The 2025 Toyota Highlander gets 24 to 35 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD at 35 mpg; the best regular gas version is the 2025 Highlander #1 (4-cyl 2.4 L) at 25 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, the Highlander ranks 27th (tied with 4 others) of 40 for combined mileage (25 mpg), 24th (tied with 3 others) of 40 for yearly fuel cost ($2,500 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 31st of 40 for tailpipe CO2 (359 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,300 a year and puts out 327.5 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 26 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Highlander's best version, 2 other models get the same and 221 get less. The 2025 Highlander's cheapest version costs $1,800 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 24 cost less, 2 the same and 215 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz | 2025 Santa Cruz FWD | 25 | $2,500 | 356 |
| 27 | 2025 Lexus RX | 2025 RX 350 | 25 | $3,100 | 354 |
| 27 | 2025 Lincoln Corsair | 2025 Corsair FWD | 25 | $2,500 | 357 |
| 27 | 2025 Toyota HighlanderThis car | 2025 Highlander #1 | 25 | $2,500 | 359 |
| 32 | 2025 Cadillac XT5 | 2025 XT5 FWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 24 | $2,950 | 370 |
| 33 | 2025 Cadillac XT6 | 2025 XT6 FWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 23 | $2,950 | 386 |
| 33 | 2025 Nissan Murano | 2025 Murano FWD | 23 | $2,700 | 387 |
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2025 Highlander #1, 4-cyl 2.4 L: 22 mpg city, 29 highway, 25 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Highlander version is $2,500 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Blazer costs $1,671 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Blazer costs $8,355 less to fuel than the Highlander (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Highlander (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Highlander | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Chevrolet Blazer | 2025 Blazer EV FWD | 104 MPGe | $750 | not the same measure (MPGe and mpg) | $1,050 less a year | Compare |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz | 2025 Santa Cruz FWD | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 10 lower | $700 more a year | Compare |
| 2025 Lexus RX | 2025 RX 350 | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 10 lower | $1,300 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWDHybrid | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,800 | 254 | cheapest |
| 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLATHybrid | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 34 | 35 | $1,800 | 253 | cheapest |
| 2025 Highlander #1 | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,500 | 359 | +$700 |
| 2025 Highlander #2 | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 | 370 | +$800 |
| 2025 Highlander AWD | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 | 371 | +$800 |
The cheapest-to-run hybrid, the 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT (35 mpg, $1,800 a year), costs $700 a year less in fuel than the cheapest-to-run gas version, the 2025 Highlander #1 (25 mpg, $2,500 a year).
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 Highlander; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD puts out 254 grams per mile; across the 5 tested versions the figure runs from 253 to 371.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD: fuel economy score 7 (5 to 7 across versions), greenhouse gas score 7 (5 to 7 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Highlander gas version and hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 22 mpg | 28 mpg | 5 | 7 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2017 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 8 | 6 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2018 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 8 | 6 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2019 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 8 | 6 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2020 | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2021 | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2022 | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2023 | 25 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2024 | 25 mpg | 36 mpg | 6 | 1 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 25 mpg | 35 mpg | 5 | this page | |
| 2026 | 24 mpg | 35 mpg | 3 | same as 2025 |
Compared with the 2024 model: 6 versions were tested then and 5 now; the best figure went from 36 to 35 mpg (down 1).
The 2026 model has 3 tested versions.
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Highlander #1, 4-cyl 2.4 L | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Highlander #2, 4-cyl 2.4 L | 24 mpg | 25 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2025 Highlander AWD, 4-cyl 2.4 L | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | no change |
2 2024 versions have no match in 2025.
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2025 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 3 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 11 complaints, 4 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
11 complaints for the 2025 Toyota Highlander are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | |
| Service Brakes | 2 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | |
| Electrical System | 1 |
2 of the 11 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
4 recalls are on file for the 2025 Toyota Highlander at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Fix: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the seat belt anchor with a new bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models.
Fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry ...
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge.
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Highlander itself is at 25 mpg.
More Toyota models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD with 35 mpg combined (35 city, 35 highway). Among the regular gas versions it is the 2025 Highlander #1 at 25 mpg.
The 2025 Toyota Highlander costs between $1,800 and $2,600 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD at $1,800; the dearest is the 2025 Highlander #2 at $2,600. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD: 35 mpg combined (35 city, 35 highway); 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT: 35 mpg combined (35 city, 34 highway); 2025 Highlander AWD: 24 mpg combined (21 city, 28 highway).
In the agency's tests the best hybrid, the 2025 Highlander Hybrid AWD, gets 35 mpg combined and the best non-hybrid, the 2025 Highlander #1, gets 25 mpg: 10 mpg more for the hybrid.
The 2025 Toyota Highlander is 27th of 40 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Kia Niro at 53 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Lincoln Corsair at 25 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Cadillac XT5 at 24 mpg.
The 2024 model had 6 tested versions and the 2025 model has 5. The best figure went from 36 to 35 mpg (down 1).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 3 variants; the first 2 are shown.
11 complaints for the 2025 Toyota Highlander are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Vehicle Speed Control (3 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 4 recalls for the 2025 Toyota Highlander (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2025 Toyota Highlander: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Toyota Highlander: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Toyota Highlander: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Toyota Highlander: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Toyota Highlander: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.