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2026 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2026 Mazda CX-90

Price, size, cabin, cargo, towing, safety and ownership side by side. Every value comes from the cited sources in each model-year profile, and gaps stay labeled instead of guessed.

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Key differences

Where the published numbers differ

No overall winner: each line is one source-backed figure. Decide which ones matter for how you will use the SUV.

AGrand Highlander has

  • Maximum cargomore maximum cargo by 22.3 cu ft

BCX-90 has

  • Starting pricelower starting price by $2,960

=Same figure

  • Maximum towing

Head-to-head

The numbers, side by side

Bars share one scale starting at zero, so small real differences are not exaggerated. Where a profile lists several figures, the highest published one is used.

Grand HighlanderCX-90
Starting price2026 Mazda CX-90: lower starting price by $2,960
$42,260
$39,300
Cargo behind rear seatVaries by trim or option; compare the exact configuration
20.6 cu ft
14.9-15.9 cu ft
Maximum cargo2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: more maximum cargo by 22.3 cu ft
97.5 cu ft
74.2-75.2 cu ft
Maximum towingSame published figure
5,000 lb
5,000 lb

Decision snapshot

Six buyer questions, without an overall winner.

Each card compares one documented criterion. A lead is shown only when both source-backed values use a compatible measurement; otherwise the raw facts stay visible and the criterion stays unresolved.

Starting priceStarting MSRP
AGrand Highlander$42,260Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
BCX-90$39,300Manufacturer-published U.S. specification

2026 Mazda CX-90 has lower published starting MSRP by $2,960.

EfficiencyGas / base fuel economy
AGrand HighlanderConfiguration-specificUse the exact 2026 EPA label
BCX-90Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Maximum cargoMaximum cargo volume
AGrand Highlander97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification
BCX-9074.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander has more published maximum cargo volume by 22.3 cu ft.

Rear-seat roomComparable field unavailable
AGrand HighlanderNot verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile
BCX-90Not verifiedNo source-backed value in this profile

No directly comparable source-backed field is available for this pair.

Maximum towingMaximum towing
AGrand Highlander5,000 lbGas and Hybrid MAX
BCX-905,000 lbProperly equipped inline-six

The normalized published values are tied for this criterion.

Basic warrantyNew-vehicle / basic warranty
AGrand HighlanderVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date
BCX-90Verify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

The current profiles do not provide two normalized values that can be compared safely.

Table view

At a glance

Key specifications

3 of 6 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
Starting MSRPDifferent$42,260Manufacturer-published U.S. specification$39,300Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
SeatingDifferentUp to 8Manufacturer-published U.S. specification7 or 8Second-row layout dependent
Maximum cargoDifferent97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification74.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent
Maximum towing5,000 lbGas and Hybrid MAX5,000 lbProperly equipped inline-six
Primary engine / systemData gap—No source-backed value verified yet3.3L turbo inline-sixManufacturer-published U.S. specification
DrivetrainData gap—No source-backed value verified yeti-ACTIV AWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Price & trims

Pricing and trim lineup

4 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
Starting MSRPDifferent$42,260Manufacturer-published U.S. specification$39,300Manufacturer-published U.S. specification
Entry trimDifferentGas lineup · From $42,260Three-row gas model3.3 Turbo · From $39,300280-hp inline-six
Highest listed trimDifferentGas lineup · From $42,260Three-row gas model3.3 Turbo · From $39,300280-hp inline-six
Trim lineupDifferentGas lineup · Hybrid · Hybrid MAX3 researched trims3.3 Turbo · Turbo S · PHEV3 researched trims

Performance

Engine, output and drivetrain

0 of 4 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
All-wheel driveData gapAvailablePowertrain/trim dependent—No source-backed value verified yet
Engine / primary systemData gap—No source-backed value verified yet3.3L turbo inline-sixManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Primary outputData gap—No source-backed value verified yet280 hpManufacturer-published U.S. specification
DrivetrainData gap—No source-backed value verified yeti-ACTIV AWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification

Fuel & efficiency

Fuel and efficiency details

0 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
Gas / base fuel economyData gapConfiguration-specificUse the exact 2026 EPA label—No source-backed value verified yet

Cabin

Interior space and seating

1 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
SeatingDifferentUp to 8Manufacturer-published U.S. specification7 or 8Second-row layout dependent

Cargo

Cargo space and practical measurements

2 of 2 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
Cargo behind rear seatDifferent20.6 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification14.9-15.9 cu ftConfiguration dependent
Maximum cargo volumeDifferent97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification74.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent

Utility

Towing, seating and capability

2 of 3 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
Maximum towing5,000 lbGas and Hybrid MAX5,000 lbProperly equipped inline-six
All-wheel driveDifferentAvailablePowertrain/trim dependenti-ACTIV AWD standardManufacturer-published U.S. specification
Maximum cargoDifferent97.5 cu ftManufacturer-published U.S. specification74.2-75.2 cu ftConfiguration dependent

Ownership

Warranty and service planning

0 of 1 differ
Research fieldA2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderB2026 Mazda CX-90
New-vehicle / basic warrantyVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service dateVerify 2026 VIN/model-year bookletCoverage can vary by component and in-service date

Safety systems

Driver-assistance equipment and context

A2026 Toyota

Grand Highlander

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance
B2026 Mazda

CX-90

Driver-assistance equipment is kept separate from crash ratings. Check the exact 2026 model on IIHS and NHTSA before relying on a rating or award.

  • Automatic emergency braking / forward-collision features
  • Lane-support features
  • Blind-spot systems where equipped
  • Check trim for available advanced driver assistance

Cabin technology

Infotainment, connectivity and convenience

A2026 Toyota

Grand Highlander

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.
B2026 Mazda

CX-90

  • Infotainment and phone integration vary by trim.
  • Camera, parking and premium-audio features vary by equipment.
  • Connected-services availability and trial periods can change.

Evidence ledger

Source links and research freshness

Buying context

What to check before choosing a trim

A2026 Toyota

Grand Highlander

  1. Use behind-third-row cargo when all rows are occupied.
  2. Regular Hybrid and Hybrid MAX have different towing and performance priorities.
  3. Captain chairs reduce seating to seven.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources
B2026 Mazda

CX-90

  1. Cargo volume varies with the third-row seating configuration.
  2. The PHEV needs separate charging and gasoline-use calculations.
  3. Standard AWD should be compared with AWD rivals.
Research caveat

Use the exact trim, drivetrain, roof equipment and powertrain when a number is configuration-sensitive. Cargo volume does not prove that a rigid item fits through the hatch; measure the exact vehicle for close-fit use cases.

Updated 2026-09-232 research sources

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