Toyota Highlander MPG by Year
Here's the official EPA Toyota Highlander MPG for every engine and drivetrain from 2001 to 2026.
Highlander MPG by Year and Version
The EPA has rated 132 configurations of the Highlander across gas and hybrid versions. Pick a year to compare engines and drivetrains.
Highlander MPG Over the Years
Each bar shows the range of combined MPG across every Highlander configuration the EPA rated that year, from the thirstiest version to the most efficient. Hover or tap a year to see the numbers.
Years When Highlander Fuel Economy Changed
The Highlander's ratings stay flat for long stretches. These are the model years where something changed enough to matter when you're comparing used ones.
- 2006: The first hybrid Highlander shows up in the EPA data. Its 27 MPG combined rating tops the previous year's best of 22 MPG.
- 2020: The top combined rating rises to 36 MPG, up from 29 MPG the year before.
How the Highlander Compares
The EPA rated 55 full-size SUVs for 2026. The best Highlander version, at 35 MPG combined, ranks 3rd of 55. Combined ratings in the class run from 14 to 37 MPG, with a median of 21. Plug-in hybrids and electric models are ranked separately.
| Rank | Model | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeep Cherokee | 37 MPG |
| 2 | Toyota Grand Highlander | 36 MPG |
| 3 | Toyota Highlander | 35 MPG |
| 4 | Hyundai Palisade | 34 MPG |
| 5 | Lexus TX | 27 MPG |
What Does a Highlander Cost to Fuel?
Pick a Highlander, then enter your gas price and how much you drive. The math uses the EPA city and highway ratings, weighted by how much of your driving happens in each.
Highlander MPG Questions
Which Highlander year gets the best gas mileage?
The 2020 to 2024 Highlander Hybrid holds the top EPA rating at 36 MPG combined (36 city, 35 highway). Among 2026 models, the Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT is rated at 35 MPG combined.
What's the best gas mileage from a non-hybrid Highlander?
The 2023 to 2025 Highlander with the 2.4L 4-cylinder and front-wheel drive is rated at 25 MPG combined (22 city, 29 highway).
Is there still a gas-only Highlander?
Yes. The 2026 Highlander lineup includes 1 gas-only version, rated 24 MPG combined.
Does all-wheel drive hurt Highlander fuel economy?
A little. On the 2025 Highlander, the best front-wheel drive version is rated at 25 MPG combined and the best all-wheel drive version at 24 MPG.
Why doesn't my Highlander match the EPA numbers?
EPA ratings come from standardized lab tests. Your results depend on speed, climate, idling, passengers and cargo, roof racks, tire pressure and upkeep. The ratings are best for comparing one vehicle against another. To track your own numbers, try the MPG calculator.
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Where These Numbers Come From
Cedrick Reese built this page from the EPA fuel economy file published on fueleconomy.gov. It has 132 ratings for the Highlander from 2001 to 2026, and every one of them is shown in the table. Each row in the table links to the matching EPA vehicle record, so you can check any figure against the source. Ratings from before 2008 use the EPA's revised estimates, which put older vehicles on the same scale as newer ones. The page is rebuilt whenever the EPA publishes an updated file, which picks up new model years and any rating corrections. The cost calculator uses the gas price you enter rather than a national average, so the result fits where you live.
Ratings on this page come from the EPA file downloaded on October 1, 2026.
Sources
- Download Fuel Economy Data, fueleconomy.gov, U.S. DOE and EPA
- Vehicle data field definitions, including the revised 1984-2007 estimates, fueleconomy.gov
- Factors that affect fuel economy, fueleconomy.gov