Toyota has revealed the new 2027 Highlander, a fully redesigned mid-size SUV that marks the brand’s first three-row electric vehicle for the US market and Toyota’s first electric car assembled in America. It’s a familiar name—Toyota has been selling gas-powered Highlanders for more than 20 years—with an all-new powertrain aimed squarely at one of the most popular vehicle segments on the market today. To say this is Toyota’s best chance to beat its EV rivals would be an understatement.
The announcement comes at a tumultuous time for the world’s best-selling automaker. Toyota’s strategy of emphasizing hybrid vehicles over pure battery electrics appears to be vindicated as global EV sales slow and the company’s competitors report huge losses related to their EV investments. But Toyota also has a new CEO, finance chief Kent Kon, a close ally and former secretary of current chairman Akio Toyoda. Kon’s rise is seen as confirmation that Toyota, under his financial watch, has successfully weathered the chaos surrounding Chinese electric cars, global tariffs and an expensive and prolonged transition to electric vehicles.
The Toyota Highlander is a confirmation of some of these challenges. It’s made at a Toyota factory in Kentucky, at a time when domestic production is the best way to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs. It is a three-row mid-size SUV that is currently the most popular vehicle segment in America. And it uses a familiar nameplate, which confirms that most customers didn’t know what “bZ” (it’s “beyond zero”) stood for, and weren’t exactly interested in learning.
The Toyota Highlander is a confirmation of some of these challenges.
The new Highlander will come in just two trims: XLE and Limited. The XLE is available with front- or all-wheel drive, while the Limited comes standard with AWD. Battery options include a 77 kWh pack and a larger 95.8 kWh pack, depending on configuration. And AWD models with the larger battery get an estimated range of up to 320 miles, as well as 338 horsepower and 323 lb-ft of torque. (FWD trims will offer 221 horsepower and 198 lb-ft of torque).
It will come with an updated infotainment setup, similar to the new C-HR and bZ Woodland electric SUVs. This includes a 14-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch instrument panel, customizable ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and extensive charging options for devices across all three lines. And when you look up, you’ll see a fixed panoramic glass roof – the largest Toyota has ever offered.
Powered by AT&T 5G connectivity, the new Highlander infotainment system offers a customizable home screen, improved voice recognition with “Hey Toyota” commands, dual Bluetooth phone connectivity and integrated streaming services such as 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 space. And there are a host of other features like wireless charging bays, multiple USB-C ports across all three rows, rear HVAC controls, optional rear window shades and a power tailgate.
The Highlander EV will feature a NACS port to access the Tesla Supercharger. Under the right conditions, the battery can be charged from 10-80 percent in about 30 minutes using DC fast charging. Battery pre-conditioning, which prepares the battery for optimal charging, is standard and can be activated manually or automatically via a Drive Connect subscription (which is about $15 a month). The Highlander can also slow charge using Level 1 or Level 2 chargers and will come with a dual voltage 120V/240V charging cable.
It will also be Toyota’s first EV with vehicle charging capability, allowing it to function as a mobile power bank. Toyota says the Highlander can even serve as a backup power source during a power outage if equipped with the optional two-way accessory. Toyota says it will have more announcements about this new feature in the future.
In terms of size, the new Highlander will match 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. That’s similar to Toyota’s current gas-powered Grand Highlander and comparable to other EVs like the Rivian R1S, Kia EV9, and Hyundai Ioniq 9, among others.
Toyota says it will release pricing for the new Highlander later this year when it goes into production. But the automaker is certainly having some time in the world of electric cars. The recently redesigned bZ (formerly the bZ4x) was a surprise hit for Toyota when it ranked fourth overall in electric car sales in the US in January, ahead of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. And there’s more to come, as both the C-HR and bZ Woodland hatchbacks go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
Toyota has a chance to make up for its lackluster EV efforts with all these new vehicles. We’ll see if it’s sixteen.