2016 Toyota Highlander MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Toyota Highlander gets up to 22 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 28 mpg as a hybrid, across 5 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Toyota Highlander · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

22MPG combined

20 city 25 highway

$2,950 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.7L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

28MPG combined

27 city 28 highway

$2,300 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,300 to $3,250 a year.

Every 2016 Highlander version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid AWD	28 mpg	27 / 28	$2,300
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · LE Plus EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus	28 mpg	28 / 28	$2,300
Gas
2.7L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander 2WD	22 mpg	20 / 25	$2,950
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander 2WD	21 mpg	19 / 25	$3,100
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander AWD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,250

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$2,314	$193	$11,571
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · LE Plus	$2,314	$193	$11,571
2.7L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,945	$245	$14,727
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,086	$257	$15,429
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,240	$270	$16,200

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Toyota Highlander MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 22 to 25 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2023. Hybrid: 28 to 36 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2016: gas 22 mpg · hybrid 28 mpg

Show as a table

Toyota Highlander best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	22	28
2017	23	29
2018	23	29
2019	23	29
2020	24	36
2021	24	36
2022	24	36
2023	25	36
2024	25	36
2025	25	35
2026	24	35

How the 2016 Highlander compares

2016 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,650
Toyota Highlander This page Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,300
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: diesel	25 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,600

2016 Highlander recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 116 owner complaints for the 2016 Highlander.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2016 Toyota Highlander's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 3.5L 6-cyl gets 21 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 20 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2016 Highlander hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.32 a gallon), the hybrid costs $2,300 a year to fuel against $3,250 for the gas model: $950 a year, or $4,750 over five years.

Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Toyota Highlander version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.