2011 Toyota Highlander MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2011 Toyota Highlander gets up to 22 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 28 mpg as a hybrid, across 4 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2011 Toyota Highlander · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

22MPG combined

20 city 25 highway

$3,050 a year to fuel

2.7L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

28MPG combined

28 city 28 highway

$2,400 a year to fuel

3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,400 to $3,550 a year. Compared with 2010, the best hybrid version is up 2 mpg.

Fewer complaints than a typical Highlander year

The 2011 drew 44 owner complaints in its first three years, against 114 for a typical Highlander year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

No Highlander year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2016 and 2017. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Highlander year ranked The 2011 Highlander's recalls and problems

Every 2011 Highlander version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid 4WD	28 mpg	28 / 28	$2,400
Gas
2.7L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander 2WD	22 mpg	20 / 25	$3,050
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander 2WD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,350
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander 4WD	19 mpg	17 / 22	$3,550

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$2,395	$200	$11,973
2.7L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,048	$254	$15,239
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,352	$279	$16,762
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,645

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Toyota Highlander MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 22 to 25 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2023. Hybrid: 26 to 36 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2011: gas 22 mpg · hybrid 28 mpg

Show as a table

Toyota Highlander best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	22	26
2011	22	28
2012	22	28
2013	22	28
2014	22	28
2015	22	28
2016	22	28
2017	23	29
2018	23	29
2019	23	29
2020	24	36
2021	24	36
2022	24	36
2023	25	36
2024	25	36
2025	25	35
2026	24	35

Every Highlander year's ratings in one table

How the 2011 Highlander compares

2011 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2011 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	29 mpg	21 mpg	$2,850
Toyota Highlander This page Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,400
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Ford Edge Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,200
Ford Explorer Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Nissan Murano Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Honda Pilot Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Dodge Durango Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
GMC Acadia Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Buick Enclave Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,700
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$4,850

2011 Highlander recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 186 owner complaints for the 2011 Highlander.

Most-reported area: steering (34 complaints, 18%). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2011 Highlander recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2011 Toyota Highlander's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 3.5L 6-cyl gets 20 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 19 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2011 Highlander hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.47 a gallon), the hybrid costs $2,400 a year to fuel against $3,550 for the gas model: $1,150 a year, or $5,750 over five years.

Does the 2011 Toyota Highlander need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2011 Toyota Highlander version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2011 Highlander's MPG compare with the 2010?

For 2011, the best gas version is rated 22 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 28 mpg, up 2 from 26.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.