If you’re dreaming of an affordable Toyota Highlander, you might want to order a 2025 model instead of waiting until 2026. That’s because the 2026 Toyota Highlander’s MSRP is $45,270, almost $5,000 more than the 2025. The reason is that Toyota is dropping its entry-level Highlander “LE” trim—and the FWD configuration along with it. This is part of the Highlander’s slow evolution from a simple and bulletproof crossover to something more complicated and more expensive to both buy and maintain.

The Toyota Highlander has built a reputation as an absolutely bulletproof crossover. When the experts at iSeeCars compared registration data, they found the Highlander Hybrid has a 25.9% chance of still being on the road past 250,000 miles. That makes it three times more likely to hit ultra-high mileage than the average vehicle. In addition, a new Highlander has a 12.4% chance of being kept for 15 years by its first owner—two times more likely than the average vehicle. The only vehicle more owners keep is the Prius.

The beloved Toyota Highlander is changing

What’s with the love for the Highlander? The Grand Highlander configuration is a comfortable third-row crossover SUV that few families outgrow. The regular Highlander offers ample room for two rows of passengers and gear. But there’s more. For years, Toyota built it with a reliable, naturally aspirated V6 and offered it with FWD. The result was fewer moving parts, and thus less maintenance, than most cars on the road. The hybrid powertrain option only took the strain off the traditional engine and brakes and made it last longer.

For the 2023 model year, Toyota tossed the Highlander’s old-school V6 for a turbocharged I4. It gained few mpg, but the added complexity may mean it will cost more to maintain. Now, deleting the FWD option means every Highlander sold will have more moving parts. Buyers have fewer choices and will need to cough up more cash to get into a Highlander.

The 2025 Toyota Highlander’s sales are already down 50%, so increasing the 2026 vehicle’s price is an odd choice. What’s more, if the Highlander gets too expensive, it will compete with its Lexus cousins: the RX (two rows) and TX (three rows). Meanwhile, buyers seeking a FWD crossover with a naturally aspirated V6 may migrate to the Honda Pilot, which starts at $40,200.