A new study has found that access to and understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly concentrated among wealthier and more educated individuals, raising concerns about a widening digital divide. The research, based on data from more than 10,000 adults in the United States, shows that people with higher income and education levels are significantly more likely to be aware of, familiar with, and actively use AI technologies.
Uneven Awareness And Usage Driving A New Gap
The study highlights a clear pattern: individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to recognize where AI is being used or understand how to benefit from it. This gap goes beyond simple access to devices or the internet and reflects differences in awareness, skills, and usage.
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Researchers describe this as a new form of digital inequality. While AI is becoming embedded in everyday tools – from hiring systems to content platforms—those who understand how it works can use it to their advantage. For example, job applicants who know that AI is used in recruitment can tailor their resumes accordingly, while others may miss opportunities without realizing why.
Why This Matters Now
The findings come at a time when AI is rapidly shaping industries, education, and daily life. Unlike earlier digital divides, which focused mainly on internet access, the current gap is more complex. It includes awareness, the ability to use AI effectively, and the benefits gained from it.
Experts warn that this could reinforce existing inequalities. People with greater knowledge of AI are not only better positioned to use it productively but are also more aware of its risks, such as misinformation or deepfakes. In contrast, those with limited understanding may be more vulnerable to manipulation or misuse of the technology.
What It Means For Users
For everyday users, the implications are practical. AI is already influencing job applications, financial services, healthcare, and online information. Those who can engage with these tools effectively may gain advantages in efficiency, decision-making, and opportunities.
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On the other hand, limited exposure to AI could result in missed opportunities or reduced competitiveness in a job market that is increasingly shaped by automation and data-driven systems. This creates a scenario where technology amplifies existing social and economic differences rather than reducing them.
What Comes Next
The study adds to growing global concerns about AI-driven inequality. Previous reports have warned that AI could widen gaps not just between individuals but also between countries, depending on access to infrastructure, education, and resources.
Researchers emphasize the need for policies that improve AI literacy and broaden access to these tools. This includes education initiatives, better integration of AI awareness in workplaces, and efforts to make AI systems more transparent and accessible.
As AI adoption continues to accelerate, addressing this imbalance will be critical. Without intervention, the benefits of AI may remain concentrated among those already advantaged, deepening the divide in an increasingly digital world.
Three-row family SUVs are expected to do everything; carry passengers comfortably, handle long road trips, keep running costs manageable, and remain dependable for years. Finding one that checks every box without becoming too expensive can be difficult, especially when fuel economy starts to matter as much as space. One hybrid Toyota stands out by delivering all of those priorities in a single package.
This three-row SUV combines the practicality families need with the efficiency advantages of hybrid power. It offers spacious seating, strong everyday comfort, and the kind of long-term reliability Toyota is known for, while using significantly less fuel than many traditional V-6 rivals in the same segment.
For buyers balancing family needs with ownership costs, that combination makes a major difference. It proves that a large SUV doesn’t have to be expensive to run or stressful to own, just thoughtfully engineered around what families actually need most.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites, including the EPA, CarEdge, and J.D. Power.
You can also expect long range and ample in-cabin tech.
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is affordable and built to last
Dependability is a big priority here
If you’re looking for a family SUV that is spacious, light on gas, and will last you a long time with few issues, then the Grand Highlander Hybrid feels like a no-brainer. It is slightly pricier than some of its direct rivals, but Toyota’s experience in developing hybrid means that you can rest peacefully knowing that this three-row SUV should last you years without any problem.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid trims and pricing
Model
Starting MSRP
LE
$45,210
XLE
$46,380
Limited
$52,710
Nightshade Edition
$53,690
Platinum
$59,775
Compared to other hybrid three-row SUVs, the Grand Highlander is priced pretty well. While there are some more affordable options, like the Hyundai Palisade and Santa Fe, it undercuts rivals like the Kia Telluride and the Mazda CX-90. This middle of the pack pricing is about on-par for Toyota.
Of the above trims, we think that opting for the XLE gets you the best bang for your buck. It comes with all the features you’d want in a family hauler, such as a power-operated liftgate, a spattering of USB-C ports throughout the cabin, heated front seats, faux-leather upholstery, and a very comprehensive suite of driver aids.
