In some ways, the brand new Toyota Highlander is a landmark mannequin: the corporate’s first three-row electrical SUV within the US and the primary to make use of batteries from the brand new Toyota plant in North Carolina.
It’s Toyota’s first totally battery-electric automobile assembled within the US, its first electrical seven-seater worldwide, and the model’s greatest battery pack thus far. It even has Toyota’s largest panoramic glass roof.
However regardless of all these breakthroughs, the massive, good electrical SUV is roughly what everybody has anticipated. As The Autopian summed it up, there’s nothing earth-shattering – technologically talking – right here. It’s a usually conservative, mainstream replace from the world’s largest automaker.
Toyota
Trimming away all of the advertising hype (“a BEV that matches clients’ lives”), listed here are the fundamentals in regards to the 2027 Highlander:
- It’s greater, roomier, and extra highly effective.
- The brand new look follows modern all-electric design traits, together with slim entrance LED models, flush door handles, broad fenders, flared arches, and a tapered mid-body waist.
- Width will increase by 2.3 inches to 78.3 inches (1,988 mm), and the wheelbase grows nearly eight inches to 120.1 inches (3,050.5 mm). Enormous figures for European roads, pretty common for the US.
- Two battery choices: 77 kWh/270 miles or 95.8 kWh/320 miles. Each cost from 10% to 80% in a minimal of about half-hour. Energy outputs are about what you’d anticipate for a automobile of this measurement.
- Two trim ranges plus a selection of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
- Three-row seating, in 2-2-2 or 2-3-2 configurations.
- Loads of onboard tech, together with a customizable giant touchscreen, separate driver show, and non-compulsory head-up show. USB ports all through, a 64-color ambient lighting system, superior infotainment and connectivity, and a built-in drive-recorder video system.
- All the newest lively driver-assistance techniques to harass most drivers however fulfill security box-tickers.
Efficiency, towing capability, payload, pricing, and launches into different markets haven’t been introduced but, however once more, the business doesn’t anticipate surprises. Apparently, in a declining US electrical automobile (EV) market, there’s additionally no phrase on variants utilizing different powertrains.
All of it goes to point out: Toyota hasn’t grow to be world primary by stunning patrons, however by being safely mainstream, rigorously thought-out, predictable, and dependable.
Toyota
There are just a few neat touches we do like in regards to the new Highlander although: it’s snug and roomy even within the third row, there are many storage slots for tablets and telephones, and the charge-assist characteristic can maximize charging throughout low-rate durations.
There’s additionally a tech characteristic with the brand new US-built battery pack that’s hardly been talked about. The brand new Highlander can function a cell energy supply, a primary for any Toyota mannequin bought in america. This know-how can energy exterior home equipment, reminiscent of at a tailgate get together or for cell work tools. Most intriguing of all, it will possibly even present your property with backup energy within the occasion of an outage.
The Highlander has clearly moved upmarket because it was first revealed on the New York Auto Present in 2000. The primary-generation Highlander was a rugged 4×4 that used a modified model of the Camry’s platform. The model launched a hybrid Highlander in 2005 as its first hybrid after the Prius.
The second-generation US-built Highlander was a extra refined crossover SUV. The third technology, launched in 2013, introduced a catalog of lively security applied sciences and superior driver-assistance options. The fourth technology of 2019 was more spacious and stylish., and the Grand Highlander upsized the nameplate once more. The 2027 mannequin kicks off the newest technology with additional features in type, consolation, and effectivity. However it’s competing in a troublesome market dominated by Ford’s Explorer.
Toyota
In america, two-row compact and midsize SUVs dominate gross sales (leaders are Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue), however three-row SUVs are presently rising in reputation. It’s a development pushed by demand for household autos that change conventional minivans. The three-row midsize section is booming. Whereas nonetheless low, gross sales of electrical three-row SUVs are anticipated to quadruple from below 100,000 in 2024 to round 400,000 by 2029.
That mentioned, Explorer gross sales are hovering, with 2025 its finest yr since 2020 at 222,706 models. Highlander gross sales have been shrinking on the identical time, down to simply 51,782 final yr, though Toyota is competing with itself to some extent. Its bigger Grand Highlander seems to be stealing Highlander gross sales – final yr the massive sister bought 125,140 models.
Supply: Toyota
