Toyota unveiled the new 2027 Highlander, a completely redesigned mid-size SUV that is the brand’s first three-row electric vehicle for the US market and the first Toyota EV assembled in the US. It’s a familiar name – Toyota has been selling gas Highlanders for more than 20 years – with an all-new powertrain aimed at one of the most popular vehicle segments on the market today. To say that this is Toyota’s best chance to outperform its EV rivals would be an understatement.
The announcement comes at a tumultuous time for the world’s best-selling automaker. It seems Toyota’s strategy of emphasizing hybrid vehicles over pure battery-electric has proven correct, as global EV sales have slowed and the company’s rivals have reported huge losses related to their EV investments. But Toyota also has a new CEO, finance chief Kenta Kon, a close aide and former secretary of current Chairman Akio Toyoda. Kon’s ascension is seen as acknowledgment that Toyota, under his financial leadership, has successfully weathered the chaos around Chinese EVs, global tariffs and the costly and extended transition to EVs.
The Toyota Highlander is an acknowledgment of some of those challenges. It will be built at Toyota’s factory in Kentucky, at a time when domestic manufacturing is the best way to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs. It is a three-row, mid-size SUV, which is the most popular vehicle segment in America at the moment. And it’s using a familiar name plate, acknowledging that most customers didn’t know what “bZ” meant (it’s “beyond zero”) and weren’t exactly interested in learning.
The Toyota Highlander is an acknowledgment of some of those challenges.
The new Highlander will come with only two trims: XLE and Limited. The XLE is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the Limited comes standard with AWD. Battery options include a 77kWh pack and a larger 95.8kWh pack, depending on configuration. And the AWD model with the larger battery will get an estimated range of up to 320 miles, as well as 338 horsepower and 323lb-ft of torque. (FWD trims will offer 221hp and 198lb-ft of torque).
It will come with an updated infotainment setup, just like the new C-HR and BZ Woodland electric SUVs. It includes a 14-inch central touchscreen, 12.3-inch gauge cluster, customizable ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and extensive charging options for devices in all three rows. And when you look up, you’ll see a fixed panoramic glass roof – the largest roof ever offered by Toyota.
Highlander’s new infotainment system, powered by AT&T 5G connectivity, offers a customizable homescreen, advanced voice recognition with “Hey Toyota” command, dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, and integrated streaming services like Spotify and SiriusXM.
The new Highlander seats seven, with the third row accommodating two passengers. When additional cargo space is needed, the third row folds flat to create more than 45 cubic feet of rear storage. And it comes with a ton of extra features, like a wireless charging tray, multiple USB-C ports in all three rows, rear HVAC controls, optional rear window shades, and a hands-free power liftgate.
The Highlander EV will be equipped with a NACS port for Tesla Supercharger access. Under the right conditions, the battery can charge 10-80 percent in about 30 minutes using DC fast charging. Battery preconditioning, in which the battery is prepared for optimal charging, comes standard, and can be activated manually or automatically through a Drive Connect subscription (which is about $15 per month). The Highlander can also charge at slower speeds from Level 1 or 2 chargers and will come with a dual-voltage 120V/240V charging cable.
It will also be Toyota’s first EV with vehicle-to-load capabilities, allowing it to function as a mobile power bank. Toyota says the Highlander can also serve as a backup power source during blackouts when equipped with the optional bidirectional assist device. Toyota says more announcements about this new feature will be made in the future.
Size-wise, the new Highlander will compete with other three-row electric SUVs on the road. It will be 198.8 inches long, 78.3 inches wide and 67.3 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 120.1 inches. This is similar to Toyota’s current gas-powered Grand Highlander and on par with other EVs like the Rivian R1S, Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
Toyota says it will release pricing for the new Highlander later this year, when it goes into production. But the automaker is definitely facing a little trouble in the EV world. The recently revised bZ (formerly bZ4x) has been a surprise hit for Toyota, ranking fourth in total EV sales in the US in January, ahead of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. And there’s still more to come, with both the C-HR hatchback and BZ Woodland expected to go on sale in the US later this year.
Toyota has a chance to make up for its lackluster efforts at EV production with all these new vehicles. We’ll see if it takes advantage of this moment.
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