2027 Toyota Highlander EV: The Three-Row Family SUV Goes Fully Electric
The Toyota Highlander has been one of the most recognizable three-row SUVs on American roads for more than two decades, building its reputation on reliability, practicality, and family-friendly usability. For 2027, Toyota takes its biggest leap yet with the model, transforming it from a gasoline and hybrid staple into a fully electric vehicle. This marks the first time the Highlander badge appears on an EV and also represents Toyota’s first fully electric three-row SUV for the U.S. market. Instead of simply electrifying the existing formula, Toyota has rethought the Highlander from the ground up, giving it a new platform approach, a more angular and modern design language, and a technology-heavy cabin. The move also strategically separates it from the Grand Highlander, which continues serving buyers who want traditional hybrid and gas powertrains. By pushing the standard Highlander into the EV space, Toyota positions it directly against electric three-row rivals like the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. The result is not just a powertrain swap, but a full identity refresh aimed at future-focused families who want space, efficiency, and advanced features in one package.
Electric-Only Powertrain and Platform Strategy
For the 2027 model year, Toyota eliminates internal combustion entirely from the Highlander lineup. Every version is battery-electric, built on a modified version of Toyota’s TNGA-K architecture adapted for EV packaging and structural battery placement. This allows engineers to maintain three-row usability while improving rigidity and lowering the center of gravity. Buyers can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive depending on trim and battery configuration. The front-drive model uses a single motor setup, while AWD versions add a second motor on the rear axle for improved traction and performance. Toyota has tuned the system for smooth, predictable delivery rather than aggressive sportiness, which matches the Highlander’s family-hauler mission. Drive modes and terrain settings help optimize traction in poor weather or light off-road conditions, and certain AWD trims include low-speed crawl-style control to assist in tricky surfaces. The all-electric layout also improves packaging efficiency, helping preserve cabin and cargo space while removing the need for a traditional transmission tunnel and bulky exhaust routing underneath the vehicle.
Battery Options and Realistic Driving Range
Toyota offers two battery sizes for the Highlander EV, giving buyers flexibility between cost and maximum driving distance. The base pack is rated at 77.0 kWh and is standard on front-wheel-drive XLE trims and some all-wheel-drive versions. With this battery, the Highlander EV delivers up to about 287 miles of range in FWD form and around 270 miles in AWD form due to the extra motor and weight. Buyers who want more distance between charges can step up to the larger 95.8-kWh battery, available on higher XLE AWD configurations and standard on the Limited trim. With the larger pack, estimated range rises to about 320 miles per charge. Those figures place the Highlander EV competitively within the three-row electric SUV class and make it viable for road trips as well as daily commuting. Toyota also focuses on battery preconditioning and thermal management to support more consistent charging speeds and performance in different climates. For many families, the larger battery option will likely be the sweet spot, balancing range confidence with full passenger capacity.
Power Output and Performance Character
Performance in the 2027 Highlander EV is solid and responsive, though clearly tuned for smoothness over outright speed. The single-motor front-wheel-drive version produces about 221 horsepower and roughly 198 lb-ft of torque, which is already competitive with many base gas SUVs in this class. Stepping up to dual-motor all-wheel drive significantly increases output to about 338 horsepower and just over 320 lb-ft of torque. That extra power should noticeably improve passing performance and low-speed acceleration, especially when the vehicle is fully loaded with passengers and cargo. While Toyota has not positioned the Highlander EV as a performance SUV, the instant torque delivery typical of electric motors means it should feel quicker and more effortless than older gasoline Highlanders. The driving experience is expected to emphasize quiet operation, linear throttle response, and stable highway cruising. Regenerative braking is adjustable through drive settings, allowing drivers to recover more energy in stop-and-go traffic while reducing brake wear over time.
Charging Technology and Energy Features
Charging capability is a major part of the Highlander EV’s appeal. Toyota equips it with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, giving owners broad access to an expanding fast-charging network. On a DC fast charger, the Highlander EV can recharge from roughly 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions. For home charging, an 11-kW onboard charger supports faster Level 2 AC charging, making overnight top-ups easy for most households. Toyota also includes a dual-voltage portable charging cable that works with both 120-volt and 240-volt outlets for flexibility. A standout feature is vehicle-to-load capability, which allows the SUV to supply power to external devices and appliances. This can be useful for camping, outdoor events, job sites, or emergency backup situations during outages. Owners can run tools, small appliances, or electronics directly from the vehicle, effectively turning the Highlander EV into a large mobile battery pack when needed.
