Which Highlander Fits Your Family and Your Garage Toyota sells two three-row SUVs with almost the same name. Families walk in, study both, and leave more confused than when they arrived. One word separates the badges. Quite a bit more separates the cabins, the cargo holds, and the window stickers. Grand Highlander stretches 201.4 inches long on a 116.1-inch wheelbase, about half a foot more body than a standard Highlander. Both SUVs share a 265-horsepower turbocharged gas engine, though only Grand Highlander offers the 362-horsepower Hybrid MAX setup. For 2026, the Grand Highlander LE starts below every Highlander grade Toyota builds. A Few Inches That Change the Whole Cabin Park them side by side, and the gap shows fast. The 2026 Highlander measures 194.9 inches long (197.4 inches on the sportier XSE) on a 112.2-inch wheelbase. Its bigger sibling goes 201.4 inches with 116.1 inches between the axles. Almost four of those extra inches land right where passengers sit. Seating follows suit. Highlander seats seven on captain's chairs. A second-row bench pushes that to eight on XLE and Limited grades. Grand Highlander flips the default, putting an eight-passenger bench in the LE and offering captain's chairs as you climb. Cargo numbers favor the bigger SUV. Toyota lists 20.6 cubic feet behind the Grand Highlander's third row, 57.9 with that row folded, and 97.5 once both rear rows drop. Highlander maxes out at 84.3 cubic feet with everything flat. Toyota has not published behind-the-row figures for the 2026 Highlander. The bigger SUV is the one with hard numbers to plan around. Engines Are Where These Two Really Separate Both run the same base engine, a turbocharged 2.4-liter four making 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic. Drivetrain is where they part ways. Toyota made all-wheel drive standard on every gas Highlander grade for 2026. The Grand Highlander still ships with front-wheel drive on the LE, XLE, and Limited. AWD costs $1,600 there and comes standard on Platinum. Hybrid shoppers face a bigger fork. Highlander's 2.5-liter hybrid makes 243 combined horsepower. EPA rates it at 35 mpg city and 35 mpg highway on the XLE, then 35 mpg city and 34 mpg highway on the Limited and Platinum. Grand Highlander's take on that setup makes 245 combined horsepower. The front-drive Hybrid XLE earns the best numbers in either lineup at 37 city and 34 highway. Order any hybrid grade with all-wheel drive, and it settles at 36 city, 32 highway. Then there's Hybrid MAX, which the smaller SUV doesn't offer. That turbo 2.4-liter hybrid pushes 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft through a six-speed automatic. EPA pegs it at 26 city and 27 highway. Towing follows the powertrain rather than the badge. Gas versions of both pull 5,000 pounds properly equipped. Standard hybrids manage 3,500. Hybrid MAX keeps the full 5,000-pound rating, so it tows like the gas models while still posting hybrid mileage. Two Trim Ladders That Start in Different Places Anyone comparing the Toyota Highlander vs. Grand Highlander for 2026 hits a pricing quirk right away. Toyota dropped the Highlander LE grade this year. That ladder now opens at $46,270 for the gas XLE. Grand Highlander still offers an LE at $42,260, so the larger SUV undercuts every version of the smaller one. Driver-assist tech separates them, too. Grand Highlander runs Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. It adds Proactive Driving Assist, which nudges the brakes and steering around cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Highlander carries Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+. Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are standard on every grade of both. Highlander also moves up to a 12.3-inch screen on Limited and Platinum. 