Three-row SUVs have long been the go-to choice for families who need space, comfort, and versatility. Whether it’s shuttling kids to school, running errands, or embarking on long weekend road trips, these vehicles are built to handle it all. But with rising fuel costs, efficiency has become just as important as passenger capacity.That’s where self-charging hybrids step in, with their ability to lower fuel expenses without the requirement to do anything different, such as plugging in. The hybrid journey began around the turn of the century, with the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, and Japanese companies have led the way since. However, when it comes to Japanese three-row self-charging hybrid SUVs, the options are surprisingly limited. Only four exist, all from the same automaker. And, to make matters more interesting, two of them are nearly identical, with this particular model coming out on top.In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, and Car and Driver.2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Towing JetskisRelated 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: Everything Confirmed So FarSlotting in between the Toyota Sequoia and Highlander, the Grand Highlander Hybrid aims to tick many boxes for growing families. The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Is The Most Efficient Three-Row Japanese SUV The EPA Rates It At 36 MPG Combined red 2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderThe 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is a special SUV that delivers an estimated 36 mpg combined in its base hybrid form, putting it in competition with some of the world’s most efficient hybrid powertrains. Its more powerful Hybrid Max variant drops to 27 mpg combined, which still puts it ahead of most gas-powered three-row SUVs.It will get some competition from future three-row SUVs from other manufacturers, but it’s the most efficient Japanese model, mostly because other companies have chosen to go the plug-in hybrid route or opted to compete in the more lucrative compact crossover hybrid SUV segment, which makes three rows of seats a challenge. How the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Is Ideal for Families For families, a spacious three-row SUV like the Toyota Grand Highlander isn’t a luxury—it’s often a necessity. Daily life demands a vehicle that can handle everything from school drop-offs and grocery runs to weekend sports tournaments and carpools. With seating for up to eight and ample cargo space, a large SUV provides that flexibility.The challenge with such larger SUVs, however, has always been fuel economy. Their size and weight typically translate to higher fuel consumption, which adds up quickly for families on the go, and hybrid technology makes a real difference by improving efficiency without sacrificing power, and sometimes even enhancing it. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs. Competition Toyota Grand Highlander HybridAudi Q7Hyundai Santa Fe HybridPowertrain2.5-liter I-4 or 2.4-liter turbo I-4 + 2 motors2.0-liter turbo I-4 or 3.0-liter turbo V-6 mild hybrid1.6-liter I-4 + 1 motorTransmissionContinuously variable or 6-speed automatic8-speed automatic6-speed automaticPower245–362 hp261–335 hp231 hpTorque175–400 lb-ft273–369 lb-ft271 lb-ftDrivelineFront or all-wheel driveAll-wheel driveFront or all-wheel driveRange464–619 miles450–495 miles602–637 milesEfficiency City26–37 mpg18–20 mpg35–36 mpgEfficiency Highway27–34 mpg23–26 mpg34–35 mpgEfficiency Combined27–36 mpg20–22 mpg34–36 mpgSeatingSevenSevenSevenPassenger Volume149–153.3 cubic feet138 cubic feet151 cubic feetCargo Volume Behind Front Seats97.5 cubic feet69.6 cubic feet79.6 cubic feetCargo Volume Behind Middle Seats57.9 cubic feet35.7 cubic feet40.5 cubic feetCargo Volume Behind Rear Seats20.6 cubic feet14.2 cubic feet14.6 cubic feetStarting Price$45,380$60,500$37,700The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is one of the most clever, fuel-efficient SUVs, as well as the most spacious, outside of truck-framed full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. Even at its most constrictive configuration, it nearly tops its nearest rival, and outclasses the others in passenger and cargo space, at its best.Toyota-Grand-Highlander-Hybrid Fuel SavingsRelatedHow Much Gas Money You'll Save Over 5 Years With The Toyota Grand Highlander HybridThe Toyota Grand Highlander stands out from the crowd as a three-row midsize SUV loaded with amenities, but the hybrid version is even better. The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Is Part Of A Triad Of Three-Row SUVs Toyota In 2001, Toyota entered the three-row SUV market with the Highlander, a mid-size crossover that offered optional third-row seating by 2004. While it provided family-friendly versatility, some found its usable space constrictive, compared to competitors. After years of experimenting with various designs and models, Toyota introduced the cost-effective Grand Highlander in 2023, an elongated version built on the same GA-K platform as Highlander. 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid Size Specs Grand Highlander HybridHighlander HybridMSRP Range$45,380–$58,775$46,020–$53,675Length201.4 inches194.9 inchesWheelbase116.1 inches112.2 inchesWidth78.3 inches76 inchesHeight70.1 inches68.1 inchesCurb Weight4,465–4,905 pounds4,515–4,595 poundsSeatingSeven or eightSeven or eightPassenger Volume149–153.3 cubic feet136.3–139.5 cubic feetCargo Volume Behind Front Seats97.5 cubic feet84.3 cubic feetCargo Volume Behind Middle Seats57.9 cubic feet48.4 cubic feetCargo Volume Behind Rear Seats20.6 cubic feet16 cubic feetNoticeably larger than the Highlander Hybrid, the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offers more third-row legroom, increased cargo space, and a wider cabin for improved passenger comfort. While the Highlander may do the trick for smaller families with a need for less space, the Grand Highlander provides an adult-friendly third row, thanks to a longer wheelbase and boxier design. 