It’s official at last. Toyota has confirmed that the 2027 Highlander will become its first three-row electric SUV, marking a long-awaited pivot after years of cautious EV steps. A short teaser video may seem modest, but the message is big: the Highlander name now carries a BEV badge, and with it, a full battery-electric future.
For Toyota, this isn’t just another model. The Highlander has always been a family default—reliable, practical, and unflashy. Electrifying it, and crucially keeping three rows of seating, signals that EVs are no longer just for early adopters or compact crossovers. They’re for carpools, road trips, and everyday chaos.
The move matters because third-row space changes how people use a vehicle. Three rows don’t just mean more seats; they mean flexibility. Parents can haul kids and friends without sacrificing cargo. Adults can road-trip without compromise. And with an electric powertrain, the flat floor and packaging advantages should translate into better legroom and easier access than many gas-powered rivals.
Toyota also confirmed AWD availability, addressing a major concern for families in colder or rural regions. Combined with the brand’s recent EV momentum—the revamped Toyota bZ has quietly become one of the better-selling EVs in the U.S.—the Highlander EV feels less like an experiment and more like a cornerstone.
Size-wise, expectations are high. The current Highlander stretches close to 195 inches, with the Grand Highlander pushing beyond 200. That places the electric Highlander above the Toyota bZ Woodland and well into the family-hauler class, giving Toyota an EV presence in nearly every SUV segment alongside the Toyota C-HR.
Final take: Toyota didn’t rush this—and that’s the point. By bringing three electric rows to one of its most trusted nameplates, Toyota is telling mainstream buyers they no longer need to choose between practicality and electrification. If the range, pricing, and interior execution land where they should, the Highlander EV could be the model that finally makes electric SUVs feel normal.
