2026 Grand Highlander MPG by grade

From toyota.com's 2026 Grand Highlander specifications page (mpg/other and mechanical/performance), read November 3, 2026. Actual mileage will vary.

The EPA records behind the numbers

Miles per gallon. From fueleconomy.gov (U.S. EPA and Department of Energy) records for the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander, read November 3, 2026. All seven records name regular gasoline. The EPA groups versions by its own model names rather than by every Toyota grade.

Three powertrains

Gas: toyota.com lists a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft, an 8-speed automatic and an engine Stop and Start system. LE, XLE and Limited come with front-wheel drive or Dynamic Torque Control AWD; the gas Platinum is AWD only. With AWD, the Limited and Platinum are rated 1 mpg lower combined than the LE and XLE.

Hybrid: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined net hp and a continuously variable transmission. Toyota.com lists front-wheel drive only on the Hybrid XLE; the Hybrid LE, XLE, Limited and Nightshade come with Electronic On-Demand AWD.

Hybrid MAX: a 2.4-liter turbo hybrid with 362 net combined hp and 400 lb-ft, a 6-speed automatic and Full-Time Electronic AWD, on the Hybrid MAX Limited and Platinum. It is the most powerful Grand Highlander and is rated 27 mpg combined, 7 mpg below the regular Hybrid with AWD.

How far can a Grand Highlander go on a tank?

Toyota.com lists a 17.83-gallon fuel tank on gas Grand Highlanders and a 17.17-gallon tank on Hybrid and Hybrid MAX models. Multiplied by the combined ratings, that gives a rough range of about 428 miles for a gas FWD model at 24 mpg (17.83 x 24), about 392 miles for a gas Limited or Platinum AWD at 22 mpg (17.83 x 22), about 618 miles for a Hybrid XLE FWD at 36 mpg (17.17 x 36), about 584 miles for a Hybrid with AWD at 34 mpg (17.17 x 34) and about 464 miles for a Hybrid MAX at 27 mpg (17.17 x 27).

That is our arithmetic from the published ratings, not a range figure from Toyota or the EPA. Towing, a full load of passengers, speed, temperature and terrain all change real-world range.

Why your Grand Highlander's MPG drops in winter

Fueleconomy.gov says conventional gasoline vehicles can expect a 10% to 20% fuel economy loss in city driving and 15% to 33% on short trips in cold weather, and hybrids typically 20% to 40% in city driving and 25% to 45% on short trips. Its reasons:

From fueleconomy.gov's Fuel Economy in Cold Weather page, read November 3, 2026.

Getting closer to the rated numbers

Fueleconomy.gov's cold-weather advice: park in a warmer place such as a garage, combine trips so you drive less often with a cold engine, keep warm-up idling short (it notes most manufacturers recommend driving off gently after about 30 seconds), use seat warmers and defrosters only as needed, check tire pressure regularly, use the oil your manufacturer recommends for cold weather, and remove roof racks when you are not using them.

Year-round, it says aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic, that mileage usually decreases rapidly above 50 mph, and that an extra 100 pounds in a vehicle could reduce mpg by about 1%.

Elgin Toyota hours

From Elgin Toyota's website, November 3, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.