Owner guide · Peoria Toyota · Peoria, IL
2026 Toyota Highlander MPG by Grade: Gas and Hybrid
The 2026 Highlander comes with a 2.4-liter turbo gas engine or as the Highlander Hybrid, and every grade has all-wheel drive. Here is how each grade is rated, the EPA records behind the numbers, a rough range per tank, and the government's advice on why mileage drops in a central Illinois winter. Figures are from toyota.com and fueleconomy.gov, read November 3, 2026.
What is the 2026 Toyota Highlander MPG?
Toyota.com rates the 2026 Highlander 2.4-liter turbo (XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum) at 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg. The Highlander Hybrid is rated 35 / 35 / 35 as the Hybrid XLE and 35 / 34 / 35 as the Hybrid Limited and Hybrid Platinum.
2026 Highlander MPG by grade
| Grade | Powertrain | Est. mpg city / hwy / comb. | Fuel tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLE | 2.4L turbo gas, 265 hp | 21 / 28 / 24 | 17.9 gal. |
| XSE | 2.4L turbo gas, 265 hp | 21 / 28 / 24 | 17.9 gal. |
| Limited | 2.4L turbo gas, 265 hp | 21 / 28 / 24 | 17.9 gal. |
| Platinum | 2.4L turbo gas, 265 hp | 21 / 28 / 24 | 17.9 gal. |
| Hybrid XLE | 2.5L hybrid, 243 net hp | 35 / 35 / 35 | 17.1 gal. |
| Hybrid Limited | 2.5L hybrid, 243 net hp | 35 / 34 / 35 | 17.1 gal. |
| Hybrid Platinum | 2.5L hybrid, 243 net hp | 35 / 34 / 35 | 17.1 gal. |
From toyota.com's 2026 Highlander specifications page (mpg/other, mechanical/performance and weights/capacities), read November 3, 2026. Every 2026 grade has all-wheel drive. Actual mileage will vary.
The EPA records behind the numbers
| EPA listing | Engine and transmission | Stop-start | City | Hwy | Comb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander AWD (record 50132) | 2.4L turbo 4-cyl., 8-speed automatic | Yes | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD (record 50181) | 2.5L 4-cyl. hybrid, CVT | Yes | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT (record 50180) | 2.5L 4-cyl. hybrid, CVT | Yes | 35 | 34 | 35 |
Miles per gallon. From fueleconomy.gov (U.S. EPA and Department of Energy) records for the 2026 Toyota Highlander, all listed as all-wheel drive, read November 3, 2026. All three records name regular gasoline. The EPA lists the Hybrid Limited and Platinum (LTD/PLAT) separately from the other hybrid; its figures match toyota.com's for every grade.
2.4L turbo or Hybrid
Gas: toyota.com lists a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 hp and 310 lb-ft, the Stop and Start Engine System and an 8-speed automatic (Direct Shift-8AT) on the XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum. The XLE has all-wheel drive; the XSE, Limited and Platinum have Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD with Driveline Disconnect.
Hybrid: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system with 243 combined net horsepower, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) and Electronic On-Demand AWD, with permanent magnet synchronous motors (two front, one rear). Toyota.com lists Drive Mode Select with an EV mode on the Hybrid grades, and Predictive Fuel-Efficient Drive as standard on the Hybrid Limited and Hybrid Platinum and available on the Hybrid XLE.
Trade-offs on toyota.com's spec sheet: the gas grades are rated to tow up to 5,000 lb. against 3,500 lb. for the Hybrid, and carry a 17.9-gallon tank against 17.1 gallons.
How far can a Highlander go on a tank?
Multiplied by the combined ratings, toyota.com's tank sizes give a rough range of about 430 miles for a gas Highlander (17.9 gallons x 24 mpg) and about 599 miles for a Highlander Hybrid (17.1 gallons x 35 mpg).
That is our arithmetic from the published ratings, not a range figure from Toyota or the EPA. Towing, roof loads, speed and temperature all change real-world range.
Why your 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:
Cold fluids
Cold engine oil and other drive-line fluids increase friction in the engine and transmission.
Longer warm-up
The engine takes longer to reach its most fuel-efficient temperature, which hurts short trips most.
Heat and defrost
Heated seats, window defrosters and heater fans use extra power.
Tires and air
Tire pressure drops in the cold, and denser cold air adds drag at highway speeds.
