2016 head-to-head · Midsize & Large SUV

2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Volkswagen Touareg Diesel

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,661/ year to fuel
28 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,312/ year to fuel
24 MPG

AWD · 3.0L 6-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 24 MPG

The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,661 a year to fuel (28 MPG), versus $2,312 for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Diesel (24 MPG). That's roughly $652 a year, or about $3,259 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

  • Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  • Volkswagen Touareg Diesel

Side by side

Toyota Highlander HybridVolkswagen Touareg Diesel
$1,661 Your annual fuel cost $2,312
28 MPG Combined efficiency 24 MPG
27 MPG City 21 MPG
28 MPG Highway 28 MPG
320 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 434 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Hybrid Powertrain Diesel
Regular gasoline Fuel Diesel
3.5L 6-cyl Engine / motor 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
CVT Transmission 8-speed automatic
AWD 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.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Volkswagen Touareg Diesel across model years

  • Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  • Volkswagen Touareg Diesel

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 44 2016 midsize & large SUVs, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranks 2nd and the Volkswagen Touareg Diesel 15th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a full hybrid, while the Volkswagen Touareg Diesel is a diesel.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid or the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Diesel?

Measured by cost to drive, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is rated 28 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Touareg Diesel 24 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs. the Volkswagen Touareg Diesel per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $1,661 for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and $2,312 for the Volkswagen Touareg Diesel.

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