The Toyota Grand Highlander does 30 mpg combined (29 city, 31 highway), which works out to about $1,280 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 36 mpg while 2.4L 4-cyl does 24 — a difference of $533 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Toyota Grand Highlander engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota Grand Highlander ranges from 36 down to 24 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $533 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 37 / 34 | 2024–2026 | $1,067 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 / 28 | 2024–2026 | $1,600 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Grand Highlander burns a gallon every 30 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 400 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.107 |
| Fuel per year | $1,280 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,400 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$214 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,175 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Grand Highlander gives up 2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31 out there against 29 in town, a 7% drop worth $85 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 29 mpg | $1,324 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31 mpg | $1,239 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2 mpg (7%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Grand Highlander changed over the years
Combined figure across the 3 model years the Grand Highlander was rated in, all of them at 30 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 / 31 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2025 | 29 / 31 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2024 | 29 / 31 | 2 | $1,280 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Toyota Grand Highlander — 2 engines across 2024–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,175. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Grand Highlander get?
30 mpg combined on average — 29 in the city and 31 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2024–2026.
How much does a Toyota Grand Highlander cost in fuel per year?
About $1,280 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,400 over five years, or 0.107 dollars a mile.
Which Grand Highlander engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 36 mpg, against 24 for the 2.4L 4-cyl — a difference of about $533 a year.
Is the Grand Highlander good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Grand Highlander figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Toyota Grand Highlander is $2,175 against the $1,280 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 36 and 24 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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