2023 Toyota Highlander MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2023 Toyota Highlander gets up to 25 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 36 mpg as a hybrid, across 6 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2023 Toyota Highlander · 6 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

25MPG combined

22 city 29 highway

$2,500 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · auto start-stop

Best hybrid version

36MPG combined

36 city 35 highway

$1,750 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT

Best version saves $2,250 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,750 to $2,600 a year. Compared with 2022, the best gas version is up 1 mpg.

More complaints than a typical Highlander year

The 2023 drew 133 owner complaints in its first three years, against 114 for a typical Highlander year.

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 2023 Highlander's recalls and problems

Every 2023 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
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid	36 mpg	36 / 35	$1,750
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid AWD	35 mpg	35 / 35	$1,800
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · LTD PLAT EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT	35 mpg	35 / 34	$1,800
Gas
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · auto start-stop EPA listing: Highlander	25 mpg	22 / 29	$2,500
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander AWD	24 mpg	21 / 28	$2,600
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · no start-stop EPA listing: Highlander	24 mpg	21 / 28	$2,600

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT	$1,667	$139	$8,333
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$1,714	$143	$8,571
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · LTD PLAT	$1,714	$143	$8,571
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · auto start-stop	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,500	$208	$12,500
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · no start-stop	$2,500	$208	$12,500

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

2023: gas 25 mpg · hybrid 36 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 2023 Highlander compares

2023 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.

2023 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sorento Best: hybrid	37 mpg	26 mpg	$1,700
Toyota Highlander This page Best: hybrid	36 mpg	25 mpg	$1,750
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	36 mpg	25 mpg	$2,150
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: hybrid	34 mpg	26 mpg	$1,850
Ford Explorer Best: hybrid	27 mpg	24 mpg	$2,300
Chevrolet Blazer Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
GMC Acadia Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Kia Telluride Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Ford Edge Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Murano Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Volkswagen Atlas Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Honda Pilot Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Hyundai Palisade Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Subaru Ascent Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Honda Passport Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Buick Enclave Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950

2023 Highlander recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 201 owner complaints for the 2023 Highlander.

Owners most often describe hesitation (26 complaints, 13%), then unintended acceleration (16). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2023 Highlander recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2023 Toyota Highlander's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid gets 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 35 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2023 Highlander hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,800 a year to fuel against $2,600 for the gas model: $800 a year, or $4,000 over five years.

Does the 2023 Toyota Highlander need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2023 Toyota Highlander version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2023 Highlander's MPG compare with the 2022?

For 2023, the best gas version is rated 25 mpg, up 1 from 24 and the best hybrid version is rated 36 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 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.