Overview
Toyota will relaunch the Highlander as an all-electric, three-row SUV for the 2027 model year, retaining the Highlander name and positioning it as the fifth generation of the nameplate. First customer deliveries are targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.
Toyota frames this as a reimagining of Highlander that blends SUV practicality with the quieter, efficient operation of an EV, aiming to keep the experience familiar rather than experimental.
Powertrain and Range
- Standard battery (XLE FWD): 77 kWh; Toyota-estimated 287 miles of range.
- Standard battery (XLE AWD): 77 kWh; estimated 270 miles (17 miles less than FWD).
- Optional battery (XLE AWD & Limited AWD): 95.8 kWh; Toyota-estimated 320 miles of range.
Official EPA ratings and performance figures have not yet been released.
Charging and Connector
- DC fast charging: Not disclosed yet.
- Port: Native North American Charging Standard (NACS).
- Onboard AC charger: Up to 11 kW for Level 2 charging.
- Included cable: Dual-voltage Level 1/Level 2.
Interior and Features
- Displays: 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster; 14-inch central touchscreen.
- Convenience: Wireless device charging; one-touch second-row folding for third-row access.
- XLE: Heated front seats and heated steering wheel; bench seat available for eight-passenger capacity.
- Other trims: Captain’s chairs standard in the second row.
- Options: Expanded driver-assistance features, 11-speaker JBL audio, 22-inch wheels, two-tone paint.
Dimensions and Packaging
- Wheelbase: 120 inches (longer than Grand Highlander).
- Overall length: 198.8 inches (nearly as long as Grand Highlander).
- Cargo volume: Closer to the current gasoline Highlander due to underfloor battery packaging.
Platform and Manufacturing
- Architecture: Toyota TNGA-K.
- Production: Kentucky; expected to begin later this year.
The Drive reports that the shared platform could allow Toyota to flex production among related models if demand changes, though such shifts are complex [claim].
Market Position and Strategy
Keeping the Highlander name integrates electric power into a familiar product line instead of creating a separate EV sub-brand. Toyota’s first native NACS port on a three-row SUV underscores movement toward a single North American connector standard.
The Drive characterizes this as Toyota’s first three-row electric SUV, marking a notable expansion beyond the two-row bZ4X [claim].
Open Questions
- DC fast-charging rates, motor output, and towing capacity are not yet disclosed.
- Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
- The future of the gasoline Highlander remains unconfirmed; The Drive notes recent sales trends and existing Grand Highlander hybrid offerings may reduce incentive to keep an ICE Highlander in the lineup [claim].
- The Drive also suggests domestic manufacturing could help mitigate tariffs, though it won’t restore federal tax credits under current rules [claim].
Timeline
- Production in Kentucky: expected to start before year-end.
- Deliveries: late 2026 or early 2027.
