Toyota Highlander Is Pricier Than The Grand Highlander For 2026
If you want a Toyota SUV with seven seats, the most affordable options are the Highlander and the Grand Highlander. For some reason, Toyota has opted to price both GA-K platform-riding SUVs closely to each other despite the latter being longer, taller, and wider. So close, in fact, that the Highlander has become more expensive than the Grand Highlander for 2026 – if you consider the cost of entry into the nameplates.
That’s because for the new model year, Toyota has removed the base LE variant for the Highlander, while also offering all-wheel drivetrain as standard across the range. With a uniform $200 increase, the Highlander now starts at $45,270 for the XLE AWD – up by $4,950 from the $40,320 MSRP of the previous base LE FWD – and $47,020 for the Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD. In comparison, even with the price increase for 2026, the Grand Highlander starts at $44,130, or lower than the starting price of the 2026 Highlander.
|
2026 |
2025 |
Difference |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
XLE AWD |
$45,270 |
$45,070 |
$200 |
|
XSE AWD |
$47,340 |
$47,140 |
$200 |
|
Limited AWD |
$49,725 |
$49,525 |
$200 |
|
Platinum AWD |
$52,925 |
$52,725 |
$200 |
|
Hybrid XLE AWD |
$47,020 |
$46,820 |
$200 |
|
Hybrid Limited AWD |
$51,475 |
$51,275 |
$200 |
|
Hybrid Platinum AWD |
$54,675 |
$54,475 |
$200 |
No Updates For 2026
Of course, moving up to the comparable trims put the Grand Highlander and Highlander on the same ground, with the former being pricier, albeit only slightly. The 2026 Grand Highlander XLE AWD is priced at $45,730, while the Limited AWD sells for $50,460. The top-spec Platinum AWD gets a price tag of $54,545. Of note, the prices mentioned don’t include delivery and handling fees, which are $1,450 for the Highlander and $1,500 for the Grand Highlander.
Just like the Grand Highlander, the Highlander doesn’t get any updates for the 2026 model year except for the year-marking VIN tag and standard AWD. However, Toyota has simplified the trim levels for the seven-seat SUV, now only available in XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum for the pure gas models, while the hybrid version is available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The LE, Hybrid XLE Nightshade, and stylish Hybrid Limited 25th Edition have been dropped for the 2026 model year.
Toyota Highlander Sales Have Been Significantly Down This Year
Toyota’s decision to price the Highlander at almost the same level as the Grand Highlander is a bit ironic, given their sales numbers so far this year. The Grand Highlander has been selling well based on the January to June sales data, moving 65,419 units or an increase of 18.1% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, Highlander’s sales have been significantly down this year, with Toyota only delivering 30,056 units during the same period, representing a 50% year-on-year decline.
Whether this strategy to increase the point of entry into the Highlander nameplate will work for the automaker remains to be seen, but we believe there’s another cause at play here. Introduced in 2019, the current-generation Highlander is starting to age, as opposed to the Grand Highlander, which was only introduced in 2023. Toyota could be preparing to introduce a major revamp soon, which explains the simplification of the lineup and upcoming pricing.
The 2026 Highlander units are scheduled to reach dealerships in November of this year.
Source: Toyota
