Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. Available in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, the Grand Highlander offered a comfortable interior with Softex or real leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and ample storage, making it an ideal road-trip vehicle.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid continued the evolutionary improvements of its predecessors, maintaining its attractive design with new sheet metal and chassis construction. The front fascia featured a frameless grille with a curved wing bar, creating a visual connection with the headlights. The Crosstrek Hybrid was available in Sport and Limited trims, offering a balance of rugged utility and refined comfort. Inside, the cabin showcased Subaru's straightforward design philosophy, with soft-touch surfaces and durable plastics. The gray StarTex seats with orange contrast stitching added a subtle design flourish. The Limited Hybrid trim included a heated steering wheel and an optional power moonroof, enhancing the cabin's airy atmosphere.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, while the top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain generated 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, while the Hybrid Max was AWD-only. The Hybrid Max boasted a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds, offering impressive acceleration. The Grand Highlander excelled in road manners, though it was less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart. The brakes provided a solid feel, and the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine offered adequate power. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with additional modes for AWD-equipped models.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid came standard with all-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-liter Atkinson/Miller-cycle engine with a 118-hp traction motor, producing a total system output of 194 horsepower. The hybrid offered quicker and smoother acceleration than the gas-only Crosstrek, though it didn't feel significantly faster on the highway. The Crosstrek Hybrid utilized two motor-generators, with one handling engine start/stop and battery charging, while the other assisted with driving and regenerative braking. During testing, the Crosstrek Hybrid achieved 31 miles per gallon, slightly below the EPA estimate of 36 mpg. Subaru's AWD system provided better capability on variable terrain compared to electric AWD systems. The X-Mode traction management system, standard on all Crosstreks, offered specific settings for different terrains and included hill-descent control. The steering feel was light but precise, thanks to a revised dual-pinion steering rack.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This extra length translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. Behind the second-row seats, there were 57.9 cubic feet, and with all three rows up, 20.6 cubic feet were available. The Grand Highlander offered a comfortable interior with ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it suitable for adults in the third row.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid improved upon its predecessors by offering more horsepower and cargo space. The 2026 model featured 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats and a total capacity of 50.6 cubic feet with the rear row folded. The gas tank remained the same size as the all-gas models, allowing for a range of 597 miles between fill-ups. The Crosstrek Hybrid provided 36.7 inches of rear-seat legroom, significantly more than the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Up front, storage was limited, with a small tray housing a wireless charging pad and two cupholders, along with deep door pockets and a standard-size glove compartment.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, allowing voice commands for tasks like adjusting temperature and changing radio stations. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and 24/7 live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced sound experience. Streaming audio integration was available, with Sirius XM satellite radio offering a three-month trial.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen, though its software was slow and lagged when swiping between screens. The display was a fingerprint magnet, and many controls were touchscreen-based, which could be frustrating. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing drivers to rely on those instead of the Starlink software. Physical buttons were available for volume, tuning, defroster settings, and HVAC temperature controls. The Limited Hybrid trim included a Harman Kardon stereo and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which could display navigation maps, though not Google Maps when using phone projection.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included an impressive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 featured automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, offering four following-distance settings.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS for the 2026 model year. However, the 2025 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Subaru's EyeSight Advanced Driver Assistance Systems included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, pre-collision braking, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. The Crosstrek Hybrid also featured side-curtain airbags for rear seats.