Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs Acura ADX

The 2025 Acura ADX, despite sharing its platform with the Honda HR-V, distinguished itself with a unique Acura styling. Its striking pentagonal grille with diamond-patterned mesh, LED lighting, and sporty rear design elements like vent-like creases and dual exhaust outlets, gave it a premium and sporty appearance. The ADX offered a range of exterior colours, with the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim unlocking vibrant options like Milano Red and Adriatic Sea Blue. Inside, the ADX maintained Acura's premium feel with a red interior option that extended across the dash and door cards, avoiding the cheap look of limited coloured elements. The use of textured shiny black trim reduced glare and fingerprints, enhancing the overall premium experience.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, took a conservative approach to styling, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This resulted in a familiar yet grander design, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior prioritized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were present, the controls were logically laid out, and the climate system was user-friendly. However, the infotainment interface had some drawbacks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob.

The 2025 Acura ADX came equipped with a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. While not the most powerful in its class, it provided adequate performance for everyday tasks and even some spirited driving on twisty roads. The ADX featured multiple drive modes, including Sport, Normal, Comfort, and Snow, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. The Platinum Elite A-Spec trim added an Individual mode for further customization. Visibility was excellent, and noise cancellation measures ensured a quiet cabin. However, for those prioritizing fuel economy, competitors with hybrid powertrains offered better efficiency.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max emphasized performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, delivering 362 horsepower. This setup provided impressive acceleration and towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. The traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel efficiency, it still offered a respectable 8.8 L/100 km combined rating. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though handling was secure only up to a modest point. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2025 Acura ADX offered a premium interior with leatherette seating surfaces and microsuede accents in higher trims. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel and power-adjustable front seats added to the comfort. The ADX provided ample headroom and legroom, surpassing competitors like the Lexus UX and BMW X1. Cargo space was generous, with 690 litres behind the rear seats and up to 1,560 litres with them folded. Standard features included a power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and rear-seat vents.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, offering comfortable seating in all three rows and over 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured upscale leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. However, the long rear doors posed challenges for parents with small children, and the sharp door corners could cause dents. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable centre console provided flexibility for accessing the third row. Cargo space was impressive, with 586 litres behind the third row and up to 2,761 litres with the second row folded.

The 2025 Acura ADX featured a comprehensive technology suite, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi hotspot, and a wireless phone charging pad. The nine-inch centre infotainment screen and 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster were user-friendly, with a physical volume knob. Higher trims added features like Alexa Built-In, Google Built-In, and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with a unique “beosonic” app for sound customization.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services provided features like automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. However, the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were minor drawbacks. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2025 Acura ADX came with nearly all safety and driver-assistance features as standard, including adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and a blind-spot information system. The surround-view camera system was available on the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim. While crash-test ratings were not yet available, the ADX aimed to match the HR-V’s high safety ratings.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, though it could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.