Winter gasoline
Winter blends can have slightly less energy per gallon than summer blends.
Battery
Battery performance falls in the cold, which on hybrids also affects regenerative braking.
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%.
Peoria Toyota hours
| Department | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sales | Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun closed |
| Service | Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 7 a.m.-12 p.m.; Sun closed |
From Peoria Toyota's website, November 3, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
2026 Toyota Highlander MPG FAQ
What MPG does the 2026 Toyota Highlander get?
Toyota.com rates every 2026 Highlander with the 2.4-liter turbo gas engine (XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum) at 21 mpg city, 28 highway and 24 combined. The Highlander Hybrid is rated 35 combined: 35 city / 35 highway for the Hybrid XLE and 35 / 34 for the Hybrid Limited and Hybrid Platinum.
Which 2026 Highlander gets the best gas mileage?
The Highlander Hybrid XLE, at 35 mpg city, 35 highway and 35 combined on toyota.com. The Hybrid Limited and Hybrid Platinum match it in the city and combined (35) and are rated 34 on the highway.
How much better is the Highlander Hybrid on gas?
On the ratings, 35 combined mpg against 24 for the gas Highlander, with the biggest gap in city driving (35 against 21). Toyota.com lists 243 combined net horsepower for the hybrid against 265 hp for the 2.4-liter turbo, and a 3,500-lb. towing capacity for the hybrid against 5,000 lb. for gas models.
How far can a Highlander go on a tank?
Toyota.com lists a 17.9-gallon tank for gas Highlanders and 17.1 gallons for the Hybrid. At the combined ratings that is roughly 430 miles for a gas model (17.9 x 24) and about 599 miles for a Hybrid (17.1 x 35). This is simple math from the ratings, not a Toyota or EPA range figure.
Is the 2026 Highlander all-wheel drive?
Yes. On toyota.com's 2026 specifications every grade has all-wheel drive: AWD on the XLE, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD on the XSE, Limited and Platinum, and Electronic On-Demand AWD on the Hybrid grades. The EPA lists all three 2026 Highlander records as all-wheel drive.
What fuel does the 2026 Highlander use?
All three 2026 Highlander records on fueleconomy.gov name regular gasoline. The owner's manual and fuel-door label of a specific vehicle give its fuel requirement.
Are there 2027 Highlander MPG ratings yet?
Not on the sources used here. On November 3, 2026, toyota.com's 2027 Highlander features page returned page-not-found and fueleconomy.gov's 2027 Toyota model list had no Highlander. For a 2027 model, check the EPA figures on its window sticker.
Why is my Highlander's MPG lower in winter?
Fueleconomy.gov says conventional gasoline vehicles can expect a 10% to 20% fuel economy loss in city driving in cold weather, and hybrids typically 20% to 40%, because of colder fluids, longer warm-ups, cabin heating, lower tire pressure, winter gasoline blends and reduced battery performance.
Shopping for a Highlander?
Visit Peoria Toyota at 7401 N Allen Rd in Peoria to compare gas and Hybrid Highlander grades.
Sources
MPG ratings by grade, engines and outputs, transmissions, drive systems, fuel tanks and towing are from toyota.com's 2026 Highlander specifications page; EPA ratings, stop-start equipment and fuel type are from fueleconomy.gov; winter and driving advice is from fueleconomy.gov; all read November 3, 2026. The range figures are our own arithmetic from those ratings. Your mileage will vary. Address and hours are from Peoria Toyota's own website. Image is illustrative.
- 2026 Toyota Highlander specifications: estimated mpg (city/highway/combined), engines, horsepower, torque, transmissions, all-wheel-drive systems, fuel tank and towing by grade, Toyota, read November 3, 2026
- Fuel economy record 50132: 2026 Toyota Highlander, fueleconomy.gov (EPA/DOE), read November 3, 2026
- Fuel economy record 50181: 2026 Toyota Highlander, fueleconomy.gov (EPA/DOE), read November 3, 2026
- Fuel economy record 50180: 2026 Toyota Highlander, fueleconomy.gov (EPA/DOE), read November 3, 2026
- Fuel Economy in Cold Weather, fueleconomy.gov (EPA/DOE), read November 3, 2026
- Driving More Efficiently, fueleconomy.gov (EPA/DOE), read November 3, 2026
- Address and hours, Peoria Toyota, November 3, 2026