2026 Highlander and Grand Highlander Trim Comparison Trim Powertrain Horsepower Drivetrain EPA MPG City/Hwy Max Towing Starting MSRP 2026 Toyota Highlander XLE (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft Mechanical AWD, standard 21 / 28 5,000 lb $46,270 XSE (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft Torque-vectoring AWD, standard 21 / 28 5,000 lb $48,340 Limited (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft Torque-vectoring AWD, standard 21 / 28 5,000 lb $50,725 Platinum (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft Torque-vectoring AWD, standard 21 / 28 5,000 lb $53,925 Hybrid XLE 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 243 hp combined Electronic On-Demand AWD 35 / 35 3,500 lb $48,020 Hybrid Limited 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 243 hp combined Electronic On-Demand AWD 35 / 34 3,500 lb $52,475 Hybrid Platinum 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 243 hp combined Electronic On-Demand AWD 35 / 34 3,500 lb $55,675 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander LE (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft FWD standard, AWD $1,600 21 / 28 (FWD) 5,000 lb $42,260 XLE (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft FWD standard, AWD $1,600 21 / 28 (FWD) 5,000 lb $45,030 Limited (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft FWD standard, AWD $1,600 21 / 28 (FWD) 5,000 lb $49,760 Platinum (Gas) 2.4L Turbo I4, 8-speed automatic 265 hp / 310 lb-ft AWD standard 20 / 26 (AWD) 5,000 lb $55,445 Hybrid LE 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 245 hp combined Electronic On-Demand AWD 36 / 32 3,500 lb $45,610 Hybrid XLE 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 245 hp combined FWD standard, AWD available 37 / 34 (FWD) 3,500 lb $46,780 Hybrid Limited 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 245 hp combined Electronic On-Demand AWD 36 / 32 3,500 lb $53,110 Hybrid Nightshade 2.5L Hybrid, eCVT 245 hp combined Electronic On-Demand AWD 36 / 32 3,500 lb $54,090 Hybrid MAX Limited 2.4L Turbo Hybrid MAX, 6-speed automatic 362 hp / 400 lb-ft Full-time electronic AWD 26 / 27 5,000 lb $56,090 Hybrid MAX Platinum 2.4L Turbo Hybrid MAX, 6-speed automatic 362 hp / 400 lb-ft Full-time electronic AWD 26 / 27 5,000 lb $60,175 MSRP figures are Toyota's published base MSRP by grade and exclude destination, taxes, options, and dealer charges. EPA estimates are for comparison only, and your mileage will vary. Sorting Out Which One Belongs in Your Driveway Drivers hauling kids, groceries, and the odd weekend load will find the Highlander plenty capable. Its shorter body tucks into older Muncie garages with less drama. Families who seat seven adults regularly, pack luggage behind the third row, or want the punch of Hybrid MAX should spend their time in the Grand Highlander. Try this before you decide. Fold your third row down, load a week of vacation gear behind it, and see what's left. Bags riding on laps means that an extra half foot solves a real problem. Room to spare means you can save the money and the parking headache. Why Buy Your Next Three-Row Toyota from Toyota of Muncie We keep both on the lot for exactly this reason. Spec sheets only take you so far. The fastest way to settle it is to climb into the third row of each. Fold the seats. Load whatever you normally haul. Bring the car seats and the stroller. Our sales team won't rush you, and nobody here pushes you up a ladder you don't need. Toyota-trained techs handle everything we sell. We also run free child seat safety checks every Thursday, which pairs well with shopping for a family hauler. Schedule a back-to-back test drive, and we'll have both parked and waiting.

A Family SUV That Keeps Earning Its Spot in the Driveway Shopping for a three-row SUV that hauls kids, gear, and the occasional small trailer puts a lot of options on the table. Toyota's midsize hauler has spent years near the top of family shopping lists, and the newest version keeps that streak going with seven trims, two powertrains, and standard all-wheel drive across the whole board. All seven trims for 2026 come standard with all-wheel drive, a first for the gas lineup. Gas models pair a 265-horsepower turbo four with a 5,000-pound tow rating, while hybrids stretch fuel to 35 mpg combined. Seating runs seven passengers standard, with an eight-seat bench available on a few trims. A Quick Look at the 2026 Lineup Buyers will find the 2026 Toyota Highlander splits into two camps. Gas grades run XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. Hybrid grades skip the XSE and come in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trim levels. Both share the same body, the same three rows, and the same long list of standard safety tech. What changes are under the hood and at the fuel pump? Gas or Hybrid, Picking Your Power Every gas trim runs a 2.4-liter turbo four. It makes 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic. That setup tows up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. A small camper or a pair of jet skis stays well within reach. EPA estimates land at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for all four gas grades. Hybrid models take a different path. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder with electric motors delivers 243 combined horsepower and an eCVT, and it returns 35 mpg combined. Towing drops to 3,500 pounds, so the trade is plain. Go with gas if you tow heavy. Go hybrid if you rack up miles and want to visit the pump less often. Climbing the Trim Ladder The XLE opens the lineup and replaces the old LE as the new starting point. It already carries plenty. You get 18-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, and heated SofTex front seats. There are also three-zone temperature controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Move up to the XSE for a sportier attitude, with 20-inch black wheels, a mesh grille, and a sport-tuned suspension. Step up to Limited, and you get leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and JBL audio. Platinum sits at the top with a panoramic glass roof, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera, and a digital rearview mirror. 2026 Toyota Highlander Trim Comparison Trim Starting MSRP Powertrain Horsepower EPA Combined MPG Max Towing Standard Features XLE (Gas) $45,870 2.4L Turbo Gas, AWD 265 hp 24 mpg 5,000 lb 18-in wheels, power moonroof, 8-in screen, heated SofTex seats XSE (Gas) $47,940 2.4L Turbo Gas, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD 265 hp 24 mpg 5,000 lb 20-in black wheels, sport suspension, mesh grille Limited (Gas) $50,325 2.4L Turbo Gas, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD 265 hp 24 mpg 5,000 lb Leather, heated and ventilated seats, 12.3-in screen, JBL audio Platinum (Gas) $53,525 2.4L Turbo Gas, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD 265 hp 24 mpg 5,000 lb Panoramic roof, head-up display, 360-degree camera Hybrid XLE $47,620 2.5L Hybrid, Electronic On-Demand AWD 243 hp 35 mpg 3,500 lb Hybrid power, 35 mpg, eight-seat bench option Hybrid Limited $52,075 2.5L Hybrid, Electronic On-Demand AWD 243 hp 35 mpg 3,500 lb Leather, 12.3-in screen, JBL audio, hands-free liftgate Hybrid Platinum $55,275 2.5L Hybrid, Electronic On-Demand AWD 243 hp 35 mpg 3,500 lb Panoramic roof, heated second-row chairs, digital rearview mirror Room for Seven, Sometimes Eight All seven trims seat seven as standard with second-row captain's chairs. Want a bench instead? The gas XLE, hybrid XLE, and gas Limited offer an eight-seat setup without significantly altering the cabin layout. Fold everything flat, and you get up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo room, which swallows strollers, hockey bags, and a Costco run without much fuss. Safety You Don't Have to Pay Extra For Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ comes on every grade. That bundle adds automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure alert with steering assist. You also get lane tracing, road sign reading, and automatic high beams. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard, too. So are eight airbags and side curtain coverage for all three rows. For a family hauler, that standard sheet is hard to argue with. Matching a Trim to Your Family Most shoppers land happily on the XLE or the Limited. An XLE covers the basics for school runs and weekend trips, while the Limited adds the leather and tech that make longer hauls easier. Do you tow a lot? Stick with gas. Long daily commute? The hybrid pays you back at the pump. Either way, the lineup gives families room to match the SUV to the budget. Find Your 2026 Highlander at Toyota of Muncie Sorting through seven trims gets a lot easier with the keys in your hand. At Toyota of Muncie, we keep the Highlander lineup on the lot so you can sit in the XLE, the Limited, and the Platinum back to back and feel the difference for yourself. Our team walks families through gas versus hybrid with no pressure, and we can line up financing or a trade-in figure while you weigh your options. We've served Muncie, Richmond, Anderson, and the towns around us for years, and we treat every visit like you're a neighbor, because most of the time you are. Stop by when you're ready to find the Highlander that fits your crew.

