The Highlander's fuel economy tells the story of three powertrain generations, and which one you want depends on how much you drive. This page lists every EPA row we found for every model year from 2008 to 2023.
Where these numbers come from. On October 21, 2026 we pulled the EPA's fueleconomy.gov vehicle data for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, one model year at a time. We merged rows with identical ratings, so an extra line in a year means the EPA published a different rating for another trim or tire. We show the drive type but not the trim, since the EPA does not label it in the data we pulled. Ratings are EPA label values, not measured mileage, and the EPA changed how it tests vehicles in 2008, so we start there.
2008–2013: V6 and the First Hybrid
| MODEL YEAR | POWERTRAIN | DRIVE | CITY | HIGHWAY | COMBINED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2013 | 3.5L V6 | FWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
| 2008–2010 | 3.5L V6 | AWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| 2011–2013 | 3.5L V6 | AWD | 17 | 22 | 19 |
| 2009–2010 | 2.7L four-cylinder | FWD | 20 | 27 | 22 |
| 2011–2013 | 2.7L four-cylinder | FWD | 20 | 25 | 22 |
| 2008–2010 | 3.3L Hybrid | AWD | 27 | 25 | 26 |
| 2011–2013 | 3.5L Hybrid | AWD | 28 | 28 | 28 |
The four-cylinder arrived for 2009 and was front-wheel-drive only. The hybrid moved from a 3.3L V6 to a 3.5L V6 in 2011, which lifted its combined rating from 26 to 28 mpg.
2014–2019: Eight-Speed Gas, Hybrid Holds at 28–29
| MODEL YEAR | POWERTRAIN | DRIVE | CITY | HIGHWAY | COMBINED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2016 | 2.7L four-cylinder | FWD | 20 | 25 | 22 |
| 2014–2016 | 3.5L V6 | FWD | 19 | 25 | 21 |
| 2014–2016 | 3.5L V6 | AWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
| 2014–2016 | 3.5L Hybrid | AWD | 27–28 | 28 | 28 |
| 2017–2019 | 2.7L four-cylinder | FWD | 20 | 24 | 22 |
| 2017–2019 | 3.5L V6 | FWD | 20–21 | 27 | 23 |
| 2017–2019 | 3.5L V6 | AWD | 19–20 | 26–27 | 22–23 |
| 2017–2019 | 3.5L Hybrid | AWD | 29–30 | 27–28 | 28–29 |
The 3.5L V6 FWD rating rose from 21 to 23 mpg combined in 2017, the largest single-year gas gain before 2020.
2020–2023: New Generation
| MODEL YEAR | POWERTRAIN | DRIVE | CITY | HIGHWAY | COMBINED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2022 | 3.5L V6 | FWD | 20–21 | 28–29 | 23–24 |
| 2020–2022 | 3.5L V6 | AWD | 20 | 27 | 23 |
| 2023 | 2.4L turbo four | FWD | 21–22 | 28–29 | 24–25 |
| 2023 | 2.4L turbo four | AWD | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| 2020–2023 | 2.5L Hybrid | FWD | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| 2020–2023 | 2.5L Hybrid | AWD | 35 | 34–35 | 35 |
The redesigned 2020 Highlander brought the 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid, which is the single biggest mpg change in the table, from 28–29 to 35–36 mpg combined. The 2023 truck dropped the V6 for a 2.4L turbo four, and the EPA rating improved by about one mpg.
What the Gas-Versus-Hybrid Gap Costs
At EPA combined, the 2020 to 2023 Hybrid AWD (35 mpg) uses about 429 gallons over 15,000 miles. The 2020 to 2022 V6 AWD (23 mpg) uses about 652 gallons, a gap of about 223 gallons a year. At $3.50 a gallon that is about $780 a year. The 2014 to 2016 hybrid (28 mpg) uses about 536 gallons against 750 for a V6 AWD at 20 mpg, a gap of 214 gallons or about $750.