Bold Exterior Design and New Proportions
The electric Highlander adopts a sharper, more geometric design language that visually separates it from the outgoing gas model. The body features straighter lines, squared-off wheel arches, and a more planted stance. Full-width daytime running lights emphasize the SUV’s width, while Toyota’s hammerhead-style front lighting signature gives it a recognizable EV-era face. Semi-flush door handles, sculpted side panels, and carefully managed airflow elements improve aerodynamic efficiency without making the design look overly soft. Compared with the previous generation, the new Highlander is wider and longer, with a significantly stretched wheelbase that benefits interior space. Interestingly, the roofline sits slightly lower, giving it a more athletic silhouette while preserving headroom through smart interior packaging. Wheel options run large, with upper trims offering up to 22-inch designs and available two-tone paint schemes with a contrasting black roof. Overall, the look is more modern and assertive, clearly signaling that this is not just a carryover SUV with a battery swap.
High-Tech Interior with Big Screens and Real Controls
Inside, the 2027 Highlander EV receives a full digital overhaul while still keeping usability in mind. The dashboard is dominated by a 14.0-inch central touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, voice control, and high-speed connectivity features. Toyota wisely keeps physical controls for core functions like climate settings, drive modes, and audio volume, which improves ease of use while driving. A head-up display is included on higher trims, projecting key information onto the windshield. The cabin also includes dual wireless phone chargers up front and USB-C ports for second- and third-row passengers. Ambient lighting with up to 64 color choices adds a customizable feel and is linked to certain safety alerts, such as warning passengers of approaching traffic before opening doors. SofTex synthetic leather upholstery comes standard across all three rows, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard, plus available ventilation and heated second-row seating on upper trims.
Three-Row Practicality and Cargo Flexibility
Despite the shift to electric packaging, Toyota keeps the Highlander’s family-focused practicality intact. The SUV seats up to seven passengers, with select trims offering a second-row bench instead of captain’s chairs. The third row is designed to fold completely flat, making it easier to switch between passenger and cargo duty. With the third row down, cargo capacity rises to roughly 45 cubic feet behind the second row, making it suitable for luggage, sports gear, or large grocery runs. Storage solutions are spread throughout the cabin, including numerous cupholders, device trays, and multi-purpose bins designed to hold tablets and phones securely. A hands-free power liftgate simplifies loading when your hands are full. Toyota also adds extra sound insulation, acoustic glass, and vibration damping materials throughout the body to enhance cabin quietness. The result should be a calm, low-noise environment that highlights one of the natural advantages of EV driving—reduced mechanical sound and smoother operation in everyday traffic.
Comprehensive Safety and Driver Assistance
Safety remains central to the Highlander identity, and the EV version introduces the latest Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 suite as standard equipment. This package includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control that works across a wide speed range, lane departure alert with steering assist, and lane tracing assist for highway driving. Additional features include road sign recognition and proactive driving assist that helps with subtle braking and steering support in certain scenarios. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking assist with automatic braking are also included. A built-in drive recorder function acts like a dashcam using the vehicle’s external cameras. Other helpful touches include rear seat reminders, smart key access, automatic high beams, and hill start assist. Together, these systems aim to reduce driver workload and increase awareness without replacing driver responsibility, supporting safer daily driving for families.
Production, Pricing Expectations, and Market Position
Toyota plans to build the Highlander EV in the United States, with assembly in Kentucky and battery supply coming from its large North Carolina battery facility. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with sales rolling out toward the end of that year and into early 2027. Official pricing has not been finalized, but expectations place the starting price in the mid-$50,000 range, with well-equipped Limited trims likely climbing higher. That positions the Highlander EV directly against other mainstream three-row electric SUVs rather than luxury models. Considering its range figures, charging features, family space, and strong safety package, the Highlander EV looks set to become a cornerstone of Toyota’s electric expansion. It transforms a familiar nameplate into a forward-looking product, giving loyal Highlander buyers a path into EV ownership without giving up the size and versatility they expect.