Warranties, maintenance, and reliability
Reliability score: 82/100 (J.D. Power)
Limited warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance: 2 years or 24,000 miles
Average ten-year maintenance costs: $6,299 (CarEdge)
Toyota offers a pretty standard warranty package to back up their reputation for reliability. While the Grand Highlander is technically a newer model, it is essentially just a long wheelbase version of the regular Highlander, meaning its mechanical components have proven themselves to be dependable.
Your first two years or scheduled maintenance visits are free with your purchase of a Grand Highlander. After that point, maintenance is reasonably affordable. CarEdge estimates that the average SUV would cost you $1,867 more to maintain over ten years than the Grand Highlander.
Mercedes may lead luxury, but this Lexus SUV delivers the same upscale feel with way less ownership stress.
There is plenty of space in all three rows of the Grand Highlander Hybrid
Its cabin is simple but exceptionally practical
While the cabins of Toyota’s vehicles are usually a little pedestrian, there is something to be said about how versatile they are, as well as how easy they are to live with. The Grand Highlander definitely follows this trend. While it lacks the flair that some of its rivals offer, it delivers three rows of spacious seating, tons of modern tech, and loads of storage space.
The cabin layout of the Grand Highlander is very neat. Everything is easy to find and there are a ton of storage compartments scattered throughout. Its design won’t blow you away, but you’ll be pleased with just how intuitive all the controls are. The most affordable trims focus on the essentials, but top trims can come with some pretty plush features, including genuine leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and captain’s chairs in the second row.
Material
Oxford
Organizer Dimensions
21″L x 14.6″W x 10.3″H
Special Feature
Foldable
This 13.5-gallon trunk organizer features compartments to organize and store groceries, sports equipment, emergency supplies, and other daily essentials.
Infotainment and technology
Every Grand Highlander comes equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen mounted to the top of the dashboard. Lower trim levels come with a hybrid gauge cluster that includes a seven-inch display in the middle, but from the Limited up you get a fully digital 12.3-inch unit instead.
As we already mentioned, there are a number of USB-C ports throughout the cabin, so that the whole family can charge their devices. A wireless charging pad is also included. Three-zone automatic climate control and wireless smartphone mirroring are standard on every trim level. Top trims also offer some better tech, including a heads-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system.
Hauling the family doesn’t have to mean spending a ton on gas
The Grand Highlander hybrid is impressively thrifty
Credit: Toyota
Toyota’s ideology of function over form definitely translates into how they tune the performance of their cars. The Grand Highlander Hybrid may not be the most interesting SUV from behind the wheel, but its fuel-sipping powertrain and plush ride means that it will save you money in the long run and keep the family happy.
Grand Highlander Hybrid performance and efficiency
Model
Hybrid
Hybrid MAX
Engine
2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four
2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four
Transmission
CVT
6-speed automatic
Horsepower
245 HP
362 HP
Torque
288 LB-FT
400 LB-FT
Driveline
FWD or AWD
AWD
0-60 MPH
7.8 seconds
5.6 seconds
The Grand Highlander Hybrid comes in two different forms. Most models feature a naturally aspirated inline-four under the hood. The Platinum comes exclusively with the Hybrid MAX setup, though, with the Limited offering a choice of either. The standard hybrid powertrain better suits the Grand Highlander in our mind, with the Hybrid MAX’s quick acceleration clashing with the SUV’s laid-back personality, especially because it takes it toll when it comes to efficiency.
As is the case with a lot of Toyota’s mainstream models, the Grand Highlander lacks excitement, even accounting for the Hybrid MAX’s quick acceleration. Steering is exceptionally light and vague, and the suspension is clearly set up for comfort. This isn’t a bad thing in our eyes, though, as the mission of the Japanese SUV is to get your family from A to B. This is where its comfortable ride quality really shines through.
Fuel economy
Model
City
Highway
Combined
Hybrid FWD
37 MPG
34 MPG
36 MPG
Hybrid AWD
36 MPG
32 MPG
34 MPG
Hybrid MAX AWD
26 MPG
27 MPG
27 MPG
There are few SUVs as well-suited to family life
Toyota skips the flash and the gimmicks that a lot of other brands have leaned into in the last couple of years. They focus instead on proven technology and long-term dependability. If you’re buying a family vehicle, that should be high up on your list of priorities. Any parent will tell you that they’d take simple functionality over anything, which is what makes the Grand Highlander Hybrid such a solid choice in this segment.
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