The Land Cruiser Returns Smaller, Smarter, and Hybrid-Powered Toyota's most legendary off-roader is back at a price point that actually makes sense for folks who want a real body-on-frame SUV with hybrid muscle. Two trim choices, one boxy silhouette, and enough engineering under the skin to climb a forest road in the morning and haul kids to soccer practice that afternoon. Indiana drivers finally have an option that handles both jobs. Land Cruiser 1958 starts at $57,200 MSRP, while the Land Cruiser trim comes in at $63,275. Both trims share the same 326-horsepower i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain with full-time four-wheel drive. Toyota built the 250 Series on the TNGA-F platform with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and 6,000 pounds of towing capacity. Two Trims, One Hybrid Heart Toyota kept the powertrain story simple. Both the 1958 and the Land Cruiser grade run the i-FORCE MAX turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That combo cranks out 326 net horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, with full-time four-wheel drive standard. EPA estimates land at 22 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. For a body-on-frame SUV with a locking rear differential and a 6,000-pound tow rating, those numbers stack up well against anything else in the segment. The 1958 vs. the Land Cruiser Grade Out of the box, the 1958 sticks to the basics. Cloth seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, manual seat adjustments, and round LED headlights borrowed from the original FJ25. It looks the part on the trail and saves around $6,000 over the higher trim. Step up to the Land Cruiser grade, and you get SofTex synthetic leather, heated and ventilated power front seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a matching 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, ten speakers, wireless charging, a power liftgate, and rectangular LED headlights inspired by the FJ62. Feature Land Cruiser 1958 Land Cruiser Starting MSRP $57,200 $63,275 Engine 2.4L i-FORCE MAX Hybrid 2.4L i-FORCE MAX Hybrid Horsepower / Torque 326 hp / 465 lb-ft 326 hp / 465 lb-ft EPA MPG (City/Hwy/Combined) 22 / 25 / 23 22 / 25 / 23 Towing Capacity 6,000 lbs 6,000 lbs Headlights Round LED Rectangular LED Seating Material Fabric SofTex Heated & Ventilated Touchscreen 8-inch 12.3-inch Audio System 6 speakers 10 speakers (14-speaker JBL available) Power Liftgate Not Available Standard Multi-Terrain Select & Monitor Not Available Standard Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism Not Available Available Option Built for Indiana Backroads and Indiana Traffic You don't have to live near Moab to appreciate what this SUV can do. A TNGA-F frame and full-time four-wheel-drive system handle gravel, mud, and snow without drama. Standard CRAWL Control acts like off-road cruise control at low speeds, automatically modulating throttle and brakes so you can focus on steering through tricky spots. Locking center and rear differentials come standard on both trims, which is rare at this price. Multi-Terrain Select adds presets for mud, dirt, and sand on the higher trim. Around town, the hybrid system pulls smoothly from a stop, the steering feels lighter than you'd expect from a body-on-frame SUV, and the 8-speed automatic shifts cleanly through the gears. Ground clearance sits at 8.7 inches, with a 32-degree approach angle that swallows most off-camber pavement transitions without a scrape. Tech That Earns Its Keep Both trims include Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which covers pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, full-speed radar cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane tracing assist. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. A 2400-watt AC inverter in the cargo area can run a small fridge, power tools, or charging banks for a weekend at the campsite. Six USB-C ports keep phones topped off across both rows. Higher-trim buyers can also tack on a Premium Package, which bundles a 14-speaker JBL audio system, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, illuminated entry, and a power moonroof. An available Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism is the move for anyone who plans to take their SUV onto serious trails. Cargo space behind the second row measures 46.2 cubic feet, expanding to 82.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. Picking the Trim That Fits Your Wallet Buyers who want the hybrid powertrain and the off-road hardware without the extra cabin upgrades can stick with the 1958. It saves cash and still looks the part on any trailhead. Anyone who wants the bigger screens, SofTex seats, Multi-Terrain Select, and access to the Premium Package perks gets plenty for the extra $6,000 by stepping up. Either way, the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser hits a sweet spot Toyota hasn't offered in years, a serious off-roader that still works as a daily driver. Test Drive a Land Cruiser at Toyota of Muncie We've been getting questions about the new Land Cruiser since the first units rolled onto our lot. If you're in Muncie, Anderson, New Castle, or anywhere around east central Indiana, swing by and see one in person. Our team can walk you through both trims, set up a test drive on a mix of highway and backroad pavement, and answer questions about hybrid maintenance, towing setups, or financing options. We have factory-trained Toyota technicians on staff to keep your Land Cruiser running for the long haul, and the team here knows these vehicles inside and out. Come find out why this SUV is generating so much buzz around here.