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs. Grand Highlander Specifications Grand Highlander HybridGrand HighlanderMSRP Range$45,380–$58,775$39,520–$51,925Powertrain2.5-liter I-4 or 2.4-liter turbo I-4 + 2 motors2.4-liter turbo inline-4TransmissionContinuously variable or 6-speed automatic8-speed automaticPower245–362 hp265 hpTorque175–400 lb-ft310 lb-ftDrivelineFront or all-wheel driveFront or all-wheel driveRange464–619 miles392–427 milesEfficiency City26–37 mpg20–21 mpgEfficiency Highway27–34 mpg26–28 mpgEfficiency Combined27–36 mpg22–24 mpg0-60 MPH5.6–7.8 seconds7.0 secondsTop Speed113 mph113 mphEstimated Annual Fuel Costs$1,300–$1,750$1,950–$2,100Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) debuted in 1997 with the Prius, revolutionizing fuel efficiency by seamlessly blending gas and electric power. The 2.5-liter hybrid system in the Grand Highlander Hybrid builds on this legacy, far exceeding the ICE model’s efficiency even at its least efficient, while outperforming the ICE model. Choices For Japanese Three-Row Hybrid SUVs Are Limited To One Company Toyota Highlander Hybrid Side ShotToyota has long dominated the hybrid market, setting the standard with its HSD technology. Nowhere is this leadership more apparent than in the three-row hybrid SUV segment, where Toyota holds a complete monopoly. Of the available options, beyond Grand Highlander, all are Toyotas: the Highlander Hybrid, Sequoia, and Lexus TX 500h. Three-Row Japanese Hybrid SUVs Comparison Toyota Highlander HybridLexus TX 500hToyota SequoiaPowertrain2.5-liter inline-4 + 3 motors2.4-liter turbo I-4 + 2 motors3.5-liter turbo V-6 + 1 motorTransmissionContinuously variableContinuously variable or 6-speed automatic10-speed automaticPower243 hp366 hp437 hpTorque175 lb-ft406 lb-ft583 lb-ftDrivelineAll-wheel driveFront or all-wheel driveRear- or four-wheel driveRange598–616 miles481 miles450–495 milesEfficiency City35–36 mpg27 mpg19–21 mpgEfficiency Highway34–35 mpg28 mpg22–24 mpgEfficiency Combined35–36 mpg27 mpg20–22 mpgEstimated Annual Fuel Costs$1,300–$1,350$2,200$2,100–$2,350MSRP Range$46,020–$53,675$70,010–$73,160$62,425–$83,915 The 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Offers 3-Row Space For Smaller Families As efficient as its Grand sibling, the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a midsize three-row SUV offering a balance of efficiency and practicality for the smaller family. While its third row is tighter, it remains a solid choice for families needing occasional extra seating in a smaller footprint that’s easier to maneuver while still providing ample cargo space. The 2025 Lexus TX 500h Is A Luxury Take On The Grand Highlander The 2025 Lexus TX 500h is the luxury three-row SUV equivalent of the Grand Highlander. It features the 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain paired with a six-speed automatic. It prioritizes premium comfort over cargo capacity, and its estimated 27 mpg combined is more efficient than gas-only luxury SUVs while delivering strong acceleration. The 2025 Toyota Sequoia Is A Powerful And Efficient Full-Size SUV The 2025 Toyota Sequoia is a full-size, truck-like three-row SUV designed for the power and capability for which large SUV are renowned. It comes exclusively with the i-Force Max twin-turbo V-6 hybrid powertrain, a 3.4L twin-turbo V6 hybrid producing towing-intended power and torque, while still delivering respectable efficiency.Red 2024 Toyota Grand HighlanderRelatedWhat Makes The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid SpecialThe Grand Highlander Hybrid is perhaps the most potent three-row SUV Toyota has ever built. The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Is The Most Efficient Japanese Hybrid Three-Row SUV Toyota In the world of three-row Japanese self-charging hybrid SUVs, the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid stands out as the most well-rounded choice. With a roomy third row, expanded cargo capacity, and proven hybrid efficiency, it builds on the strengths of the Highlander Hybrid while addressing the latter’s space limitations.Together, Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrids dominate their segment, offering families a balance of fuel savings, practicality, and Toyota’s renowned reliability. With the Toyota Sequoia Hybrid and Lexus TX 500h they illustrate Toyota’s monopoly on the segment, as Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru have chosen not to compete in this space. Instead, they focus on smaller hybrid crossovers, like the Honda CR-V Hybrid and incoming Subaru Forester and Crosstrek models, or they pursue plug-in hybrid options, such as Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV and the upcoming Nisan Rogue.While the market for three-row hybrid SUVs seems ripe for competition, as family needs expand, Toyota remains the only brand committed to non-plug-in hybrid options in this category, and until other automakers step up, the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid remains the clear front-runner for buyers who want an efficient and spacious SUV.