Toyota unveiled its new all-electric Highlander this week, marking the automaker’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) built in the U.S. and a big bet on electrification in the North American market.
The details: The 2027 Highlander, a sharp departure from the outgoing model, features bolder design language, a host of new features, and loads of new tech, paired with an all-electric powertrain delivering up to 338 combined system horsepower.
Design cues include broad fenders, full-length LED daytime running lights, and flush door handles for a noticeably more aerodynamic look.
Inside, the three-row Highlander gets a 14-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch driver’s display, customizable ambient lighting, and device-charging capability in every row.
Tech updates include enhanced Voice Assistant functions for faster responses to “Hey Toyota” prompts, plus a standard dashcam-style feature that can capture 20-second exterior clips of both manual and triggered events.
The 2027 Highlander can also serve as a mobile power source with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability that can power appliances (a first for a Toyota model sold in the U.S).
The SUV, expected to go on sale in late 2026, will be offered in two grades (XLE and Limited) and four configurations. Pricing has yet to be announced.
What they’re saying: “This new Highlander is designed to be a stylish, high-tech leader in the midsize SUV segment,” said David Christ, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division of Toyota Motor North America. “Its sleek new look, spacious interior, and cutting-edge technology, make it a great addition to Toyota’s growing lineup of BEV’s.”
Why it matters: The Highlander is a high-volume nameplate and moving it to a U.S.-built BEV platform delivers a mainstream three-row EV for the showroom. That opens the door to win family EV shoppers, trade up current Toyota owners, and drive F&I and fixed-ops growth with charging accessories, protection products, and EV-ready service offerings as availability ramps in late 2026.
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Between the lines: The new Highlander is Toyota’s fourth BEV in its U.S. lineup and the automaker’s first three-row battery electric model to be sold in the U.S., underscoring the company’s “multi-pathway” to reducing carbon emissions, which is anchored in a mix of different powertrains.
The SUV will be assembled at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing facility in Kentucky, with battery modules assembled at the newly opened Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC) battery plant.
Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy includes EVs, hybrids, more fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicles, and hydrogen cars.
The automaker announced in November that it would be investing an additional $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, as part of its efforts to ramp up its U.S. operations.
What they’re saying: “It’s about all customers feeling they are empowered to make the right choice for themselves,” said Simon Humphries, chief branding officer and board member of Toyota Motor Corporation, speaking at a Toyota’s annual product strategy event. “Providing choice and opportunity is at the heart of ever-better cars and everything we do - and that includes the path to sustainability.”
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