Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander a good car?
No.
3 of 7checks
- First car: 3 of 5. Length 194.9 in. Class median 191.6 in.
- Commuter: $116 a month. Class median $111.
- Off-road: 8.0 in clearance. Top 59% of 173.
- Good buy: 1 rival beats it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | Yes | 3 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 3 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $116 vs $111 a month |
| Seniors | Yes | 2 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | No | 8.0 in, top 59% |
| Worth the money | Yes | 1% below predicted |
| Good buy | No | 1 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the Highlander a good family car?
Yes. Passes 3 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 38.7 in | Median 38.5 in | 167 | Yes |
| Rear headroom | 39.4 in | Median 38.7 in | 168 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 16.0 cu ft | Median 25.2 cu ft | 176 | No |
Is the Highlander a good first car?
No. Passes 3 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $46,270 | Median $47,693 | 176 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 265 hp | 175 hp to 373 hp | 182 | Yes |
| Length | 194.9 in | Median 191.6 in | 178 | No |
| Turning circle | 37.4 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
| Fuel cost per mile | 13.3 cents | Median 12.8 cents | 179 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the Highlander a good commuter car?
No. $116 a month to commute. Class median $111.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $116
- Median of 179 SUVs
- $111
- Highway mpg
- 28 mpg, top 41% of 139
Is the Highlander a good car for seniors?
Yes. Passes 2 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 8.0 in clearance, 68.1 in tall | 6.9 to 8.4 in clearance, 64.7 to 70.8 in tall | 156 | Yes |
| Front headroom | 39.6 in | Median 39.9 in | 169 | No |
| Turning circle | 37.4 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the Highlander a good off-road vehicle?
No. 8.0 in clearance. Top 59% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- XLE AWD, 8.0 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the Highlander worth the money?
Yes. Priced 1% below cars like it.
- Price, XLE AWD
- $46,270
- Predicted price
- $46,714
- Gap
- -$444 (-1.0%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the Highlander a good buy?
No. 1 rival costs less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander XLE AWD | $46,270 | 13.3 cents | 84.3 cu ft | 265 hp |
| Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Blue SEL 7P FWD | $44,160 | 10.3 cents | 86.7 cu ft | 329 hp |
Compared with 1,067 trims of other makes, SUVs, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree