Toyota Highlander
There are two basic engines offered in the 2026 Toyota Highlander. The base engine is a 2.4L 4-cylinder making 265 horsepower, sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The optional hybrid engine is a 2.5L 4-cylinder, aided by two electric motors for a total of 243 horsepower. Toyota estimates around 35 mpg in combined city and highway driving for the Highlander hybrid, an astounding number for an SUV capable of transporting up to eight people.
There are four basic trim levels for the Highlander: XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum, though Hybrid versions of the Highlander come in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims.
The Highlander features 18-in alloy wheels, a powered moonroof, eight airbags, smart key system with push-button start, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, LED projector headlights, LED taillights, rearview camera with a dedicated washer jet, selectable driving modes, tri-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable heated driver's and front passenger's seats, simulated leather upholstery for the first two seating rows row bench seats, Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, hill-start assist, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, wireless charging, satellite radio, a 6-speaker audio system, a powered lift gate, LED fog lights, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
XSE trim level ups the stakes even more with a sport-tuned suspension and steering system, trim-specific 20-inch alloy wheels, twin exhaust tips, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, ambient cabin lighting, LED headlights with a light-strip design for the daytime running lights. The XSE is not available with the Hybrid powertrain.
Limited trim level carries 20-inch wheels, puddle lights, LED daytime running lights, high-output LED fog lights, real leather for the first two seating rows, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking assistance with automatic braking, navigation, and a JBL 11-speaker premium audio system and a 12.3-inch touchscreen.
The 7-seater-only Platinum trim level adds adaptive self-leveling LED projector headlights, rain-sensing wipers, panoramic moonroof, digital rearview mirror, a 10-inch color head-up display, and illuminated door sills up front.
Every Highlander trim level comes standard with eight airbags and Toyota's Star Safety System that integrates stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes and brake assist.
The new and improved Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of features includes forward collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane tracing assistance, lane departure warning with steering assistance, automatic high beams, and road sign recognition.