2026 Toyota Highlander · Trim vs trim
2026 Toyota Highlander XLE vs XSE: what's the difference?
The XSE costs $2,070 more. It starts at $48,340, and the XLE at $46,270. The XSE adds . In all, 8 parts differ, listed below.
Our Highlander data has all seven priced US 2026 Highlander gas/ grades, all four current factory option types and their verified grade restrictions. It doesn't have paint, upholstery colors, port/dealer , fleet equipment, earlier , separately covered Grand Highlander and announced 2027 battery-electric Highlander yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.
What changes, as they come
| What | XLE | XSE |
|---|---|---|
| Tire diameter | XLE30.0″ | XSE30.2″ |
| Wheel size | XLE18″ | XSE20″ |
| What | XLE | XSE |
|---|---|---|
| Rear axle | XLEMechanical AWD · controlled rear coupling | XSEDynamic Torque Vectoring AWD · separate rear couplings |
| Suspension | XLEIndependent MacPherson strut front / trailing-wishbone rear | XSEXSE sport-tuned springs, dampers and rear stabilizer |
| Wheels | XLE18-inch machined alloy wheels | XSE20-inch black alloy wheels |
| Tires | XLEP235/65R18 all-season | XSEP235/55R20 all-season |
| Front bumper | XLEStandard sculpted front bumper | XSEXSE longer sport nose and lower spoiler |
| Rear bumper | XLEStandard rear bumper | XSEXSE bumper with twin exhaust tips |
| Top | XLERoof rails · silver finish | XSEXSE black roof rails |
| Exterior trim | XLEChrome window surround · body-color mirrors | XSEXSE black window surround and mirror caps |
The same on both: horsepower (265 hp), combined mpg (24 mpg), city mpg (21 mpg), highway mpg (28 mpg) and cargo behind the third row (16.0 cu ft).
More Highlander answers
- XLE vs Hybrid XLE
- XLE vs XSE
- XLE vs Limited
- Limited vs Platinum
- Limited vs Hybrid Limited
- Hybrid XLE vs Hybrid Limited
- Hybrid Limited vs Hybrid Platinum
- All-wheel drive
- A hybrid powertrain
- Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD
- Eight seats
- A third row
- A panoramic glass roof
- A power moonroof
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated front seats
- A heated steering wheel
- A Panoramic View Monitor
- A head-up display
- JBL Premium Audio
- A 12.3-inch touchscreen
- A 120-volt AC outlet
- 1,500-watt AC outlets
- A plug-in hybrid powertrain
Build your own
Switch to the XLE in the list to see what goes away, or add to either and watch the drawing change.
The XSE, as it comes
↑ The answerXSE
$48,340
XSE
$48,340
- MPG
- mpg
- ·
- Power
- hp
- ·
- Cargo
- ft³
- ·
- Clearance
- ″
- ·
- Combined mpg
- mpg
- 21 city · 28 hwy · Toyota-published EPA estimate
- Horsepower
- hp
- 2.4L turbo · 310 lb-ft
- Cargo space
- ft³
- Behind occupied third row
- Ground clearance
- ″
- Toyota published minimum
- Curb weight
- lb
- Standard seating configuration · options vary
- Has AWD
- No Hybrid
- No Panoramic roof
- No Ventilated seats
- No Surround camera
- No JBL audio
Choose a trim
Packages & options
Technology
What your options change
This is a stock XSE. Pick a package and every part it swaps shows up here, and in orange on the SUV.
- Has AWD
- No Hybrid
- No Panoramic roof
- No Ventilated seats
- No Surround camera
- No JBL audio
- Drive
- Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD · separate rear couplings
- Transmission
- Direct Shift eight-speed automatic
- Seats
- 7 seats · SofTex · second-row captain’s chairs
- Touchscreen
- 8″ · wireless CarPlay / Android Auto
- Audio
- Six-speaker audio
- Roof
- Power tilt/slide moonroof
- Cargo, row 3 folded
- 48.4 cu ft · row 2 occupied
- Cargo, rear rows folded
- 84.3 cu ft
- Third-row legroom
- 28.0″
- Second-row legroom
- 38.7″
- Tires
- P235/55R20 all-season
- City / highway
- 21 / 28 mpg · Toyota-published EPA estimate
- Towing
- Up to 5,000 lb · proper equipment required
- Length / height
- 197.4″ / 68.1″
- Fuel tank
- 17.9 gallons
- Ground clearance
- 8.0″ · minimum
- AC outlets
- No 120V AC outlet
- Climate
- Three-zone automatic · vents in both rear rows
- USB ports
- Five · one USB-A media and four USB-C charging
- Hybrid charging
- Not a hybrid
- Safety
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ · driver supervision required