The Toyota Highlander is returning in 2027 (despite the rumors), but it’ll be entirely electric.
Earlier this week, Toyota shared a sneak peek at the 2027 Toyota Highlander on social media with the caption: “Charged and ready.” The “all-electric” Highlander was fully revealed on February 10th, an electric three-row SUV built in the U.S. of A.
The 2027 Toyota Highlander has two grade options: XLE and Limited. The base Highlander XLE has a 77-kilowatt-hour battery pack and front-mounted electric motor, making 221 horsepower and 198 lb-ft. of torque, with a 287-mile range. There’s also an XLE trim with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain, boosting you to 338 horsepower but lowering the range to 270 miles. A larger 95.8 kWh battery pack may appear later for all-wheel-drive Highlanders. The NACS charging port will get you from 10% charge to 80% in about 30 minutes, according to a press release from Toyota.
2027 Toyota Highlander looks pretty good, inside and out
The 2027 Toyota Highlander is 198.8 inches long and offers three rows of seats. The standard layout features six seats, including two captain’s chairs in the second row. The XLE and AWD trim, however, will offer an optional bench seat for the second row instead. This would allow the Highlander to fit seven people.
Up front, there is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. This includes embedded voice assistance and wireless connectivity. The XLE has heated seats and a heated steering wheel and ambient lighting, which already feels pretty plush for a Toyota SUV. However, the Limited trim also includes a heads-up display, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a 360-degree camera system.
Production will begin at Toyota’s Kentucky factory and sales are expected to begin in late 2026. The price range has not been revealed just yet, but guesses range from $50,000 to $80,000.
But is it what the Toyota Highlander drivers want?
Toyota’s confirmation of the Highlander’s continued production is definitely a bittersweet moment for its passionate community of drivers. It’s better than the previous rumors that the Highlander was getting completely discontinued. However, the Highlander we’re getting in 2027 is a much different one. It’s not the Highlander that drivers grew to love.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not any good. It has a pretty flashy exterior design, featuring a more blocky Land Cruiser-esque vibe paired with the typical EV wraparound taillights. The interior is also quite nice, offering three rows of seating – Toyota’s first three-row EV for the United States. It’s an improvement in many ways – you just have to want an electric vehicle.
The Highlander has been one of Toyota’s best-selling models since it launched in 2001. It’s known for its extreme reliability, with owners even commenting on the sneak peek post with fond memories like: “Still rocking my 2006 Highlander V6 AWD! Just hit 270k miles!”
While it most definitely had a following over the years, the Highlander struggled to keep up with its competitors in innovation and adaptation. As automotive regulations began to evolve, the Highlander was seen as a bit of a gas guzzler. The 2026 model got 21 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway, which was actually a bit worse than previous models.
At this point, rumors began swirling that Toyota was ending the Highlander due to stricter regulations. However, others believed it could return as an electric SUV, though a three-row electric SUV seemed a bit challenging. Well, it seems Toyota has taken that route and nailed it. It meets emissions standards and offers drivers three rows of comfortable seats.
But it’s electric.
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