2027 Toyota Highlander First Look: The Middle Child Acts Out

We sympathize with the Toyota Highlander. Previously the three-row family-hauling darling of Toyota’s SUV lineup, the Highlander has had its sales chewed up by the bigger Grand Highlander, while the smaller RAV4 remains Toyota buyers’ favorite. It’s a classic case of middle-child syndrome, so of course the Highlander is going to act out. Come the 2027 model year, the Highlander will get a radical new look and an all-electric powertrain. Way to rebel, Highlander!

Wow, Highlander, You Look So … Different

The styling is an obvious departure; clearly, this is not your mother’s Highlander, or your neighbor’s, or anyone’s. The new 2027 Toyota Highlander’s grilleless face looks a lot like that of the upcoming bZ Woodland, which the Highlander also shares the low-profile, full-width taillight with. The unadorned tailgate is unique, while the side sculpting bears some resemblance to the contemporary Land Cruiser.

The proportions are different, too; the new Highlander is nearly 4 inches longer than the old (not counting the extended schnoz on the XSE model), but the wheelbase is stretched 8.1 inches to give room for the batteries, providing a short, RAV4-like rear overhang. The new car also gains 2.3 inches of width and loses 0.8 inch of height. An optional two-tone paint job emphasizes the length over the height. We keep thinking of that middle child coming home with a mohawk and a half-dozen new face piercings. To call it pretty would be an overreach, but it’ll definitely get attention.

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A Better Interior With Room to Grow

The news is better inside. Dashboard styling follows the lead set by the new RAV4, with a 12.3-inch display for the driver, a huge 14.0-inch center screen, and few buttons. The Highlander shares its side-by-side phone chargers with the bZ, but the cabin’s additional width means they don’t eat up unnecessary space, and there’s a huge, purse-friendly open storage pod beneath them. USB ports abound. For the second row, the XLE will offer a choice of bench or bucket seats, with buckets—sorry, captain’s chairs—on the Limited, and a third-row seat is standard.

We were pleased to learn the Highlander will run the updated version of Toyota’s multimedia system; having sampled it on the RAV4, we can tell you it’s a huge improvement over the current software and hardware (not that improving on that system was difficult to do). Among other things, the Highlander’s infotainment includes 5G network connectivity and Drive Recorder, which provides dashcam functionality with the Highlander’s built-in cameras.

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Goodbye Gasoline, Hello Fast(er) Charging

To be clear, gasoline power is gone for the Highlander; starting in 2027, it’s electric-only. The front-drive version—only available in XLE trim—delivers 221 hp and 198 lb-ft of torque, while the dual-motor setup provides 338 hp and 323 lb-ft. The standard battery for the XLE is a 77.0-kWh unit Toyota expects will get an EPA range rating of 287 miles for the single-motor Highlander and 270 miles for the dual-motor. A 95.8-kWh battery, optional on the XLE AWD and standard on the Limited (which also comes exclusively with the dual-motor setup), should provide 320 miles of range. The Highlander will offer V2L (Vehicle to Load), meaning you can use the battery to power other things, up to and including your house.

What about long-distance travel? The Highlander uses the Tesla-style NACS port, as well as battery preconditioning that can be triggered either manually or through the navigation system. Toyota tells us the Highlander will fast-charge from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes regardless of battery size. That’s not far behind the 24 minutes that Kia claims for the competing EV9. Half an hour is a while compared to the time it takes to fill the Grand Highlander’s 17-plus-gallon tank, but those of us with kids know that a fuel stop, including shuttling everyone to the bathrooms and picking up snacks and souvenirs, can easily eat up half an hour. Once back home, Toyota tells us a complete Level 2 charge will take a little more than 7 hours with the smaller battery and just more than 8 with the big one.

Obviously, we don’t expect the Highlander to be a Land Cruiser–style rock crawler, but all-wheel-drive models will get Toyota’s Muti-Terrain Select system and crawl control, which should give it some soft-roader cred. Toyota did not talk towing capacity, but we spotted a hitch receiver and what looks like a four-pin connector, indicating the Highlander will be set up to tow lighter trailers and accommodate hitch-mounted accessories like bike racks.

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A Good Idea, and There’s Still the Grand Highlander

Pricing is obviously going to be a factor in the Highlander’s success, but Toyota has not announced anything on this front. The fact Toyota is skipping the lower trims and starting with the XLE, however, does not bode well for a bargain. Standard equipment on the XLE includes faux-leather SofTex upholstery, six-speaker audio, heated front seats, 19-inch wheels, and 64-color ambient lighting. The Limited adds cooling for the front seats, heat for the second row, a head-up display, rear sunshades, and more advanced driver assists. Options include a panoramic roof, an upgraded 11-speaker stereo, and 22-inch wheels. We imagine the 2027 Highlander will be closer to the EV9’s high-50s base price than the Grand Highlander in the low 40s.

Electric cars are, unfortunately, a politically charged subject at this moment, but with any luck, the fact both the Highlander and its battery will be made in America will, hopefully, sooth some of the rhetoric. Putting all that aside, we think Toyota’s decision to convert the Highlander to battery power is a smart one. As proven by the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, a big electric SUV is a great way to haul kids to school and soccer without worry that a fuel price spike will kill the family budget. If you need more space or don’t want to be tethered to a cord, there’s always the Grand Highlander, still available with a conventional or hybrid powertrain.

We’ve found the three-row electric SUV in general to be an exceedingly useful vehicle. We’re glad Toyota is bringing another one to market, and we’re all the more pleased it will be built on U.S. soil. We don’t think the Highlander will eclipse the Grand Highlander’s popularity—not yet, anyway—but it’s a useful alternative for those who prefer the smooth power and cheap running costs of an electric SUV.