Author: Pratik Ghadge
The 2027 Toyota Highlander is not shaping up like a small refresh. It looks more like Toyota is using the Highlander name for a bigger shift. The familiar family SUV is moving into electric territory, and that alone makes people look twice. Some buyers will be excited. Some will immediately ask about range, charging, price, and whether an EV makes sense for road trips with kids, bags, snacks, and one tablet that is always at 6%.
Toyota's own upcoming vehicles page describes the new 2027 Highlander as an all-electric model with three rows of seating, generous cargo space, and smart tech. That is the key point. This is not just another gas Highlander with a new face. It is being positioned as an electric family SUV.
For shoppers who liked the old Highlander because it felt safe, familiar, and easy to live with, this new one may feel like a bigger leap than expected.
The biggest difference is powertrain direction. Toyota has already offered hybrids for years, but a three-row electric Highlander changes the conversation. Car and Driver reported that Toyota confirmed the 2027 Highlander will be an EV, with teaser material showing a more squared-off design style and EV branding.
That makes this 2027 Toyota Highlander review less about "what changed from last year?" and more about "who is this SUV now for?" It may appeal to families who want Toyota practicality without gasoline, but it may also make traditional Highlander buyers pause.
Will buyers accept an electric Highlander as the main family hauler? That depends on range, charging speed, pricing, cargo space, and how easily it handles long-distance family travel.
Toyota has not made every final detail easy to compare yet, but early reporting gives a clearer picture. Car and Driver says the electric Highlander is expected with a standard front-wheel-drive single-motor setup rated at 221 horsepower and a stronger all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup.
That means the 2027 Highlander specs may be more about usable EV performance than old-school engine numbers. Electric SUVs often feel quick in normal driving because torque arrives immediately. For school runs, traffic gaps, highway merging, and loaded family trips, that could matter more than a dramatic horsepower figure.
Expected highlights include:
Nothing here says sports SUV. That is fine. The Highlander has always been more family-steady than weekend show-off.
The 2027 Toyota Highlander interior features will probably decide whether many families take it seriously. A three-row SUV can look great outside, but if the third row is cramped, the storage is awkward, or the charging ports are badly placed, parents notice fast.
Toyota says the 2027 Highlander is built with three rows of seating, cargo space, and smart tech. Independent early reports have also described seating layouts with captain's chairs on many models and an available bench on some versions, which may allow seating for up to seven people.
Families will likely care about:
Toyota usually understands practical family cabins. The question is whether the EV platform makes the space feel better than before.
As Previously Covered: Toyota Alphard Vs Vellfire Luxury MPV Comparison Guide
This Toyota Highlander first look review starts with one obvious thing: the design seems to be moving away from the softer, old crossover look. Early teaser coverage described a more upright, squared-off shape similar in spirit to Toyota's newer rugged models.
That could be smart. Family SUVs do not have to look dull anymore. Buyers want something practical, yes, but they also want a vehicle that does not disappear in a parking lot. A tougher-looking Highlander EV may help Toyota compete with electric three-row rivals that already feel more modern.
Still, no one should confuse it with a 4Runner. The Highlander's job is family comfort, not rock crawling. The stronger design may give it presence, but the real test will be daily use.
Yes, the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV is the big story. Toyota's own upcoming Highlander page calls it all-electric, and Car and Driver reported Toyota's confirmation of the electric Highlander through teaser material.
This matters because Toyota has long been known for hybrids rather than rushing into EVs. The Highlander EV suggests Toyota wants a stronger place in the electric family SUV market. It also gives Toyota shoppers another option beside the smaller bZ and the larger gas or hybrid Grand Highlander.
The practical question is charging. A family buying a three-row EV will want home charging if possible. Public charging can work, but with kids, luggage, and tight travel schedules, convenience matters.
The 2026 Highlander still uses a 2.4-liter turbo engine with 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, while the hybrid offers up to an EPA-estimated 35 combined mpg, according to Toyota's current Highlander page.
That makes the 2027 shift feel pretty large. The outgoing-style Highlander is familiar: gas or hybrid, easy refueling, and predictable ownership. The 2027 electric model will bring quieter driving, instant torque, and lower tailpipe emissions, but it will also ask buyers to think about charging habits.
For some families, that trade will be perfect. For others, the hybrid Grand Highlander may still feel safer.
The 2027 Toyota Highlander should interest families who want an EV but do not want to give up three-row practicality. It may also attract current Toyota owners who trust the brand but have been waiting for a more family-sized electric option.
It may be less ideal for buyers who do frequent long-distance travel in areas with weak charging infrastructure. Those shoppers may want to compare it carefully against Toyota's hybrid options before deciding.
Don't Miss Out: How the 2026 Grand Highlander Redefines the SUV Experience?
The 2027 Toyota Highlander review story is really about change. Toyota is taking a familiar family name and moving it into a new electric chapter. That is exciting, but it also raises fair questions about range, price, charging, cargo space, and real-world road-trip comfort.
The early signs suggest a more modern, electric, three-row SUV with the Highlander name attached. If Toyota gets the interior packaging, charging speed, and pricing right, the 2027 Highlander could become one of the more important family EVs in the U.S. market.
But for now, buyers should keep one thing in mind: wait for final specs, trims, pricing, and range before making any serious decision.
Yes, Toyota's upcoming vehicles page describes the 2027 Highlander as an all-electric model with three rows of seating, cargo space, and smart tech. That makes it a major change from the current gas and hybrid Highlander lineup. Buyers should still wait for final pricing, range, charging, and trim details before comparing it seriously.
Toyota has confirmed the electric Highlander direction, but the long-term future of the gas and hybrid Highlander lineup is still something buyers should watch closely. Some families may move toward the EV, while others may prefer the Grand Highlander Hybrid or current-style Highlander options if charging is not convenient.
Families interested in a three-row EV should watch it closely, especially if they already like Toyota. But waiting depends on timing. If someone needs a vehicle now, the current Highlander, Grand Highlander, or other three-row SUVs may make more sense. If they can wait, the 2027 Highlander EV could be worth comparing once full specs are released.
