The Toyota Highlander does 24.4 mpg combined (22.9 city, 26.6 highway), which works out to about $1,574 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 35.7 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 18 — a difference of $1,057 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Toyota Highlander engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Toyota Highlander ranges from 35.7 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,057 a year across 8 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 | 35.7 / 35 | 2020–2026 | $1,076 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 28.3 / 28 | 2011–2019 | $1,357 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 27.4 / 25 | 2006–2010 | $1,466 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 20 / 26.4 | 2001–2026 | $1,670 | |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 20 / 25.1 | 2009–2019 | $1,745 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 19.2 / 25.8 | 2008–2022 | $1,778 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17 / 23 | 2004–2007 | $2,021 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 21 | 2001–2003 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Toyota Highlander burns a gallon every 24.4 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 492 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.131 |
| Fuel per year | $1,574 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,870 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$80 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,649 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Toyota Highlander gives up 3.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.6 out there against 22.9 in town, a 16% drop worth $233 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 | 22.9 mpg | $1,677 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.6 mpg | $1,444 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.7 mpg (16%) | Typical for its type |
How the Highlander changed over the years
The Highlander peaked in 2024 at 30.5 mpg (29 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 20 — 10.5 mpg apart, or $661 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 29.5. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,302 | |
| 2025 | 28.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2024 | 29 / 32 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2023 | 29 / 32 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2022 | 28.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2021 | 28.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2020 | 28.5 / 32 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2019 | 23.3 / 26.3 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2018 | 23.3 / 26.3 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2017 | 23.3 / 26.3 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2016 | 22 / 26 | 3 | $1,620 | |
| 2015 | 22 / 26 | 3 | $1,620 | |
| 2014 | 22 / 26 | 3 | $1,620 | |
| 2013 | 22 / 25.7 | 3 | $1,648 | |
| 2012 | 22 / 25.7 | 3 | $1,648 | |
| 2011 | 22 / 25.7 | 3 | $1,648 | |
| 2010 | 21.7 / 25.3 | 3 | $1,692 | |
| 2009 | 21.7 / 25.3 | 3 | $1,692 | |
| 2008 | 22.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2007 | 21.3 / 24.3 | 3 | $1,722 | |
| 2006 | 21.3 / 24.3 | 3 | $1,692 | |
| 2005 | 18 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2004 | 18 / 24 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 23 | 2 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 65 EPA ratings of the Toyota Highlander — 8 engines across 2001–2026. 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 $2,649. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Toyota Highlander get?
24.4 mpg combined on average — 22.9 in the city and 26.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2026.
How much does a Toyota Highlander cost in fuel per year?
About $1,574 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,870 over five years, or 0.131 dollars a mile.
Which Highlander engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 35.7 mpg, against 18 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,057 a year.
Is the Highlander good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world 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 Highlander is $2,649 against the $1,574 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 36 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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