2027 Toyota Highlander BEV
By Lorenzo Bianchi February 11, 2026
First three-row battery electric Toyota for the U.S. market.
Up to 320 miles of manufacturer-estimated driving range.
Built in Kentucky with U.S.-sourced batteries.
First Three Row BEV for the Brand
The 2027 Toyota Highlander BEV marks a decisive shift for a nameplate that has spent more than two decades evolving alongside American families. For the first time, Highlander goes fully electric. It is also Toyota’s first three-row battery electric vehicle for the U.S. market and the first BEV the brand will assemble in America.
Production will take place in Georgetown, Kentucky, with batteries sourced from Toyota’s new facility in Liberty, North Carolina. Sales are expected to begin in late 2026 and continue into early 2027.
Proportions and Exterior Execution
Toyota’s designers approached the Highlander BEV with what they describe as a focus on sophisticated adventure. Built on a modified TNGA-K platform developed to house a high-capacity battery, the SUV adopts broader proportions and a lower stance than the outgoing model.
Overall height measures 67.3 inches, 0.8 inch lower than before. Width grows to 78.3 inches, and wheelbase stretches to 120.1 inches. The effect is immediate in photographs: the wheels sit closer to the corners, the body appears more planted, and the stance feels deliberately squared off rather than upright.
Up front, Toyota’s hammerhead design language defines the face. Slim daytime running lights sit separate from the primary headlamps, framed by broad fenders and a swept-back grille. The aerodynamic purpose is reflected in precisely controlled underfloor airflow and semi-flush electronic door handles.
Technology and Interior Space
The inside of the 2027 Toyota Highlander BEV keeps moving in the direction of an open, more technologically advanced cabin.
A 14-inch touchscreen anchors the dashboard, paired with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Ambient lighting with 64 color choices is standard, and SofTex-trimmed seating carries through both grades.
Second-row captain’s chairs are standard, with an available bench seat on XLE AWD models. The third row accommodates two adults and folds flat to reveal 45.6 cubic feet of cargo space, while leaving 15.9 cubic feet available when upright.
Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 comes standard, alongside Toyota Audio Multimedia with 5G connectivity and voice-activated “Hey Toyota” functionality
Performance Output and Battery Options
Depending on the arrangement, the 2027 Highlander BEV can have either front-wheel drive or electronic all-wheel drive. It comes in XLE and Limited categories.
Battery options include a 77.0-kWh pack and a larger 95.8-kWh unit. Manufacturer-estimated driving range varies by configuration, topping out at 320 miles on XLE AWD and Limited AWD models equipped with the 95.8-kWh battery.
Output also varies. XLE FWD models produce 221 horsepower and 198 lb.-ft. of torque. AWD versions generate 338 horsepower and 323 lb.-ft., figures that align the Highlander BEV with contemporary midsize electric SUVs rather than positioning it as a niche offering.
DC fast charging capability allows charging from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes under ideal conditions, and a NACS charging port is standard
Position in a Growing Lineup
The 2027 Toyota Highlander BEV joins the Toyota bZ, bZ Woodland, and C-HR as the fourth BEV in Toyota’s lineup.
In a segment increasingly defined by electric three-row SUVs, the Highlander name now carries forward with battery electric efficiency while retaining the dimensions and practicality that made it a staple for more than 25 years.