The 2027Toyota Highlander electric SUV has been unveiled as a rival to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, with the automaker confirming the long-running three-row SUV nameplate will become electric-only in North America from later this year.
It means the US-made Highlander, sold in Australia as the Kluger, will no longer be offered in the US with a turbocharged 2.4-litre petrol engine or the 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that’s found in the current Australian-market model.
Toyota Australia told CarExpert it has no plans to ditch the hybrid Kluger locally, however, suggesting Kluger exports will continue to be tailored to local market needs – despite the US plant being the source of Highlander/Kluger models for all markets besides China.
“We have no current plans to introduce the Kluger EV in Australia,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson told CarExpert. “The Kluger Hybrid remains part of Toyota’s Australian lineup.”
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The switch to electric-only power comes as hybrid sales have surged in the US (and Australia).
However, the loss of the hybrid Highlander there is unlikely to be as keenly felt as it would be in Australia.
That’s because Toyota has an even broader SUV lineup in the US market, with the Highlander slotting in above the two-row RAV4 and Crown Signia crossover SUVs, but below the Grand Highlander three-row crossover SUV.
In addition to the LandCruiser Prado (badged ‘Land Cruiser’ in the US), Toyota offers the similarly sized 4Runner off-road SUV, as well as the even larger Sequoia. None of these SUVs, apart from the RAV4 and Prado, are currently offered in Australia.
In Australia, Toyota axed the seven-seat Fortuner in 2025 after ruling out a replacement, leaving the RAV4 and Kluger sitting below the LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series, meaning the Kluger has a larger role to play here. As for electric SUVs in Australia, the RAV4-sized bZ4X will be joined by the bZ4X Touring this year and an electric C-HR in in 2027.
The new Highlander EV brings a crisper, boxier look with wheels ranging from 19-inch to 22-inch in diameter, slimline LED daytime running lights, and both single-tone and two-tone paint choices.
At 5049mm long, the EV is 99mm longer and 59mm wider than the outgoing model, offset by a 20mm lower roofline while riding on a 201mm-longer (3051mm) wheelbase.
The Highlander EV was revealed in the US with a choice of six- or seven-seat configurations, the former with a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row, and the nameplate’s first electric powertrain.
This new US-market EV shares its powertrains with the RAV4-sized Toyota bZ4X and is built on an updated version of the existing Kluger’s TNGA-K platform, with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.
While Toyota hasn’t revealed full powertrain details, outputs were confirmed at 165kW/269Nm for front-wheel drive versions, with all-wheel drive models rated at 252kW and 438Nm.
While the on-paper US power measurements differ slightly, both outputs are broadly in line with the front- and all-wheel drive versions of the bZ4X (badged ‘bZ’ in the US) sold in Australia.
The standard 77kWh lithium-ion battery brings a claimed 462km range for front-wheel drive versions, falling to 434km in all-wheel drive grades, while a larger 95.8kWh battery offered exclusively with all-wheel drive brings a claimed 515km range.
These range figures are manufacturer-estimated ones for now, and likely based on the stricter US EPA test cycle.
There’s an 11kW on-board charger and a standard NACS port, with Toyota saying a 10-80 per cent battery top-up via a DC charger takes as little as 30 minutes.
The Highlander EV also has vehicle-to-load capability – a feature offered in Australia on the Kia EV9 – enabling the car to power appliances or even a home battery.
Despite the increase in exterior dimensions, the move to EV power impacts luggage space, with Toyota claiming 45.6 cubic feet of storage (1291L) when the third row is stowed, compared to 48.4 cubic feet (1370L) for the outgoing hybrid and petrol models.
Throughout the cabin there are 18 cupholders, as well as second-row storage bins and holders designed for phones and tablets, and 64-colour ambient lighting. Toyota ‘SofTex’ synthetic leather trim is standard.
Up front there are physical buttons for air-conditioning and audio functions, along with a 12.3-inch configurable digital instrument cluster and optional head-up display.
The 14.0-inch centre touchscreen includes a built-in dashcam capable of recording 20-second clips, while safety equipment includes rear cross-traffic alert and Proactive Driving Assist (PDA), which can steer and brake the vehicle.
