The 2027 Toyota Highlander is no longer the hybrid family hauler it used to be. For its fifth generation, Toyota has reinvented the nameplate as a fully electric, three-row SUV, and it becomes the company’s first three-row battery-electric vehicle (BEV) assembled in the United States. Toyota says sales are expected to begin in late 2026 and continue into early 2027, so the electric Highlander is close to reaching showrooms.
What Toyota Has Confirmed for the 2027 Highlander
Toyota officially unveiled the 2027 Highlander on February 10, 2026, and its pressroom has confirmed the core details. The new model drops gasoline and conventional hybrid power entirely in favor of a battery-electric powertrain, making it the fourth BEV in Toyota’s U.S. lineup after the bZ family. Two grades will be offered, XLE and Limited, and both ride on a dedicated electric platform.
The exterior uses full-length LED daytime running lights, semi-flush door handles, and broad fenders. Inside, Toyota lists a standard 14-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver’s display, customizable ambient lighting, device charging in every row, and an available fixed glass panoramic roof that Toyota calls the largest in its lineup.
2027 Highlander Battery, Range, and Powertrain
Battery sizes depend on grade and drivetrain, and Toyota has published the lineup in full. Every XLE front-wheel-drive model uses a 77.0-kWh battery. XLE all-wheel-drive buyers can choose between that same 77.0-kWh pack or an extended-range 95.8-kWh unit, while the Limited grade comes exclusively with AWD and the 95.8-kWh battery as standard.
- XLE FWD: 77.0-kWh battery, 221 net combined horsepower, 198 lb-ft of torque
- XLE AWD: 77.0-kWh or 95.8-kWh battery
- Limited AWD: 95.8-kWh battery standard
- AWD output: 338 net combined horsepower, with 198/125 lb-ft of front/rear motor torque
- Estimated range: 320 miles for XLE AWD and Limited AWD with the 95.8-kWh battery
That 320-mile figure is a manufacturer estimate, and Toyota notes that real range will vary with weather, driving style, and other factors. The Highlander page confirms the fifth generation is electric-only and lists a NACS charge port with an 11-kW onboard AC charger plus 150-kW DC fast charging.
Seating, Cargo, and Safety
The new Highlander seats up to seven across three rows and uses a loveseat-style third row. The third row folds flat, and Toyota quotes more than 45 cubic feet of cargo space when it is stowed. SofTex-trimmed seating and heated front seats are standard, with ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats available. All grades include the latest Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 (TSS 4.0) and Toyota Audio Multimedia.
Charging and Vehicle-to-Load
Toyota says the 2027 Highlander introduces vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology to a Toyota sold in the U.S. for the first time, though bi-directional accessories must be purchased separately. The feature lets the SUV run appliances or provide backup power. Toyota’s Charge Assist and ECO Charge tools, accessible through the Toyota app, can schedule charging for off-peak hours or when renewable energy is being generated.
On the charging side, the Highlander uses a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, which opens access to compatible Tesla Supercharger sites, and Toyota lists an 11-kW onboard charger for AC charging and 150-kW DC fast charging. That combination puts it in line with most current mainstream EVs rather than at the front of the pack.
How the Highlander EV Differs From Toyota’s bZ Line
Toyota’s compact bZ electric crossover is a two-row SUV aimed at smaller households. The electric Highlander moves up a class: it adds a third row, a larger battery option, and American assembly. The 2027 Highlander will be built at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant, drawing batteries from the company’s $13.9 billion battery facility in Liberty, North Carolina, plus a supplier partner.
A running mate exists in the Subaru lineup, too. A rebadged version of the Highlander is marketed by Subaru as the Getaway, which debuted in April 2026 and shares the electric underpinnings. That kind of platform sharing is common between the two brands, much as the Subaru Solterra is related to Toyota’s bZ4X.
2027 Highlander Price and Release Date
Toyota has not announced pricing for the 2027 Highlander. Consumer Reports lists an estimated range of about $55,000 to $70,000, which should be treated as an estimate rather than an announced figure. What is official is timing: sales are expected to start in late 2026 and continue into early 2027. Read our earlier 2021 Highlander review for how the outgoing hybrid generation compared, and our look at the Highlander changes and redesign for context on how far the nameplate has moved.
Our Take
Turning the Highlander into a three-row EV is a bigger bet than it looks. The original sold on being a safe, roomy, gas-sipping default, and this version asks families to plan around a charge port and, on the base XLE, a 77.0-kWh pack that will not match the extended-range model. The 320-mile figure is competitive, but it is tied to the expensive 95.8-kWh Limited or XLE AWD. Buyers who mainly need three rows and a low running cost, not a badge, may find the smaller bZ or a plug-in hybrid cheaper. Toyota got the packaging right — seven seats, real cargo room, US assembly — but the value case will live or die on final pricing.
FAQ
Is the 2027 Toyota Highlander fully electric?
Yes. The 2027 Highlander is offered exclusively as a battery-electric vehicle, making it Toyota’s first three-row BEV built in the United States.
How much range does the 2027 Highlander have?
Toyota quotes a manufacturer-estimated 320 miles of total driving range for XLE AWD and Limited AWD models equipped with the 95.8-kWh battery. Actual range varies.
How many seats does the 2027 Highlander have?
It seats up to seven people across three rows, with a fold-flat third row and more than 45 cubic feet of cargo space when that row is stowed.
When does the 2027 Toyota Highlander go on sale?
Toyota says sales are expected to begin in late 2026 and continue into early 2027.
