2026–27 Toyota Land Cruiser 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 5.5–3 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($42,260 vs $58,180) and better fuel economy (36 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the Land Cruiser if you tow (6,000 lb vs 5,000 lb max).
Scorecard: Land Cruiser 3 pts · Grand Highlander 5.5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Land Cruiser | 2026 Grand Highlander | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $58,180 | $42,260 | Grand Highlander |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 23 mpg | 36 mpg | Grand Highlander |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 326 hp | 362 hp | Grand Highlander |
| Max towing (1) | 6,000 lb | 5,000 lb | Land Cruiser |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 46.2 cu ft | 20.6 cu ft | Land Cruiser |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 7 | Grand Highlander |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 2.8% off MSRP | 0.9% off MSRP | Land Cruiser |
| Weighted points | 3 | 5.5 | Grand Highlander |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Grand Highlander — 36 mpg vs 23 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Grand Highlander — 7 vs 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Grand Highlander — $42,260 vs $58,180 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: the Land Cruiser — 6,000 lb vs 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Land Cruiser starts at $58,180 and tops out at $64,255; the Grand Highlander runs $42,260 to $60,175 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Land Cruiser buyers paid a median 2.8% off MSRP across 93 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 4.6% 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
- Land Cruiser: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Grand Highlander: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Land Cruiser | 2026 Grand Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $58,180 | $42,260 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $64,255 | $60,175 |
| Horsepower | 326 hp | 245–362 hp |
| Max torque | 465 lb-ft | 400 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 22–36 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 6,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Max payload | 1,365 lb | — |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 46.2 cu ft | 20.6 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Land Cruiser | Grand Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 196.4 in | 201.4 in |
| Width | 77.9 in | 78.3 in |
| Height | 75.7 in | 72.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in | 116.1 in |
| Ground clearance | 7.9 in | 8 in |
Shop both
- See 4,144 new 2027 Toyota Land Cruisers for sale →Median listed price $73,518 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See new 2026 Toyota Grand Highlanders for sale →
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Toyota Land Cruiser
More on the Toyota Grand Highlander
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Land Cruiser 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 5.5–3 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($42,260 vs $58,180) and better fuel economy (36 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined). Choose the Land Cruiser if you tow (6,000 lb vs 5,000 lb max).
Which is more reliable, the Land Cruiser 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 Land Cruiser or the Grand Highlander?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the Land Cruiser or the Grand Highlander?
The Grand Highlander starts lower: $42,260 vs $58,180 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 2.8% off MSRP on the Land Cruiser (93 deals) and 0.9% on the Grand Highlander (29 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the Land Cruiser or the Grand Highlander?
The Grand Highlander: up to 36 mpg combined vs 23 mpg for the Land Cruiser (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 Land Cruiser vs Toyota Grand Highlander: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/toyota-land-cruiser-vs-toyota-grand-highlander, updated November 8, 2026.