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Three powertrains, four trim names, ten configurations. Pick the powertrain first and the rest of this gets simple.
This is the decision that actually matters. Everything after it is equipment.
| Gas | Hybrid | Hybrid MAX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4L turbocharged four | 2.5L hybrid | Turbocharged hybrid |
| Horsepower | 265 hp | About 245 hp net combined | 362 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | Not published as a combined figure | 400 lb-ft |
| All-wheel drive | Available | Varies by trim | Standard |
| Plug in? | Not applicable | No | No |
| Offered on | LE, XLE, Limited, Platinum | LE, XLE, Limited, Nightshade | Limited, Platinum |
| Best for | Lowest entry point | Commuting and fuel cost | Towing and passing power |
Toyota's configurator shows ten. They are four trim names spread across three powertrains, which is far easier to shop once it is laid out this way.
2.4-liter turbocharged four, 265 hp and 310 lb-ft. The lowest entry point into a genuinely large three-row.
2.5-liter hybrid, around 245 net combined horsepower. The efficiency choice, and the only place the Nightshade appears.
Turbocharged hybrid, 362 hp and 400 lb-ft, all-wheel drive standard. The towing and passing choice, offered on two trims only.
Pricing is not shown on this page because Grand Highlander MSRP varies by configuration and we would rather quote you a verified figure for the exact build than a range that turns out to be wrong. Call (205) 553-3325 or check the current inventory listing. Equipment shown is Toyota's published information for the 2026 model year. Confirm exact content on the specific vehicle you are considering. See Toyota's official Grand Highlander page. Inventory changes weekly, so call to confirm which configurations are in stock.
Three questions, and each one points at a different powertrain.
Four hundred lb-ft and standard all-wheel drive is what you want on a wet ramp at Lake Tuscaloosa. The Limited keeps the price below the Platinum while giving up nothing that matters when there is a trailer behind you.
Sixty miles each way up I-20 and I-59 to Birmingham is where the standard Hybrid earns back its premium. The XLE clears the base trim on equipment without reaching for leather you may not need.
If the job is moving seven or eight people around Tuscaloosa and Northport without towing, the gas model is the least complicated answer and the cheapest way into the size you came for.
They share a word and almost nothing else. The Hybrid is a 2.5-liter system tuned for fuel economy. The Hybrid MAX is turbocharged, makes 362 horsepower, and comes with all-wheel drive as standard.
People come in asking for "the hybrid" and get shown whichever is on the lot. Ask which system it is before you drive it, because the answer changes what the vehicle is for. We cover this in more depth on our Grand Highlander hybrid page.
If you want the blacked-out treatment, the powertrain decision is made for you. There is no gas Nightshade and no Hybrid MAX Nightshade. It is the standard Hybrid or nothing.
That is a genuinely good combination for a Tuscaloosa commute, so it is not much of a compromise. It is just worth knowing before you go looking for a version that does not exist.
We are at 3325 Skyland Blvd E, just off I-20 and I-59. With this lineup the most useful test drive is a standard Hybrid followed immediately by a Hybrid MAX. They feel like different vehicles, and ten minutes in each makes the choice obvious.
Sales is open 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday and until 5:30 PM Saturday. Coming from Birmingham, Hoover, Bessemer or Northport? Call (205) 553-3325 and we will have them ready.
Not sure you need the bigger one? Compare against the 2026 Highlander trim lineup first. Ready to move? Start a trade-in valuation.
It depends how you count, which is why shoppers get confused. Toyota's configurator shows ten configurations, but they are built from four trim names across three powertrains. The clearer way to shop it is to pick your powertrain first, gas, Hybrid or Hybrid MAX, then pick a trim within it.
They are two different systems, not two tunes of one. The Hybrid is the 2.5-liter efficiency setup at around 245 net combined horsepower. The Hybrid MAX is turbocharged, makes 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft, and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. The MAX is the towing and passing choice.
The XLE is where most buyers land. It clears the entry LE on equipment without reaching Limited money, and it is offered in both gas and Hybrid so the powertrain choice stays open. If you want leather and the bigger screens, Limited is the next genuine step.
Yes, and it is a hybrid. The Nightshade takes the blacked-out exterior treatment and pairs it with the standard Hybrid powertrain. If you want the darkened look, that is the configuration to ask for, and it is the only place the two come together.
The Hybrid MAX, on torque alone. Four hundred lb-ft and standard all-wheel drive is the combination you want on a wet boat ramp. Tow ratings vary by configuration, so bring us the trailer weight and we will check it against the specific build rather than quoting a number that may not apply.
Yes, meaningfully. It is longer and taller, with a third row adults can genuinely use and real cargo space behind it. If you have been apologising to whoever sits in the back of a regular Highlander, this is the vehicle that fixes it.
Pricing moves with configuration and we would rather quote you a real number than a range that turns out to be wrong. Call us at (205) 553-3325 or check the current inventory listing, and we will give you the figure for the exact build you are looking at.
Yes, and you should, because they are genuinely different vehicles to drive despite the shared name. Pulling out onto Skyland Boulevard the MAX feels like a different class of vehicle. Call ahead at (205) 553-3325 and we will confirm what is on the ground.
Same name, different vehicles. Ten minutes in each and you will know which one you came for.
Tuscaloosa Toyota | 3325 Skyland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
