2026 Toyota Highlander - Pricing, Power, Technology, and Features!

2026 Toyota Highlander - Pricing, Power, Technology, and Features!

The 2026 Toyota Highlander is shaping up to become one of the most anticipated three row sport utility vehicles Toyota has prepared in recent years, and early discussions suggest that pricing may begin at around forty nine thousand dollars. This estimated starting point reflects a major change for the upcoming model, as Toyota is expected to remove the gasoline only version entirely. With this shift, the Highlander is positioned to enter a new era where hybrid technology becomes the center of its identity. This decision also places the Highlander alongside a growing list of Toyota vehicles that have already transitioned away from traditional gasoline engines in favor of more modern and efficient hybrid power systems.

As Toyota works toward this new generation, the 2026 Highlander is expected to introduce meaningful improvements in design, performance, comfort, and everyday practicality. The three row layout remains its strongest advantage, serving families, long distance travelers, and drivers who simply want a spacious and dependable vehicle. Its competitors will be familiar to many buyers, including the Honda Pilot, the Kia Telluride, and the Mazda CX ninety, all of which have become popular choices in the family sport utility vehicle segment.

The current Highlander Hybrid uses a two point five liter four cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined total of two hundred forty three horsepower. This system already offers impressive fuel efficiency, delivering thirty five miles per gallon in city driving and thirty five miles per gallon on the highway. Many experts believe Toyota may continue refining this setup for the new model, while also making all wheel drive standard across every trim. This would mirror a change Toyota introduced in later stages of the previous generation and would make the driving experience more confident in a wider variety of road conditions.

For buyers who want stronger performance, Toyota may introduce a more advanced hybrid system inspired by the Grand Highlander. That model uses a turbocharged two point four liter engine combined with electric motors to produce three hundred sixty two horsepower, offering a stronger and more energetic driving feel. If Toyota brings this technology to higher trims of the 2026 Highlander, it would deliver noticeably quicker acceleration than older gasoline powered versions, such as the 2023 Highlander XSE all wheel drive, which required eight seconds to reach sixty miles per hour. There is also growing discussion about the possibility of a plug in hybrid version. Vehicles like the RAV4 Prime and the Prius Prime already provide more than forty miles of electric driving range, making a similar setup for the Highlander an appealing option for families who want quiet, fuel saving commutes.

In terms of size, the 2026 Highlander is not expected to grow significantly, since Toyota already offers the larger Grand Highlander. The previous model delivered excellent second row legroom and provided forty eight point four cubic feet of cargo capacity when the third row was folded. However, like many sport utility vehicles in this category, the third row will likely remain best suited for children or shorter trips.

Technology is expected to receive one of the most substantial updates. Toyota may introduce a twelve point three inch screen as standard, while higher trims may include a fourteen inch display inspired by recent Lexus models. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, updated Toyota Safety Sense features, a head up display, a hands free liftgate, and improved audio options are all likely. Some early conversations even mention the possibility of a three screen interior layout, giving both the driver and the front passenger dedicated digital displays.

Toyota is expected to reveal full details of the 2026 Highlander around the middle of 2025, followed by a complete public introduction later in the year.

Disclaimer:
The information in this video is based on topics that are being explored in various media. We also present illustrations that we generated from AI technology. The purpose of this video is to share the information we know. We sincerely hope you find our information useful.

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