LOS ANGELES: The all-electric Toyota 2027 Highlander offers seating for up to seven, and is the Japanese automaker's first three‑row battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) assembled in America.
“This new Highlander is designed to be a stylish, high-tech leader in the midsize SUV (sport utility vehicle) segment,” said Toyota group vice president of marketing David Christ.
The new Highlander’s modern new look features clean lines, broad fenders, full-length LED daytime running lights, and flush door handles for an aerodynamic appeal.
Inside, a tech-forward cabin with a large 14-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch driver’s display, customisable ambient lighting, and ample device charging in every row give it comfort and convenience.
It will also have an available fixed glass panoramic roof that will be the largest in the Toyota lineup.
AWD (all wheel drive) equipped models will also have features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control.
All grades will have Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 (TSS 4.0) and Toyota Audio Multimedia as standard.
Its cabin has SofTex-trimmed seating, soft-touch materials on the dash and doors, and customisable interior lighting.
The new Highlander can also serve as a mobile power source with vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, a first for a Toyota model sold in the United States.
It also complements Toyota’s Charge Assist and Eco Charge features, which are designed to give Highlander the capability to charge during lower-rate times or when energy may be created from renewable resources.
The new Highlander has 338 combined system horsepower and a satisfying 438Nm max torque on AWD equipped models.
FWD (front wheel drive) equipped models have 221 combined system horsepower and 268Nm max torque.
From the front, the new Highlander emphasises Toyota’s signature hammerhead design with the use of slim daytime running lights (DRL) that are housed separately from the main headlights.
The linear-shaped DRL is integrated into the vehicle’s front end for a look that evokes strength and simplicity with broad surfaces, a thick sweptback grill, and geometric bumper corners that encompass the headlamps.
The cockpit is driver-focused and centres around an LED digital gauge cluster with customisable settings, temperature controls with adjustability via hard buttons, and a large slim bezel touchscreen.
A Head Up Display (HUD) is available. Ambient lighting is standard, with 64 different color choices to set the perfect mood for a night out on the town.
It is also thoughtfully integrated into the Safe Exit Assist system with ambient lights on the doors that will flash in case of an issue.
Within the 2027 Highlander lineup, options include:
- XLE FWD with 77kWh battery with a 287-mile (462km) driving range rating
- XLE AWD with 77kWh battery with a 270-mile (435km) driving range rating
- XLE AWD with 95.8kWh battery with a 320-mile (515km) driving range rating
- Limited AWD with 95.8kWh battery with a 320-mile (515km) driving range rating
It will have a standard North American Charging System (NACS) port that is compatible with thousands of Level 3 DC charging stations nationwide.
When using DC fast charging, it can charge from 10% to 80% battery capacity in around 30 minutes.
It will also have Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging; a dual-voltage 120V/240V charging cable is included.
A Battery Preconditioning feature is also equipped.
This system is designed to bring the battery to an optimal temperature for DC fast charging, which can enable faster charging.
The 2027 Highlander comes with the recently updated Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 4.0) system.
Features include:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD)
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)
- Automatic High Beams (AHB)
- Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
- Road Sign Assist (RSA)
- Proactive Driving Assist (PDA)
