2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and practicality while maximizing passenger comfort. In its debut year, the Taos quickly became Volkswagen's third-best-selling model in the U.S., surpassing the Jetta by a significant margin. Despite its higher base price compared to the Jetta, the Taos attracted buyers with its stylish design and spacious interior, which was nearly as roomy as the larger Tiguan. The Taos SEL trim, with its bold 19-inch alloy wheels and upscale interior, provided a premium look and feel, resembling a more affordable Audi.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, offered a conservative yet familiar design, reminiscent of the popular RAV4 but on a larger scale. This three-row SUV provided ample seating for up to eight passengers and boasted impressive cargo space. The interior of the Grand Highlander emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While the glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were noticeable, the overall material quality was decent. The climate system was user-friendly, but the infotainment interface had some drawbacks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive models, while all-wheel drive versions featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Despite its sporty appearance, the Taos struggled with powertrain response, often delivering unpredictable surges of torque or delays in acceleration. The dual-clutch transmission exhibited halting behavior, which could be frustrating for drivers. During testing, the Taos averaged 26.8 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 28 mpg in combined driving.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. This powertrain allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate quickly, with the traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive towing capacity and acceleration, it came with a fuel economy trade-off, achieving 27 mpg compared to the standard hybrid's 36 mpg. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 23.3 mpg on a mountainous route, with an expected 24-25 mpg in typical driving conditions.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a range of interior features, with S trim featuring cloth seats, SE trim with CloudTex artificial leather, and SEL trim with real leather. The SE and SEL trims included cold-weather equipment, such as heated side mirrors and front seats. The Taos provided ample interior space, with a comfortable eight-way power driver's seat and generous rear-seat room. The cargo area offered 27.9 cubic feet of space behind the back seat, expanding to 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating in all three rows, with a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery in the Platinum trim. The second-row captain's chairs offered flexibility, allowing easy access to the third row. The Grand Highlander boasted nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, with 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row and 57.9 cubic feet with the third row folded. However, the long rear doors and sharp corners posed challenges for families with small children.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came equipped with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL trim featuring a 10.25-inch display. Infotainment systems ranged from basic to fully featured, with the SEL offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to music accounts. The system was user-friendly, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, and the Platinum trim included advanced features like a head-up display and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with the Taos S including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SE trim added VW's IQ.Drive collection of ADAS, including Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Taos received decent crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though they were not perfect.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver-assistance technologies. While the Proactive Driving Assist system was found to be irritating, the overall safety tech operated with accuracy and refinement. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.