequoia |
| Weighted points | 3.5 | 4 | Sequoia |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Highlander — 35 mpg vs 22 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Highlander — $46,270 vs $69,900 (starting MSRP).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Sequoia — 55% vs 52.7% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Sequoia — 9,120 lb vs 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Highlander starts at $46,270 and tops out at $55,675; the Sequoia runs $69,900 to $87,900 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Highlander buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP across 19 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 3.5% 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).
- Sequoia: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Highlander 10, Sequoia 0.
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 | 2027 Sequoia | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $46,270 | $69,900 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $55,675 | $87,900 |
| Horsepower | 243–265 hp | 437 hp |
| Max torque | 310 lb-ft | 583 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 24–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 20–22 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 9,120 lb |
| Max payload | — | 1,555 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 7 / 8 | — / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 16 cu ft | — |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
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. A 5-year-old (2021) Sequoia lists for a median $47,990 — 55% of today's median new price of $87,274.
Shop both
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More on the Toyota Highlander
More on the Toyota Sequoia
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Highlander better than the Sequoia?
On our data, no — the Sequoia comes out ahead. Our pick: the Sequoia — it leads our weighted scorecard 4–3.5 across 6 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (55% vs 52.7%) and more available power (437 hp vs 265 hp). Choose the Highlander if the lower sticker matters most ($46,270 vs $69,900 to start).
Which is more reliable, the Highlander or the Sequoia?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Highlander and 0 for the Sequoia.
Which holds its value better, the Highlander or the Sequoia?
The Sequoia: a 5-year-old example lists for 55% of the new price, versus 52.7% for the Highlander, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Highlander or the Sequoia?
The Highlander starts lower: $46,270 vs $69,900 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Highlander or the Sequoia?
The Highlander: up to 35 mpg combined vs 22 mpg for the Sequoia (best EPA rating across each lineup).
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, "2026–27 Toyota Highlander vs Toyota Sequoia: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/toyota-highlander-vs-toyota-sequoia, updated November 8, 2026.