The Highlander comes in a gas version and a hybrid, and the EPA lists only AWD hybrids for 2025 and 2026. This page lines up every EPA row we found and adds a gallons-per-year figure you can multiply by your own fuel price.
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, model years 2024, 2025 and 2026. Gallons per 15,000 miles is 15,000 divided by EPA combined mpg, our arithmetic. The EPA lists two front-wheel-drive gas rows for 2024 and 2025 that differ by one mpg, which usually reflects trim or tire differences, so we show both.
EPA Ratings by Model Year
| MODEL YEAR | POWERTRAIN | DRIVE | CITY | HIGHWAY | COMBINED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | 2.4L turbo, 8-speed | FWD (one label) | 22 | 29 | 25 |
| 2024–2025 | 2.4L turbo, 8-speed | FWD (other label) | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| 2024–2026 | 2.4L turbo, 8-speed | AWD | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| 2024 | 2.5L Hybrid | FWD | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| 2024 | 2.5L Hybrid | AWD | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| 2024–2026 | 2.5L Hybrid | AWD Limited/Platinum | 35 | 34 | 35 |
| 2025–2026 | 2.5L Hybrid | AWD | 35 | 35 | 35 |
For 2026, the EPA data we pulled lists only the AWD gas truck and the AWD hybrid models. The ratings did not change from 2024 to 2026 for the AWD trucks.
Yearly Fuel at EPA Combined
| POWERTRAIN | EPA COMBINED | GALLONS PER 15,000 MI |
|---|---|---|
| Gas FWD | 25 mpg | 600 |
| Gas AWD | 24 mpg | 625 |
| Hybrid FWD | 36 mpg | 417 |
| Hybrid AWD | 35 mpg | 429 |
Multiply the last column by your price per gallon. At $3.50 a gallon, the Hybrid AWD saves about $686 a year over the gas AWD (196 gallons x $3.50). The EPA's own annual fuel cost estimates in the same data are $2,700 for the gas AWD and $1,850 for the hybrid AWD, which is about $850 and uses the EPA's assumed fuel prices and mileage.
What the EPA Numbers Miss
- Towing and load cut mpg. The EPA tests an empty truck.
- Cold weather and short trips hit hybrids hardest. Real-world hybrid mpg varies more than gas mpg.
- Trim and wheels matter. The Limited and Platinum hybrid AWD is rated 1 mpg lower on the highway than the base hybrid AWD.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Highlander's gas mileage?
24 to 25 mpg combined for the gas truck, depending on drive and label.
What mpg does the Highlander Hybrid get?
35 to 36 mpg combined.
Did the Highlander's mpg change from 2024 to 2026?
No for the AWD trucks. The EPA ratings are the same across the three model years.
How much does the Highlander Hybrid save?
About 196 gallons a year over the gas AWD at 15,000 miles, or about $686 at $3.50 a gallon.
Related Guides
- Toyota Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026
- Toyota Highlander Problems: NHTSA Complaints 2024–2026
- Toyota Grand Highlander Recalls: Every Recall 2024–2026
- Toyota Grand Highlander MPG: Gas, Hybrid and Hybrid MAX
- Toyota RAV4 Known Issues: NHTSA Complaints by Year
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy and EPA, fueleconomy.gov vehicle data (Toyota Highlander, 2024–2026), 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 MPG by Year: 2008–2023
The Toyota Highlander's EPA combined mpg runs from 19 (2008 to 2013 V6 AWD) to 36 (2020 to 2023 Hybrid FWD). The gas V6 improved from 19–20 mpg in 2008 to 23–24 mpg by 2020. The hybrid went from 26 mpg (2008 to 2010) to 28–29 mpg (2011 to 2019) and then jumped to 35–36 mpg with the 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid in 2020. In 2023 the gas truck changed to a 2.4L turbo four rated 24 to 25 mpg. The newer 2024 to 2026 ratings are in the 2024–2026 mpg guide.
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 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.