We sympathize with the Toyota Highlander. Previously the three-row family-hauling darling of Toyota’s SUV lineup, the Highlander has had its sales chewed up by the bigger Grand Highlander, while the smaller RAV4 remains Toyota buyers’ favorite. It’s a classic case of middle-child syndrome, so of course the Highlander is going to act out. Come the 2027 model year, the Highlander will get a radical new look and an all-electric powertrain. Way to rebel, Highlander!
Wow, Highlander, You Look So … Different
The styling is an obvious departure; clearly, this is not your mother’s Highlander, or your neighbor’s, or anyone’s. The new 2027 Toyota Highlander’s grilleless face looks a lot like that of the upcoming bZ Woodland, which the Highlander also shares the low-profile, full-width taillight with. The unadorned tailgate is unique, while the side sculpting bears some resemblance to the contemporary Land Cruiser.
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The proportions are different, too; the new Highlander is nearly 4 inches longer than the old (not counting the extended schnoz on the XSE model), but the wheelbase is stretched 8.1 inches to give room for the batteries, providing a short, RAV4-like rear overhang. The new car also gains 2.3 inches of width and loses 0.8 inch of height. An optional two-tone paint job emphasizes the length over the height. We keep thinking of that middle child coming home with a mohawk and a half-dozen new face piercings. To call it pretty would be an overreach, but it’ll definitely get attention.
A Better Interior With Room to Grow
The news is better inside. Dashboard styling follows the lead set by the new RAV4, with a 12.3-inch display for the driver, a huge 14.0-inch center screen, and few buttons. The Highlander shares its side-by-side phone chargers with the bZ, but the cabin’s additional width means they don’t eat up unnecessary space, and there’s a huge, purse-friendly open storage pod beneath them. USB ports abound. For the second row, the XLE will offer a choice of bench or bucket seats, with buckets—sorry, captain’s chairs—on the Limited, and a third-row seat is standard.
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We were pleased to learn the Highlander will run the updated version of Toyota’s multimedia system; having sampled it on the RAV4, we can tell you it’s a huge improvement over the current software and hardware (not that improving on that system was difficult to do). Among other things, the Highlander’s infotainment includes 5G network connectivity and Drive Recorder, which provides dashcam functionality with the Highlander’s built-in cameras.