Honda HR-V vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Honda HR-V was available in three trim levels: LX, Sport, and EX-L, with prices in Canada ranging from $33,446 to $41,846, including a $2,000 destination charge. The EX-L trim, which we tested, featured a Nordic Forest Pearl paint and had an MSRP of $42,246. The HR-V's design was not universally appealing, with its blobby grille and unusual profile, but the green paint and 18-inch alloy wheels on the EX-L trim enhanced its appearance. The HR-V's styling updates included new wheel designs for each trim and additional paint colours like Boost Blue and Solar Silver. Inside, the HR-V's interior was more attractive, especially with the grey upholstery available on the EX-L trim, which contrasted with the predominantly black interior. The EX-L also featured genuine leather seats with perforated surfaces and Z-pattern stitching, upgraded cabin lighting, and detailing.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, particularly in the Platinum Hybrid Max trim, was a larger and more powerful vehicle. It featured a Storm Cloud paint and had a Canadian MSRP of $69,060. Toyota's design for the Grand Highlander was conservative, drawing inspiration from the RAV4, resulting in a vehicle that resembled a larger version of the popular model. The interior of the Grand Highlander emphasized functionality, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While the materials were decent, the use of glossy hard plastic and unlined storage surfaces explained the vehicle's value proposition. The climate system was user-friendly, but the infotainment interface had some drawbacks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob.

The 2026 Honda HR-V was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. Weighing up to 1,510 kilograms, the HR-V's engine worked hard, especially when paired with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the CVT performed well in urban settings, the HR-V struggled with acceleration on highways and during overtaking. Despite its modest power, the HR-V's fuel economy was not particularly impressive, averaging 9.5 L/100 km on our test loop. The HR-V's dynamic tuning was commendable, with a multi-link rear suspension and Agile Handling Assist, providing a lively driving experience. The steering was not particularly quick, but the brake pedal felt good, and the brakes performed well during mountain descents.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. The traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning common in CVTs. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max offered a balance of performance and efficiency, with a fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km combined. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a level route and 10.1 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. The Hybrid Max's acceleration was rewarding, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations in the road could cause vertical bounding. The Grand Highlander's handling was secure, with excellent outward visibility aided by available camera systems.

The 2026 Honda HR-V's interior lacked the innovation of its predecessor, with the rear "Magic Seat" now folding flat like other crossovers. It missed features like a fold-flat front passenger seat, a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat, and a panoramic sunroof. The storage situation for the driver and front passenger was reasonable, but the surfaces were plastic and prone to scratching. The back seat offered adequate space but lacked support and amenities like air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The HR-V's cargo area provided 691 litres of space behind the rear seats, with a maximum of 1,559 litres when folded.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum-trim test vehicle featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, providing a smart and upscale look. The front and second-row seats were heated and ventilated, with supportive cushions. The rear doors were long and required ample space to open, making child seat installation challenging. The second-row captain's chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row. The Grand Highlander's cargo space was generous, with 586 litres behind the third row and up to 2,761 litres with the second row folded.

For 2026, the Honda HR-V featured a 9-inch touchscreen with a faster processor, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charger. However, it lacked built-in navigation and SiriusXM satellite radio. The base LX had four speakers, while the Sport had six, and the EX-L had eight. The tech was simple and user-friendly, with the EX-L's audio system delivering good sound quality. The 7-inch digital instrumentation panel was smart, and the walk-away automatic vehicle lock was a nice feature.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, in XLE trim, featured a 7-inch digital driver display with traditional analog gauges, while Limited and Platinum trims had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. All Grand Highlanders had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered various features, including automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though the font could be hard to read. The Platinum test car included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Honda HR-V came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of driver assist features including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. In Canada, blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. The EX-L trim had front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. While the Honda Sensing technology was generally unintrusive, the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to work as expected. The HR-V earned favourable ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2025 model year.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) equipped the 2026 Grand Highlander with a comprehensive list of safety features, including lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) was also standard, though it could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander's safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.