2026 head-to-head · Midsize & Large SUV
2026 Kia EV9 vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2026 Kia EV9 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,026 a year to fuel (88 MPGe), versus $1,329 for the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (35 MPG). That's roughly $303 a year, or about $1,513 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Kia EV9
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Side by side
| Kia EV9 | Toyota Highlander Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,026 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,329 |
| 88 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 35 MPG |
| 101 MPGe | City | 35 MPG |
| 76 MPGe | Highway | 34 MPG |
| 38 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | — |
| 230 mi | Driving range | — |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 253 g/mi |
| 9/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| 8.1 hrs | Charge time at 240V | — |
| Electric | Powertrain | Hybrid |
| Electricity | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| Electric motor (160 kW) | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| Single-speed | Transmission | CVT |
| RWD | Drivetrain | AWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Kia EV9 vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid across model years
- Kia EV9
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 91 2026 midsize & large SUVs, the Kia EV9 ranks 15th and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 20th for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Kia EV9 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Toyota Highlander Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Kia EV9 or the 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the Kia EV9. The Kia EV9 is rated 88 MPGe combined and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 35 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Kia EV9 vs. the Toyota Highlander Hybrid per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,026 for the Kia EV9 and $1,329 for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Kia EV9 vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid in other years
More 2026 comparisons
Kia EV9 vs…
Or compare the 2026 Kia EV9 with anything else: