The Highlander Goes All-Electric
Toyota has confirmed that the next-generation Highlander, one of the best-selling three-row SUVs in the United States, will be offered exclusively as a battery-electric vehicle when it arrives for the 2027 model year. The announcement represents a dramatic strategic shift for an automaker that has historically advocated for a gradual, multi-pathway approach to electrification and has been one of the most vocal skeptics of a rapid transition to battery-electric vehicles.
The electric Highlander will be built on Toyota's next-generation eBT platform, a dedicated electric vehicle architecture that promises significant improvements in range, efficiency, and interior packaging compared to the company's current bZ4X. Toyota is targeting a range of approximately 350 miles on a single charge, DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in under 25 minutes, and a starting price that the company describes as competitive with the current hybrid Highlander, which starts at approximately $40,000.
Why Toyota Chose the Highlander
The decision to electrify the Highlander rather than introduce a new nameplate is strategically significant. The Highlander carries more than two decades of brand recognition and customer loyalty, with cumulative U.S. sales exceeding four million units since its introduction in 2001. By applying this established name to an electric vehicle, Toyota gains instant credibility and consumer awareness that a new nameplate would take years to build.
Toyota's North American president explained the rationale during a press briefing, stating that the Highlander customer represents the ideal early adopter profile for mainstream EV adoption. These buyers are typically suburban families with home garages suitable for overnight charging, household incomes that can absorb a modest price premium, and driving patterns dominated by daily commutes and regional trips that fall well within the range of a modern battery-electric vehicle.
The Platform: eBT Architecture
The eBT platform, short for electric Beyond Toyota, is the company's second-generation dedicated EV architecture and represents a substantial leap forward from the eTNGA platform underpinning the bZ4X. Key improvements include the following:
- Battery technology: The eBT platform will use prismatic lithium iron phosphate cells for standard-range models and nickel manganese cobalt cells for extended-range versions. Toyota claims a 30 percent improvement in energy density compared to the bZ4X.
- Structural rigidity: The platform incorporates a battery pack that serves as a structural member of the vehicle's floor, improving torsional rigidity by 50 percent and enabling better ride quality and handling.
- Thermal management: A new heat pump system and battery conditioning circuit enable consistent fast-charging performance across a wide temperature range, addressing one of the bZ4X's most criticized shortcomings.
- Interior space: The flat floor and optimized motor packaging free up significant interior volume, allowing three rows of genuinely usable seating rather than the cramped third row found in many electrified SUVs.
Expected Specifications
While Toyota has not released complete specifications, the company has confirmed several key details. The electric Highlander will be offered in both single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations. The base model will produce approximately 250 horsepower, while the dual-motor variant will deliver around 400 horsepower with a zero-to-60 time under five seconds.
The battery pack is expected to be available in two sizes: a standard 75-kilowatt-hour pack targeting approximately 280 miles of range, and an extended 100-kilowatt-hour pack targeting approximately 350 miles. Both configurations will support 250-kilowatt DC fast charging, enabling rapid replenishment on long road trips.
Design Direction
Toyota has released a single teaser image showing the electric Highlander's silhouette, which reveals an evolution of the current model's design rather than a radical departure. The roofline appears slightly lower and more aerodynamic, the wheel arches are more sculpted, and the front end features a closed grille design with LED lighting elements that span the full width of the vehicle. Interior images have not been released, but Toyota has stated that the cabin will accommodate up to seven passengers and offer more cargo space than the current model.
Market Context and Competition
The electric Highlander will enter a rapidly growing segment of three-row electric SUVs that includes the Rivian R1S, Kia EV9, Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB, and Chevrolet Equinox EV XL. Among these competitors, the Kia EV9 has established early sales momentum with its bold design and competitive pricing, while the Rivian R1S commands a premium with its adventure-oriented capability.
Toyota's advantage lies in its manufacturing scale, dealer network, and the Highlander's existing customer base. If the company can deliver on its pricing promises, the electric Highlander could become the first mainstream three-row electric SUV to achieve volume sales comparable to its combustion-powered predecessors.
Industry Reaction
Automotive analysts have responded positively to Toyota's announcement, though some have expressed skepticism about the timeline. Toyota has a history of announcing ambitious EV targets that subsequently slip, as evidenced by the delayed launch and reduced production targets for the bZ4X. However, the eBT platform is reportedly further along in development than earlier efforts, with prototype testing already underway at Toyota's Shimoyama proving ground in Japan.
Environmental groups have praised the decision while noting that Toyota has historically been one of the slowest major automakers to embrace full electrification. The Sierra Club issued a statement calling the electric Highlander announcement a welcome but overdue step in the right direction.
What This Means for Current Owners
Existing Highlander owners who are not ready to switch to an EV should note that the current-generation hybrid Highlander will remain in production through the 2026 model year. Toyota has confirmed that hybrid models will continue to be available at dealers until the electric version arrives, and service and parts support for existing models will continue indefinitely. The company expects a transition period during which some customers migrate to the electric version while others opt for the hybrid until charging infrastructure in their area matures.
