The Toyota Highlander is now a three-row electric SUV with a range of 320 kilometers

Toyota is introducing the new 2027 Highlander, a completely redesigned mid-size SUV that marks the first three-row electric vehicle of its kind in the American market and the first Toyota EV assembled in America. A familiar name – Toyota has been selling gas Highlanders for over 20 years – with a new powertrain aimed squarely at one of the most popular car segments on the market today. To say this is Toyota’s best chance to overtake their EV rivals would be an understatement.

The announcement comes at a tumultuous time for the world’s best-selling automaker. Toyota’s strategy of emphasizing hybrid vehicles over pure battery electrics appears to be vindicated, as global EV sales are slowing and the company’s rivals are reporting significant losses related to their EV investments. But Toyota also has a new boss, chief financial officer Kenta Kon, a close ally and former secretary of current chairman Akio Toyoda. Kon’s rise is seen as an acknowledgment that Toyota, under his financial leadership, has been able to successfully deal with the turmoil surrounding Chinese EVs, global pricing, and the expensive and extended EV revolution.

The Toyota Highlander is an acknowledgment of some of those challenges. It will be built at Toyota’s factory in Kentucky, at a time when domestic production is the best way to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs. It’s a three-row, mid-size SUV, which is the most popular car segment in America right now. It also uses a generic name plate, which allowed that many customers did not know what “bZ” stood for (“above zero”) and were not interested in learning.

The new Highlander will come in only two trims: XLE and Limited. The XLE is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the Limited comes standard with AWD. Battery options include a 77kWh pack and a larger 95.8kWh pack, depending on configuration. And AWD models with a bigger battery will get up to 320 miles of limited range, along with 338 horsepower and 323lb-ft of torque. (FWD versions will offer 221hp and 198lb-ft of torque).

It will come with an updated infotainment set, similar to that found in the C-HR electric SUV and the bZ Woodland electric SUV. That includes a 14-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, customizable ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and extensive charging options for devices across all three lines. And if you look up, you’ll see a fixed panoramic glass roof – the largest ever offered by Toyota.

The Highlander’s new infotainment system, powered by AT&T 5G connectivity, offers a customizable home screen, advanced voice recognition with “Hey Toyota” commands, dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, and integrated streaming services like Spotify and SiriusXM.

The new Highlander seats seven, the third row takes two people. When more cargo space is needed, that third row folds down to create more than 45 cubic feet in the back. There are also a host of extra features, such as wireless charging trays, multiple USB-C ports in all three rows, rear HVAC controls, optional rear window shades, and a hands-free power liftgate.

The Highlander EV will come equipped with a NACS port for accessing the Tesla Supercharger. Under the right conditions, the battery can be charged from 10-80 percent in about 30 minutes using DC fast charging. Battery pre-conditioning, where the battery is prepared for a full charge, comes standard, and can be activated manually or automatically with a Drive Connect subscription (about $15 a month). The Highlander can also charge slowly with Level 1 or 2 chargers, and will come with a dual-voltage 120V/240V charging cable.

It will also be Toyota’s first EV with vehicle charging capability, allowing it to function as a mobile power bank. Toyota says the Highlander can also serve as a backup power source during blackouts if equipped with bi-directional accessories. Toyota says they will have more announcements about this new feature in the future.

In terms of size, the new Highlander will go toe-to-toe with other three-row electric vehicles on the road. It will be 198.8 inches long, 78.3 inches wide, and 67.3 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 120.1 inches. That’s comparable to Toyota’s current gas-powered Grand Highlander and compared to other EVs, such as the Rivian R1S, Kia EV9, and Hyundai Ioniq 9, among others.

Toyota said they will release the price of the new Highlander later this year, when it starts production. But the automaker has little time in the EV world. The facelifted bZ (formerly bZ4x) was a surprise for Toyota, coming in fourth place in overall EV sales in the US in January, ahead of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. And there’s more to come, with both the C-HR hatchback and the bZ Woodland expected to go on sale in the US later this year.

Toyota has a chance to make up for its lackluster effort in EV production with all these new vehicles. We will see if it holds that time.