2026 Toyota Highlander Safety Rating
Midsize SUVs Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-09-16
The 2026 Toyota Highlander scores 75.6/100, ranking #28 of 32 current midsize SUVs and #102 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It does not hold a current IIHS award.
Results below Good: Moderate overlap front (updated test) rated Marginal, Headlights rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Marginal; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
Headlights: baseline Acceptable; best reported Good
- Good β (1) Trim level(s): Platinum trim, Hybrid Platinum trim
- Acceptable β (2) Trim level(s): Hybrid LE trim, XLE trim, Hybrid XLE trim, XSE trim, Limited trim, Hybrid Limited trim
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Good
- Good β standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0/2.5+: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection; of the following trim lines: L trim, LE trim, Hybrid LE trim, XLE trim, Hybrid XLE trim, XSE trim, Limited trim, Hybrid Limited trim. Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (51 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2022-26 models
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Headlights
Β· (1) Trim level(s): Platinum trim, Hybrid Platinum trim
Headlights
Β· (2) Trim level(s): Hybrid LE trim, XLE trim, Hybrid XLE trim, XSE trim, Limited trim, Hybrid Limited trim
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to 2024-26 models Β· standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0/2.5+: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection; of the following trim lines: L trim, LE trim, Hybrid LE trim, XLE trim, Hybrid XLE trim, XSE trim, Limited trim, Hybrid Limited trim
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
See our full scoring methodology and rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV N/A AWD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2022 Toyota Highlander XSE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2022-26 models
Side: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2022 Toyota Highlander XSE 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2020-26 models
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 27 per million registered vehicle-years | Midsize SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other midsize SUVs
Closest-scoring current midsize SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every midsize SUVs ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Kia Telluride | #1 of 32 | TSP+ | $39,190 | 96.8 | |
| 2026 Jeep Wrangler | #27 of 32 | β | $36,035 | 75.9 | |
| 2026 Toyota Highlander (this page) | #28 of 32 | β | $40,000 | 75.6 | |
| 2026 Toyota Crown Signia | #29 of 32 | β | $44,390 | 75.1 | |
| 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser | #30 of 32 | β | $57,200 | 72.8 |
Our analysis
The 2026 Toyota Highlander belongs to the Midsize SUVs class. This class has a below-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Toyota Highlander has no IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the 2026 award cycle. That can mean a result below the award threshold in one test, or tests IIHS has not completed. Absence of an award is not evidence that the vehicle is unsafe.
Across the 5 IIHS rating categories reported, the Toyota Highlander earned 3 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Toyota or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander
We do not have a verified NHTSA recall lookup for this model and year. An unmatched or unavailable lookup is not evidence of a clean recall record.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
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Questions about the 2026 Toyota Highlander
Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander a safe car?
The 2026 Toyota Highlander scores 75.6/100 in our published formula and ranks #28 of 32 current midsize SUVs with complete IIHS records. It does not hold a current IIHS award.
What is the 2026 Toyota Highlander IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Marginal; side: updated test = Good; headlights = Acceptable; latch ease of use = Good.
Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
No. The 2026 Toyota Highlander does not hold an IIHS Top Safety Pick award for the 2026 model year, which can reflect a result below Good in a qualifying test or tests that IIHS has not yet completed.
What is the 2026 Toyota Highlander NHTSA rating?
NHTSA gives the 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV N/A AWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4, side 5, rollover 4). NHTSA stars are shown for reference and are not part of our score.
How does the 2026 Toyota Highlander compare with other midsize SUVs?
The class leader is the 2027 Kia Telluride at 96.8/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current midsize SUVs with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.