2026 Toyota RAV4 vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the RAV4 — it leads our weighted scorecard 10.5–2 across 10 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($31,900 vs $46,270) and fewer NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (0.18 vs 0.39). Choose the Highlander if you tow (5,000 lb vs 3,500 lb max).
Scorecard: RAV4 10.5 pts · Highlander 2 pts across 10 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 RAV4 | 2026 Highlander | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $31,900 | $46,270 | RAV4 |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.18 | 0.39 | RAV4 |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 63.7% | 52.7% | RAV4 |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 43 mpg | 35 mpg | RAV4 |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 324 hp | 265 hp | RAV4 |
| Max towing (1) | 3,500 lb | 5,000 lb | Highlander |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 37.8 cu ft | 16 cu ft | RAV4 |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 7 | Highlander |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 2.2% off MSRP | 1% off MSRP | RAV4 |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 5 | 10 | RAV4 |
| Weighted points | 10.5 | 2 | RAV4 |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the RAV4 — 43 mpg vs 35 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Highlander — 7 vs 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the RAV4 — $31,900 vs $46,270 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $28,621 for the RAV4 vs $27,723 for the Highlander.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the RAV4 — 63.7% vs 52.7% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Highlander — 5,000 lb vs 3,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The RAV4 starts at $31,900 and tops out at $48,500; the Highlander runs $46,270 to $55,675 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified RAV4 buyers paid a median 2.2% off MSRP across 70 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 4.2% off. Verified Highlander buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP across 19 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 3.5% off. Used, the median asking price is $28,621 for the RAV4 and $27,723 for the Highlander (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- RAV4: 0.18 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 98th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Highlander: 0.39 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 67th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: RAV4 5, Highlander 10.
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 RAV4 | 2026 Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $31,900 | $46,270 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $48,500 | $55,675 |
| Horsepower | 226–324 hp | 243–265 hp |
| Max torque | 170 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 38–43 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 24–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 3,500 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Max payload | 1,340 lb | — |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 37.8 cu ft | 16 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| RAV4 | Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 181 in | 194.9 in |
| Width | 73 in | 76 in |
| Height | 66.5 in | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.9 in | 112.2 in |
| Ground clearance | 8.1 in | 8 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) RAV4 lists for a median $26,414 — 63.7% of today's median new price of $41,446. A 5-year-old (2021) Highlander lists for a median $30,260 — 52.7% of today's median new price of $57,374.
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More on the Toyota RAV4
More on the Toyota Highlander
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the RAV4 better than the Highlander?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the RAV4 — it leads our weighted scorecard 10.5–2 across 10 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($31,900 vs $46,270) and fewer NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (0.18 vs 0.39). Choose the Highlander if you tow (5,000 lb vs 3,500 lb max).
Which is more reliable, the RAV4 or the Highlander?
On federal data, the RAV4: owners filed 0.18 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold versus 0.39 for the Highlander (2015–2022 sales years). That's complaint volume, not a survey score. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 RAV4 and 10 for the Highlander.
Which holds its value better, the RAV4 or the Highlander?
The RAV4: a 5-year-old example lists for 63.7% 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 RAV4 or the Highlander?
The RAV4 starts lower: $31,900 vs $46,270 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 2.2% off MSRP on the RAV4 (70 deals) and 1% on the Highlander (19 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the RAV4 or the Highlander?
The RAV4: up to 43 mpg combined vs 35 mpg for the Highlander (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 Toyota RAV4 vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/toyota-rav4-vs-toyota-highlander, updated November 8, 2026.