Toyota is taking one of its most familiar nameplates in a direction it’s never gone before. The 2027 Highlander will drop gasoline power entirely and return as a fully electric three-row SUV, dropping the hybrid and gas engines that have powered the model for decades in favor of a battery-electric-only lineup. When it reaches showrooms in late 2026, the Highlander becomes the fourth battery-electric model in Toyota’s U.S. lineup, joining the bZ crossover, the bZ Woodland, and the recently revived C-HR electric.
Battery Options And What They Mean For Range
The redesigned Highlander introduces new battery and drivetrain options depending on trim. The base XLE comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 77-kilowatt-hour battery pack, while buyers who choose the all-wheel-drive XLE gain access to a larger battery option that expands both capacity and range. The top Limited trim uses that larger battery as standard equipment and is offered exclusively with all-wheel drive.
Toyota hasn’t released official range figures yet, but early estimates put the electric Highlander somewhere between roughly 270 and 320 miles depending on configuration. The shorter estimate applies to the all-wheel-drive XLE running the smaller battery, while the larger 95.8-kWh pack could push either the XLE or Limited toward the 320-mile mark. Charging relies on the North American Charging Standard connector, and the SUV supports Level 3 DC fast charging capable of a 10-to-80-percent recharge in roughly 30 minutes under optimal conditions, with built-in battery preconditioning to regulate temperature before reaching a fast charger.
More Power Than Any Gas Highlander Ever Offered
Output varies by configuration, but both versions comfortably beat the outgoing gas models. The front-wheel-drive XLE makes 221 horsepower and 198 lb-ft of torque, solid numbers for a large family crossover, while all-wheel-drive versions step up considerably to 338 horsepower and 323 lb-ft thanks to an added electric motor driving the rear axle. Those numbers have to move a vehicle that’s grown in nearly every dimension: the new Highlander stretches close to 200 inches overall on a 120-inch wheelbase, about five inches longer and roughly eight inches longer in wheelbase than its predecessor, with a body that’s also slightly wider and taller to open up passenger space across all three rows.
Styling Borrowed From Toyota’s EV Lineup
The exterior leans on design language from Toyota’s growing electric lineup, trading the old Highlander’s softer surfacing for sharper lines and flatter panels. Up front, it closely resembles the smaller bZ crossover, with narrow lighting elements and a smooth fascia that reflects the absence of a traditional engine cooling grille. Toward the rear, though, the Highlander goes its own way with a cleaner roofline and a simplified tail section that skips the split rear spoiler used on the bZ models.
A More Digital, More Spacious Cabin
Inside, Toyota shifts toward a more digital layout while keeping a handful of physical controls. A 14-inch infotainment screen anchors the dashboard alongside a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, with tactile buttons remaining for the defroster, climate temperature, and a traditional volume knob. The center console has been redesigned to take advantage of the extra packaging space an electric platform allows, housing the ignition button and gear selector while freeing up more open storage for personal items. The Highlander keeps its three rows of seating for up to seven passengers, and Toyota is also offering a panoramic glass roof option that will be the largest fixed glass roof the brand has ever installed on a production vehicle, intended to make the cabin feel noticeably more open across all three rows.
Where It’s Built And When It Arrives
Production will take place entirely in the United States, with Toyota confirming assembly at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant. Battery packs will come from the company’s battery facility in Liberty, North Carolina, along with components from an additional supplier partner Toyota hasn’t identified yet. The electric Highlander is expected to reach dealerships in late 2026 as a 2027 model, though pricing and official EPA range figures haven’t been announced and are expected closer to launch.
What’s already clear is that one of Toyota’s most recognizable family SUVs is entering an entirely new chapter, trading traditional engines for battery-electric hardware as the model moves into its next generation.
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