2027 Highlander Debuts as Toyota’s First 3-Row All-Electric SUV!
The 2027 Highlander is all-new for 2027, and you’ll no longer be able to buy one with a gasoline engine. That’s right, the fifth generation is a BEV!
Sometimes it feels like Toyota’s playing on a completely different dimensional plane. When automakers started pivoting toward fully battery electric vehicles (BEVs) a few years ago, Toyota seemed content shoring up its hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) product lineup. Today, BEV winds have shifted, with companies abandoning all-electric models and whole factories. And yet, the ever-stable Toyota has just announced that the 2027 Highlander will be its first three-row BEV SUV.
Check out the full 2027 Toyota Highlander photo gallery HERE.
Welcome to the all-new, fifth-generation Highlander, where there are many standard features and available options; none of which, however, involve internal combustion.
To those who follow Toyota closely, the next-gen Highlander — pictured above in the all-new Spellbound color with a black roof — may look familiar to anyone who remembers the BZ Large SUV concept Toyota revealed back in 2021.
BZ Large SUV Concept
Toyota’s yet to tell us about pricing, but we do know the new 2027 Highlander will feature two grades — XLE and Limited — and four different powertrain configurations.
The XLE front-wheel-drive (FWD) model will house a 77.0 kWh battery pack that pumps out 222 horsepower and 198 lb.-ft. of peak torque. This setup’s good for up to 287 miles of estimated range. Or you could opt for the XLE all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant with the same battery. That setup drops the range to an estimated 270 miles, but bumps power up to 338 horsepower and 323 lb.-ft. of peak torque. (Secret hotrod alert???)
The final XLE model gets an upgraded 95.8 kWh battery pack, which shares the same peak power numbers and offers 320 miles of estimated range. The higher-trim Limited grade will only be available with the larger 95.8 kWh battery pack, pumping out the same 338 hp, 323 lb.-ft. of torque, and with the same 320 miles of estimated range.
XLE Features & Options
Every 2027 Highlander comes pretty loaded with options, including the newest version of Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 64-colors of ambient illumination, USB-C charging ports in all three rows, standard wireless charging pads, and — wait for it — 18 cupholders throughout! Here’s a look at the XLE, with the Limited to follow:
XLE Standard Features
- Full-width LED DRL
- Front acoustic glass
- 19-inch wheel with full aero cap
- Semi-flush electronic door handles
- 14-inch touchscreen with Toyota Audio Multimedia
- 6-speaker audio system
- 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
- 64-color customizable ambient lighting
- SofTex-trimmed seating
- Heated front seats and steering wheel
- Second row seats with 1-touch fold
- Paddle shifters with regenerative braking
- NACS charging port for DC fast charging compatibility
- 11-kW onboard AC charger
- 120V/240V dual-voltage charging cable
- TSS 4.0 (See more below)
- Drive recorder
XLE Options
- Bench seating (XLE AWD only)
- Panoramic roof (All Grades)
- JBL Premium Audio system with 11 speakers (XLE AWD)
XLE Colors
- Spellbound
- Wind Chill Pearl
- Heavy Metal
- Everest
- Reservoir Blue
- Midnight Black Metallic
Limited Features & Options
Stepping up to the line-topping Limited, we’re surprised to see that leather isn’t even an option (SoftEx faux leather only). Although Toyota says you do get “unique textured patterns, front seat ventilation function, and second row heat.”
Limited Standard Features
- Adds to or replaces XLE features
- Side view mirrors with memory and reverse tilt function
- Head-up display
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated second row seats
- Rear sunshades
- Advanced Park
- Traffic Jam Assist (Requires an active Drive Connect trial or subscription)
- Panoramic View Monitor
- Lane Change Assist
- Front Cross Traffic Alert
Limited Options
- JBL Premium Audio system with 11 speakers, subwoofer, and amplifier
- Two-tone paint
- 22-inch wheels
Limited Colors
- Spellbound
- Spellbound/Black two-tone
- Wind Chill Pearl
- Wind Chill Pearl/Black two-tone
- Heavy Metal
- Heavy Metal/Black two-tone
- Everest
- Everest/Black two-tone
- Reservoir Blue
- Midnight Black Metallic
Charging
For those looking for charging flexibility, the 2027 Highlander will include an 11 kW onboard charger that’s compatible with the NACS plug. That’s the one Tesla championed and, therefore, offers the largest possible charging network. Using a Level 3 DC charger, Toyota says the battery should be able to charge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes. The Highlanders offer a Battery PreConditioning feature, which prepares the battery for charging by raising its internal temperature. This improves charging times and protects the battery.
For those interested in charging at home, a 110v/240v charging cable is a standard feature, although you can expect charging times to be measured in hours, not minutes.
Fascinatingly, Toyota plans to offer what it calls a Vehicle-to-Load feature where, with the right additional equipment, the Highlander BEV could be used to provide backup power to a home during a power outage. Naturally, this feature, as well as the outlets placed inside the vehicle, could also be used to run campsites, remote work, and just about anything you can think of. Ford offers a similar feature with its F-150 Lightning, and many owners reported using their lightnings after severe storms. (I, as a test, ran extension chords from a Lightning into my home where I ran two large TVs, two stereos, a fridge, microwave, washer and dryer, and my neighbor’s table saw — it’s an awesome feature.)
Safety First!
The 2027 Highlander will feature Toyota Safety System 4.0 (TSS 4.0), a full suite of standard technologies that includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA) Automatic High Beams (AHB),Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA).
But wait, there’s more!
Alongside TSS 4.0, the 2027 Highlander boasts Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Smart
Stop Technology (SST). Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking (PKSB) is also standard.
5th Generation Highlander Sizing Versus the 4th Gen
2023 Toyota Highlander (Previous Generation)
Let’s talk for a minute about packaging. Toyota notes in its release that the new model should drive quite well, thanks to its instant torque and lower center of gravity. (BEV batteries are usually placed in the floor of a vehicle, which is lower than where an engine would sit.) This usually makes BEVs roomier than their internal combustion counterparts. And at first glance, the new 2027 Highlander is 1.4″ longer (198.8″ total), 2″ wider, and features an 8″ longer wheelbase (120″). But interestingly, it has less cargo room behind the third row (15.9 cubic feet down from 16 cubic feet) and with the third row folded down (45.6 cubic feet down from 48.4 cubic feet). Toyota has yet to announce the next-gen Highlander’s total cargo volume, but the current model measures in at 84.3 cubic feet, slightly behind the Grand Highlander’s 9.75 cubic feet.
Stay tuned for more 2027 Highlander BEV images and information as we learn more!
