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| The electric 2027 Toyota Highlander. |
For over two decades, the Toyota Highlander has been the sensible sneaker of the driveway—reliable, spacious, and unobtrusive. But this week, Toyota ripped up the playbook.
While much of the automotive world spent the early 2020s in a frantic rush to beat Tesla at its own game, Toyota remained conspicuously calm. Critics called it stubborn; executives called it strategy. And on Wednesday, with the unveiling of the 2027 Toyota Highlander, the company’s patience finally took physical form.
This isn’t merely a refresh. It is the first three-row battery electric vehicle (BEV) to wear a Toyota badge in the United States, and the first BEV assembled at the legendary Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant.
Perhaps more shocking than the horsepower figures is the price tag: Toyota has kept the starting price under $50,000.
The $50,000 Threshold and the Battery Compromise
How did Toyota hit that psychological pricing bullseye? By offering choice—something the EV market has largely avoided.
Buyers can opt for a 77 kWh battery (estimated 287-mile range) or a 95.8 kWh pack (320-mile range). In an era where manufacturers often force customers into massive, expensive battery packs to chase headline range numbers, Toyota is betting that "enough range" paired with "enough savings" is a winning formula.
The larger pack, standard on the Limited trim, delivers 338 combined system horsepower and 323 lb.-ft. of torque.
Vindication by Design
To understand why the Highlander matters, you have to look at the silhouette.
Toyota designers adopted what they call the "hammerhead" front fascia, slimming the daytime running lights and lowering the overall height by nearly an inch while widening the track. The wheelbase stretches to 120.1 inches—over 8 inches longer than the outgoing model.
Inside, the most noticeable shift isn't the 14-inch touchscreen or the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. It’s the silence.
Chief Engineer Yoshinori Futonagane told reporters that the goal was to "bring a smile to faces with sharp acceleration feel." To achieve this, engineers added acoustic glass on the windshield and front sides, plus noise-absorbing material on the pillars and underfloor.
In a full-circle moment for the brand that introduced the Lexus LS 400’s famous "sake glass" stability test, the 2027 Highlander is arguably the quietest cabin Toyota has ever produced for the mass market.
The "Blackout Box" Strategy: V2L and Safety Sense
Toyota is leaning hard into two features that legacy automakers often treat as afterthoughts.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology makes its U.S. debut on a Toyota model here. With the purchase of bi-directional accessories, the Highlander can power a tailgate party, a campsite, or—crucially—a home during an outage. This shifts the SUV from transportation appliance to home infrastructure.
Then there is Toyota Safety Sense 4.0.
In a quiet jab at Tesla’s recent decision to remove standard Autopilot from its base vehicles to push subscriptions, Toyota is bundling its full suite—pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing, and road sign assist—at no extra cost.
For the family buyer, this is a louder selling point than 0-60 times.
Why Kentucky and North Carolina Matter
The 2027 Highlander is a geopolitical statement as much as a product launch.
Battery modules are assembled at Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC) —a $13.9 billion facility that only recently opened its doors. Final assembly happens in Georgetown, Kentucky.
This domestic sourcing qualifies the vehicle for full federal EV tax incentives, effectively lowering that $50,000 MSRP further for eligible buyers. It also insulates Toyota from the supply chain shocks that plagued the industry earlier this decade.
The "Spellbound" Factor
Toyota is hedging its bets with aesthetics.
The press photos emphasize a new color called Spellbound, a deep metallic teal available in a two-tone with a black roof. Inside, "Misty Gray" replaces traditional beige, giving the cabin a Scandinavian-minimalist vibe alien to the Highlanders of yore.
Yet Toyota hasn't forgotten its base. The third row still folds flat for 45+ cubic feet of cargo. There are 18 cup holders. The second row still offers captain’s chairs or a bench seat for seven-passenger capacity.
The Verdict from Ojai
Standing in Ojai, California, surrounded by the citrus groves where Toyota often previews its future, David Christ, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division, summarized the strategy succinctly:
"This new Highlander is designed to be a stylish, high-tech leader in the midsize SUV segment."
For the full technical specifications, trim levels, and high-resolution imagery, visit the official Toyota USA Newsroom announcement: Elevated Style Meets Modern Power in the Next Generation 2027 Toyota Highlander.
The Road Ahead
Sales begin in late 2026 as a 2027 model.
Toyota now boasts 22 electrified powertrain options across its lineup. But the Highlander is different. It carries the weight of the Camry’s platform heritage, the hybrid legacy of the Prius, and now, the burden of proving that America wants a three-row EV that doesn’t break the bank.
If the 2027 Highlander succeeds, it won’t be because it reinvented the wheel. It will be because Toyota remembered that most families don’t want a science experiment. They just want the car to start, the kids to be comfortable, and the monthly payment to hurt a little less.
