2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover was a testament to understated luxury, maintaining its classic design lineage with subtle updates. Despite its size, the Range Rover managed to convey a sense of elegance without the ostentation seen in some of its high-end competitors. The interior mirrored this simplicity, with a minimalist dashboard that featured a touchscreen, an engine start button, and a small shifter. While the materials were generally high-quality, the presence of too much plastic in the long-wheelbase SE model was a minor drawback.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid adopted a more conservative design, reminiscent of the popular RAV4 but on a larger scale. This approach resulted in a spacious vehicle capable of seating up to eight passengers, with a focus on functionality over form. The interior, especially in the Platinum trim, offered a touch of luxury with leather and artificial suede upholstery, though the use of hard plastics in some areas was noticeable. The Grand Highlander prioritized practicality, with logically arranged controls and a straightforward climate system, though the infotainment interface left room for improvement.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrains, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The base engine was a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with a mild hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid version of this engine produced 543 hp and 406 lb-ft. The V8 option, sourced from BMW, provided 523 hp and 553 lb-ft in SE and Autobiography models, and 606 hp in the SV variant, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Despite its size, the Range Rover excelled in comfort and refinement, with excellent ride quality and body control. Off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like a two-speed transfer case and height-adjustable air suspension.

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 horsepower. This setup allowed for quick acceleration, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission. While the Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel efficiency, achieving 27 mpg compared to the standard hybrid's 36 mpg, it offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though handling was secure only up to a point, with early tire scrub and nose push in curves. Visibility was excellent, but the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered versatile seating configurations, with three-row models accommodating seven passengers and two-row models seating five. The long-wheelbase version provided unmatched second-row legroom of 48 inches without the third row. Cargo space was limited with the third row in place, offering 11 cubic feet, but expanded to 83.5 cubic feet with seats folded. The split tailgate and air suspension facilitated loading and unloading. The Range Rover could tow up to 8,200 pounds, aligning with segment expectations.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, with comfortable seating across all three rows and nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured upscale materials, though some storage areas were unlined. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed for easy third-row access, and the rearmost seats were comfortable for adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 20.6 cubic feet, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with seats folded. The Grand Highlander offered practical storage solutions, though the rear doors' design posed challenges for child seat installation.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover came equipped with a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Pivi Pro infotainment system had improved reliability, but the lack of physical controls made it less user-friendly. The natural-language voice recognition system helped mitigate this issue, allowing for easy control of functions like radio and temperature settings.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with higher trims receiving a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connected services. While the infotainment was generally easy to use, the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were drawbacks. The digital voice assistant was responsive, and the Platinum trim included advanced features like a head-up display and a premium audio system.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover included standard driver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. While the safety tech was effective, the lack of advanced systems like Super Cruise was noted. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. The Proactive Driving Assist system was found to be more of an annoyance than a help. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but missed the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to headlight and frontal-impact ratings.