Toyota is getting charged up about its next big model debut. The automaker has been teasing the debut of a new vehicle on February 10 and now we know what it is.
“Meet the all-new 2027 Highlander. Featuring sleek, modern lines, an electric powertrain, and a spacious three-row cabin with comfort for the whole crew,” Toyota said in a news release accompanying a short video clip that shows part of the vehicle’s tailgate with Highlander and BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) badges.
The Highlander has been one of Toyota’s stalwart models since it first launched in 2001 and this will be the fifth generation version. Sales have been dropping since the arrival of the larger Grand Highlander in 2024, however, opening the door for the Highlander’s electric transformation, which began before the recent downturn in the U.S. electric vehicle market.
Toyota previously released photos of the rear of the Highlander and its three-row interior, which suggest it was likely previewed by the bZ Large SUV concept that was unveiled in 2021.
It has been revamping its factory in Kentucky to build a three-row electric SUV, but this is the first time it has confirmed a name for it.
The Highlander and Grand Highlander are built alongside each other at a factory in Indiana and swapped places on Toyota’s sales chart last year. Highlander sales dropped from 89,659 in 2024 to 56,208 in 2025, while Grand Highlander sales increased from 71,721 to 136,801. Moving Highlander assembly to Kentucky could add capacity to increase production of the Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX that shares its platform and saw sales jump from 28,640 in 2024 to 57,346 last year.
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