Three available powertrains ensure virtually every buyer finds a Grand Highlander matching priorities.
Adult-friendly third row, exceptional storage, and excellent ride quality make daily family duties effortless.
Regular hybrid remains smartest choice, balancing efficiency, reliability potential, and affordability.

My automotive roots are firmly planted in small, lightweight cars. Give me a hot hatch or something small and nimble, and I’m perfectly happy. These days, however, life has a way of changing priorities. I still have my Volkswagen Golf and maybe want another toy sitting in the garage, but when it’s time to move people, luggage, school bags, groceries, or whatever else life throws at me, something like the Toyota Grand Highlander simply makes sense.

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

I drove the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum for a week, and I knew going in that I’d probably enjoy it. I’d already spent time behind the wheel of the Lexus TX, and I’d sampled an earlier Grand Highlander shortly after its introduction. This Platinum trim, though, represents the model at its best.

With the regular Highlander preparing for its next chapter, the Grand Highlander has become Toyota’s answer for buyers wanting one SUV capable of handling nearly every family requirement. It sits in one of the toughest segments on the market, facing everything from the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, to the Mazda CX-90, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder and even the long-serving Dodge Durango. Competition is fierce, but Toyota has one advantage very few rivals can match.

Practical Choices

Whether you want a turbocharged gasoline engine, a conventional hybrid, or the Hybrid Max turbocharged hybrid, there’s a Grand Highlander for almost every buyer.

Pricing starts at just over $55,000 for the XLE with the 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder, standard all-wheel drive, heated seats, heated steering wheel and a generous list of equipment. Choosing the conventional hybrid adds roughly $3,400, which honestly isn’t unreasonable considering the fuel savings. At the opposite end sits this Platinum, starting a little above $70,000 and adding suede and leather upholstery, a head-up display, extra driver assistance features and, of course, the Hybrid Max powertrain.

Styling isn’t trying to impress anyone, and that’s perfectly fine. The front end has the now-familiar tall, upright nose, while the rest of the body favours clean lines over flashy details. There isn’t much drama here, but that’s the point. Buyers shopping for a three-row family SUV generally aren’t looking for drama. They’re looking for something practical, durable and easy to live with.

Room and Storage choices

Open the standard power liftgate, and you’ll find 586L of cargo space behind the third row, which is genuinely useful. Fold that third row flat and capacity grows to 1,640L. There isn’t a huge amount of hidden storage beneath the floor, but overall cargo flexibility is excellent.

The cabin continues the same practical philosophy. Rear doors open incredibly wide, making child seats and everyday access painless. Toyota also deserves credit for one feature I absolutely love. The removable centre console between the second-row captain’s chairs transforms access to the third row. Once it’s out of the way, getting to the back becomes almost effortless.

Even better, the third row actually accommodates adults. The seating position is high enough that you’re not sitting with your knees around your ears, something many competitors still struggle with.

Materials throughout the cabin won’t fool anyone into thinking they’re ultra-premium, but everything fits together well and serves a purpose. Storage is everywhere. Massive door bins, deep centre console storage, numerous cupholders and useful shelves make this an SUV you genuinely move into.

Toyota also continues doing something many manufacturers seem determined to abandon: Physical buttons.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen is clear, simple to navigate and responsive, but climate controls remain actual buttons and switches. Heated and ventilated seats are immediately accessible without hunting through menus. Visibility is another highlight thanks to relatively slim pillars.

Power choice

The star of this Platinum model is unquestionably the Hybrid Max system.

It pairs Toyota’s familiar 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder with electric assistance and a six-speed automatic transmission for a combined 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Importantly, the 5,000-lb SUV moves with genuine authority.

Even spending nearly all my driving time in Eco mode to maximize efficiency, acceleration remains impressively strong. Most importantly, fuel economy also impresses. I averaged just under 10.0 L/100 km during my week, which isn’t far from Toyota Canada’s combined estimate of just below 9.0 L/100 km. Considering the size, performance and capability available here, that’s entirely respectable.

The surprises keep coming as the Grand Highlander rides with composure.

Unlike the Lexus TX 500h, which shares much of its hardware, this Toyota skips adaptive dampers, which are typically brilliant. In this application, that’s actually an advantage. Ride quality is refined, controlled and remarkably well sorted over broken pavement.

Coming directly from my Kia EV9, the contrast is striking. The EV9 behaves like a boat in the middle of a stormy ocean, whereas the Grand Highlander stays planted and composed without becoming harsh.

Steering, braking and overall road manners simply get the job done without drawing unnecessary attention. The paddle shifters, exclusive to this Hybrid Max model, exist if you want them, although I rarely found a reason to use them.

The one question I kept asking all week was simple. Why doesn’t Toyota pair this excellent six-speed automatic with the naturally aspirated 2.5L hybrid? That combination could completely transform the driving experience for the conventional hybrid.

What to Watch For

The 2.4L turbocharged engine has experienced some early concerns, including wastegate problems, cooling system faults and occasional electronic glitches. Toyota has already been refining this powertrain across multiple products, including the Tacoma, Land Cruiser and Lexus models, so long-term prospects appear encouraging. Buyers prioritizing maximum reliability and lowest operating costs should still give serious consideration to the conventional hybrid.

Conclusion

The Grand Highlander is not necessarily a rare family SUV that’s remarkably easy to recommend; it’s mostly due to its three-prong powertrain approach. Personally, I’d lean toward the conventional hybrid in XLE or Limited trim. It gives up towing capacity, but returning an easy 7.5 L/100 km in a vehicle this large is difficult to ignore.

Unless you truly need the extra horsepower or the 5,000-lb towing capability of the Hybrid Max, the regular hybrid simply makes the strongest case. Either way, Toyota has built one of the most complete family SUVs available today.


Model	Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum	Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Ultimate Calligraphy	Mazda CX-90 MHEV GT-P
Engine	I4 2.4T Hybrid	I4 2.5T Hybrid	I6 3.3T Mild Hybrid
Power (hp)	362	329	340
Torque (lb-pi)	400	339	369
Transmission	6A	6A	8A
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD	AWD
Towing capacity	2,268 kg (5,000 lb)	2,268 kg (5,000 lb)	2 268 kg (5 000 lb)
Seats	7-8 places	7-8 places	7-8 places
Cargo space (L)	586 / 1,640 / 2,761	540 / 1,310 / 2,455	423 / 1,133 / 2,101
Fuel cons Combined	8,8L / 100km	8.1L / 100km	9.4L / 100km
Price range	Hybrid: $58,540 - $70,135	Hybrid: $63,820 - $69,025	MHEV: $50,450 - $65,500
Price as tested (fees incl.)	$70,135	Comparable trim price: $69,025	Comparable trim price: $65,500