What the EPA Numbers Miss
- Towing and load cut mpg. The EPA tests an empty truck.
- Age matters. A 15-year-old truck is not delivering its label mpg. Hybrid battery health, tire condition and alignment all move real-world mpg.
- Short trips and cold weather hit hybrids hardest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Highlander year for gas mileage?
The 2020 to 2023 Highlander Hybrid. It is rated 35 to 36 mpg combined, against 28 to 29 for the 2011 to 2019 hybrid.
What mpg does the older Highlander V6 get?
19 to 20 mpg combined for the 2008 to 2013 V6, 20 to 22 for 2014 to 2016, and 22 to 23 for 2017 to 2019.
How many mpg does the 2.7L four-cylinder Highlander get?
22 mpg combined from 2009 to 2019 in front-wheel drive. It was never offered with AWD.
Did the Highlander Hybrid change in 2020?
Yes. It moved from a 3.5L V6 hybrid at 28 to 29 mpg to a 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid at 35 to 36 mpg combined.
Related Guides
- Toyota Highlander Recalls 2008–2023: Every Campaign
- Toyota Highlander Complaints by Year: 2008–2023
- Toyota Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026
- Toyota Highlander Problems: NHTSA Complaints 2024–2026
- Toyota Highlander MPG: Gas and Hybrid 2024–2026
- Toyota Grand Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026
- Toyota RAV4 Known Issues: NHTSA Complaints by Year
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy and EPA, fueleconomy.gov vehicle data (Toyota Highlander, 2008–2023), queried October 21, 2026. Gallons per year and dollar figures are our arithmetic.
Keep reading
Toyota Highlander Complaints by Year: 2008–2023
NHTSA holds 4,142 owner complaints on the Toyota Highlander for model years 2008 to 2023. The most complaints are on 2021 (531), 2019 (498) and 2008 (404). The fewest are on 2016 (111), 2009 (134) and 2014 (136). Power train is the most-named component overall (864 mentions), then service brakes (505), electrical system (504) and engine (437). Across all years complaints report 287 crashes, 41 fires, 266 injuries and 4 deaths. Complaint counts are voluntary, unverified and not adjusted for sales, so they point at where to look rather than which year is worst.
Toyota Highlander Recalls 2008–2023: Every Campaign
NHTSA lists 45 recall campaigns on the Toyota Highlander for model years 2008 to 2023. 9 are label corrections and 3 are accessory or aftermarket parts, which leaves 33 campaigns on the trucks themselves. The biggest by reach are the 2010 accelerator pedal recalls (10V017, 10V023), the fuel pump recalls (20V012, 20V682, 20V162) on 2017–2020 V6 trucks, and air bag and steering column recalls from 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2023 to 2025. The 2023 spiral cable recalls (23V480, 25V040) and the 2026 second-row recliner recall (26V128) are the newest. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Toyota Highlander MPG: Gas and Hybrid 2024–2026
The gas Highlander is rated 24 to 25 mpg combined and the Highlander Hybrid 35 to 36 mpg. The EPA's 2024 front-wheel-drive gas truck is 22 city / 29 highway / 25 combined (24 on the other label), the AWD gas truck 21 / 28 / 24, the Hybrid FWD 36 / 35 / 36 and the Hybrid AWD 35 / 35 / 35. Over 15,000 miles at EPA combined, the hybrid AWD burns about 429 gallons against 625 for the gas AWD, a gap of about 196 gallons a year.
Toyota Highlander Problems: NHTSA Complaints 2024–2026
NHTSA holds 53 complaints on the Toyota Highlander for model years 2024 to 2026: 43 for 2024, 10 for 2025 and none for 2026. After a general "other" bucket (15 mentions), the most-named components are service brakes (10), fuel/propulsion system (8), electrical system (7) and engine (6). Six complaints report a crash and six report an injury. None report a fire or a death. Complaints are voluntary and unverified, and the numbers are small, so treat them as a pointer, not a failure rate.