Toyota is taking one of its best-known SUVs in a completely different direction. The 2027 Toyota Highlander will abandon gasoline power entirely and return as a fully electric three-row SUV, marking one of the most significant changes in the model’s history. The next-generation Highlander will arrive with a battery-electric powertrain only, replacing the familiar hybrid and gas engines that have powered the family SUV for decades. When it reaches showrooms in late 2026, the Highlander will become the fourth battery-electric vehicle in Toyota’s U.S. lineup.
The decision represents a major shift for a nameplate that has been a core part of Toyota’s American portfolio since the early 2000s. Instead of fuel economy ratings measured in miles per gallon, the new Highlander will move to electric efficiency ratings and battery range estimates. Toyota is positioning the SUV alongside other battery-electric entries already in its lineup, including the bZ crossover, the bZ Woodland, and the recently revived C-HR electric model.
Under the skin, the redesigned Highlander introduces new battery options and drivetrain configurations depending on trim level. The base XLE model will come standard with front-wheel drive powered by a 77-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Buyers who choose the all-wheel-drive version of the XLE will gain access to a larger battery option, expanding the vehicle’s capacity and driving range. The top-tier Limited trim will use that larger battery as standard equipment and will only be offered with all-wheel drive.
Toyota has not released official range figures yet, but early estimates suggest the electric Highlander could deliver between roughly 270 and 320 miles of driving range depending on configuration. The shorter estimate is tied to the all-wheel-drive XLE using the smaller battery pack, while the larger 95.8-kilowatt-hour battery could push range toward the 320-mile mark in either the XLE or Limited models.
Charging capability will rely on the North American Charging System connector, giving the Highlander compatibility with an expanding network of high-speed chargers across the country. The SUV will support Level 3 DC fast charging, allowing the battery to replenish from 10 percent to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes under optimal conditions. Toyota also built battery preconditioning into the system to regulate temperature and improve charging efficiency before reaching a fast charger.
Performance varies depending on drivetrain configuration, but both versions deliver significantly more power than earlier gasoline models. The front-wheel-drive XLE produces 221 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque, numbers that place it firmly in the territory expected from a large family crossover. The all-wheel-drive versions step up considerably, generating 338 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque thanks to the additional electric motor driving the rear axle.
Those figures are designed to move a vehicle that has grown slightly in size compared with the outgoing generation. The new Highlander stretches nearly 200 inches in overall length and rides on a 120-inch wheelbase. Compared with its predecessor, the SUV grows about five inches longer while gaining roughly eight inches in wheelbase. The body is also slightly wider and taller, changes that aim to improve passenger space across all three rows.
The exterior design takes cues from Toyota’s growing electric lineup, using sharper lines and flatter surfaces than earlier Highlanders. Up front, the styling closely resembles the smaller bZ crossover with narrow lighting elements and a smooth front fascia that reflects the lack of a traditional engine cooling grille. Moving toward the rear, the Highlander adopts a more unique profile with a clean roofline and a simplified tail section that drops the split rear spoiler used on the bZ models.
Inside the cabin, Toyota has moved toward a more digital interior layout while keeping several physical controls in place. A 14-inch infotainment screen sits prominently in the center of the dashboard, paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display for the driver. Beneath the screen, a handful of tactile buttons and switches remain, including controls for the defroster and climate temperature adjustments along with a traditional volume knob.
The center console has been redesigned to create additional storage space, a benefit made possible by the packaging advantages of the electric platform. The ignition button and gear selector are positioned within this console area, while the surrounding layout leaves more open space for personal items and devices. The Highlander continues to offer three rows of seating with capacity for up to seven passengers.
Toyota also plans to offer a panoramic glass roof option that will be the largest fixed glass roof ever installed on a Toyota vehicle. Combined with the SUV’s increased dimensions, the feature is intended to create a more open and spacious cabin feel for passengers in all three rows.
Production of the 2027 Highlander will take place in the United States. Toyota confirmed the SUV will be assembled at its manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. Battery packs for the vehicle will be supplied by the company’s battery assembly facility in Liberty, North Carolina, along with components from an additional supplier partner that has not yet been identified.
The electric Highlander is expected to reach dealerships late in 2026 as a 2027 model year vehicle. Pricing has not yet been announced, and Toyota has not released final EPA range figures or full performance specifications. Those details are expected closer to the vehicle’s launch.
What is clear is that the Highlander is entering a completely new chapter. One of Toyota’s most recognizable family SUVs is moving away from gasoline power for the first time, replacing traditional engines with battery-electric hardware designed to push the model into the next generation of the automaker’s lineup.
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