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.

How the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Outdrives the Honda CR-V Shopping for a compact SUV around Muncie usually comes down to two names that have topped the sales charts for years. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V both earn their loyal followings, yet only one offers a hybrid in every trim, stronger standard output, and gas mileage that keeps more cash in your wallet. This look at both best-sellers shows why the RAV4 keeps winning Indiana driveways. Every 2026 RAV4 comes standard as a hybrid, while the CR-V splits its lineup between gas and hybrid trims. With 226 to 236 horsepower, the RAV4 tops the CR-V's 190-hp gas engine and holds its own against the 204-hp Honda hybrid. RAV4 fuel numbers reach the mid-40s mpg, which means fewer pump stops for Muncie commuters. Powertrains and the Power Advantage Toyota rebuilt the RAV4 from the ground up for 2026, and the biggest change sits under the hood. Every trim now runs a 2.5-liter hybrid setup that makes 226 horsepower with front-wheel drive and 236 with all-wheel drive. Toyota also offers plug-in models that can reach up to 320 horsepower. Those trims give you quick pickup and short all-electric trips. Honda takes a split approach. Its LX, EX, and EX-L trims use a turbocharged 1.5-liter gas four-cylinder rated at 190 horsepower. Want a hybrid? You start at the Sport Hybrid, where a 2.0-liter two-motor system makes 204 horsepower. In any 2026 Toyota RAV4 vs. Honda CR-V matchup, that split shapes the rest. Toyota hands you a hybrid and more power right at the base price. Honda asks you to spend up first. Fuel Numbers That Add Up Gas mileage keeps the RAV4 ahead for daily driving. Toyota's front-drive LE carries an EPA-estimated 47 mpg city and 43 mpg combined, and even the rugged Woodland stays near 38 combined. Plug-in models push past 45 miles of electric range before the gas engine wakes up. Many short trips run on battery alone. Honda's hybrid answers with an EPA-estimated 43 mpg city and 40 combined in front-drive form. Those are strong numbers. But one catch shows up at the register. You only reach those figures by moving into the pricier hybrid trims, while the RAV4 gives you hybrid mileage on the very first rung of the ladder. Tech, Safety, and Cabin Space Both SUVs load up on driver aids as standard, so nobody rides without a safety net. Toyota equips every RAV4 with its latest Safety Sense 4.0 suite, plus a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Higher trims add a 12.9-inch touchscreen and a built-in Drive Recorder dash cam. Honda counters with Honda Sensing on all trims, a 9-inch touchscreen, and available Google built-in on the top hybrid. Inside, the CR-V holds a slight edge in maximum cargo room at 76.5 cubic feet, so that heavy haulers will notice the extra space. RAV4 fights back with power outlets, up to five USB-C ports, and a tow rating of 3,500 pounds. That number roughly triples the CR-V hybrid's towing capacity. It counts for a lot if a small trailer or boat sits in your future. Ownership and Resale Toyota's track record follows the RAV4 wherever it goes. Years of strong reliability scores and high resale numbers help. The money you put in tends to come back when you sell or trade. Both brands build solid SUVs, so you can't go wrong. Still, the RAV4's history gives Muncie buyers one more reason to feel sure about a long-term buy. 2026 RAV4 vs. CR-V Trim Comparison Tier 2026 RAV4 Trim RAV4 Starting MSRP RAV4 Powertrain 2026 CR-V Trim CR-V Starting MSRP CR-V Powertrain Entry LE $31,900 Hybrid, 226-236 hp LX $30,920 Gas 1.5T, 190 hp Sporty SE $34,700 Hybrid, 226-236 hp Sport Hybrid $35,630 Hybrid, 204 hp Premium XLE Premium $36,100 Hybrid, 226-236 hp EX-L $35,400 Gas 1.5T, 190 hp Rugged Woodland $39,900 Hybrid AWD, 236 hp TrailSport Hybrid $38,800 Hybrid AWD, 204 hp Sport-Tech XSE $41,300 Hybrid AWD, 236 hp Sport-L Hybrid $38,725 Hybrid, 204 hp Top Limited $43,300 Hybrid AWD, 236 hp Sport Touring Hybrid $42,550 Hybrid AWD, 204 hp At a Glance 2026 Toyota RAV4 2026 Honda CR-V Standard powertrain Hybrid on every trim Gas on base trims, hybrid on upper trims Horsepower 226-236 hp hybrid, up to 320 hp plug-in 190 hp gas, 204 hp hybrid Fuel economy (EPA est.) Up to 47 city / 43 combined mpg Up to 43 city / 40 combined mpg (hybrid) Max towing Up to 3,500 lbs Around 1,000 lbs (hybrid) Max cargo room Roomy two-row layout Up to 76.5 cu. ft. Standard safety suite Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 Honda Sensing Top touchscreen 12.9-inch 9-inch Starting MSRP figures exclude destination charges and can change. Ask us for current pricing and offers. Why Buy from Toyota of Muncie We think the choice gets clear once you sit in both. Our 2026 RAV4 pairs standard hybrid power, stronger output, and better fuel numbers with towing muscle and the resale name Toyota is known for. Our team can walk you through each trim, from the wallet-friendly LE to the loaded Limited. We'll match one to how you drive around Muncie. Nothing beats feeling the difference behind the wheel. Come see our RAV4 inventory in person and take a few trims for a test drive. Our product experts can answer every question about the hybrid range, all-wheel drive, and the features that fit your week. We'd love to help you find the right one.