New 2027 Toyota Highlander: More hybrid, bigger, and with a Grand Highlander feel

In short: The 2027 Toyota Highlander is thoroughly revamped with more space, more technology, and a range focused almost entirely on hybrid powertrains.

Quick context: The Highlander is one of Toyota's key family SUVs in North America. By 2027, it will adopt the platform and much of the approach of the Grand Highlander, aiming to gain interior space, efficiency, and a stronger presence in a highly competitive segment.

The 2027 Toyota Highlander is more than just a facelift. According to MotorTrend, the new generation is based on the Grand Highlander's architecture and repositions itself as a more capable, spacious, three-row SUV with a powertrain lineup dominated by hybrids. The naturally aspirated V6 is gone, and the focus shifts to efficiency and low-end torque.

The strategy is clear: Toyota wants the Highlander to move beyond being just a basic seven-seater SUV and become a more serious alternative to the competition's larger family vehicles. A longer wheelbase, more cargo space, more technology, and a design that resembles the Grand Highlander define the roadmap for this model, which, in terms of sales volume, is one of the most important in the brand's global lineup.

What has really changed in the 2027 Highlander

The key change is under the skin: the 2027 Highlander adopts the same platform and basic proportions as the Grand Highlander, with a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model. This translates into more space for the three rows of seats and a more usable trunk, one of the previous Highlander's weaknesses when all seven or eight seats were in use.

Aesthetically, the new Highlander is clearly inspired by the Grand Highlander, but it's not simply a scaled-down version. The front end maintains Toyota's current design language, with a prominent grille and sharper headlights, while the rear strikes a balance between robustness and a slightly more dynamic look than its larger sibling. According to the source, the goal is for it to be perceived as a serious family SUV, but not overly boxy.

Inside, the brand takes advantage of the larger footprint to offer a more comfortable cabin in the third row and improved access. The overall layout is reminiscent of the Grand Highlander, with a dashboard dominated by screens and a spacious center console, but it retains some unique touches to differentiate it within the range. The focus remains practical: plenty of storage, clear controls, and absolute priority given to family use.

The technical side: goodbye V6, hello hybrids

Mechanical range and hybrid approach

The 2027 Highlander abandons the veteran naturally aspirated V6 and switches entirely to four-cylinder engines, with hybridization taking center stage. According to MotorTrend, the range will revolve around hybrid variants based on the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the 2.4-liter turbo, with configurations reminiscent of the Grand Highlander and Tacoma Hybrid.

The most logical option will be a 2.5-liter hybrid focused on efficiency, designed for low fuel consumption and relaxed family use. Above that, a turbo hybrid version based on the 2.4-liter engine is expected, offering more power and torque for those who frequently tow or carry heavy loads. All-wheel drive will remain available, with an electric system on the rear axle in the hybrid variants, depending on the configuration.

The message is clear: the 2027 Highlander aims to combine Toyota's typical comfort and smoothness with more powerful low- and mid-range torque, without significantly increasing fuel consumption. There's no mention of purely combustion engine versions or a plug-in hybrid in this initial overview, so the focus, for now, is on conventional hybrids.

Platform, dynamics and capabilities

Sharing its architecture with the Grand Highlander, the new Highlander benefits from a more rigid and modern platform, revised suspension, and a clear focus on comfort. It's not a sporty SUV, but it is a model that should improve in stability and refinement compared to the previous generation, especially on the highway and with all three rows occupied.

All-wheel drive, when present, is supported by a rear electric motor in hybrid versions, allowing torque to be distributed without the need for a traditional driveshaft. This frees up space and improves efficiency, while maintaining some off-road capability and enhancing traction in adverse weather conditions.

Regarding towing capacity or specific performance figures, detailed information is still lacking. The benchmark is the systems already known in other Toyota models with 2.5-liter hybrid and 2.4-liter turbo hybrid engines, but until the brand publishes official data, everything remains speculation.

Interior, technology and life on board

More actual space in all three rows

One of the biggest criticisms of the outgoing Highlander was the limited space in the third row and the cramped trunk when all seven or eight seats were in use. With the new platform, the 2027 Highlander addresses this issue: according to the source, the third row offers more legroom and access is improved, bringing it closer to what the Grand Highlander offers.

The result is an SUV that no longer forces you to choose between passengers and luggage. Its greater length and wheelbase allow for a more usable trunk, even with all three rows of seats up, making it more competitive against rivals that have been playing that card for years.

The seating configuration will continue to offer seven- or eight-seat options, with a bench seat or captain's chairs in the second row, depending on the version. Toyota maintains its practical approach: easily folding seatbacks, well-placed ISOFIX anchors, and storage solutions designed for families who live in their cars every day.

Screens, connectivity and driving aids

In terms of technology, the 2027 Highlander aligns with Toyota's latest releases. A digital instrument cluster and a large central touchscreen dominate the dashboard, featuring a next-generation multimedia system compatible with major connectivity platforms. The interface is inspired by that of the Grand Highlander, with clearer menus and improved responsiveness.

The Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features is being updated, with functions such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, among others. The source doesn't provide a complete list, but it's reasonable to expect the 2027 Highlander to be on par with the brand's latest SUVs in this area.

Materials and finishes point to a moderate improvement, more in design and ergonomics than pure luxury. The Highlander remains a high-volume family SUV, not a premium model, but the perception of quality should improve thanks to a more modern interior design that's more in line with the car's price.

Positioning, range and rivals

With this move, Toyota is reorganizing its large SUV lineup: the Highlander is now closer to the Grand Highlander in size and design, but remains the slightly more compact and, presumably, more affordable option. The Grand Highlander remains the top-of-the-range family SUV, while the Highlander covers the bulk of the three-row market.

In the North American market, its direct rivals remain the usual suspects: Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Traverse, among others. The 2027 Highlander aims to compete with more interior space and a stronger hybrid lineup, a territory where Toyota has a strong foothold.

The key will be how pricing and equipment are positioned against its rivals, especially in the more powerful hybrid versions. MotorTrend suggests a more capable and complete Highlander, but without pricing information yet, it's too early to know if the value-for-money ratio will continue to be one of its strongest selling points.

What remains to be confirmed and the key points

For now, many details of the 2027 Highlander remain unconfirmed: exact power outputs, official fuel consumption figures, towing capacities, weights, and prices. The available information focuses on the overall product strategy: more space, more hybrid capabilities, and closer to the Grand Highlander in all the important aspects.

It also remains to be seen whether Toyota will venture into a plug-in hybrid variant at some point during the model's life cycle. There's no specific mention of it in this initial review, but the market segment and regulatory pressures could push in that direction later on.

In any case, the 2027 Highlander is set to be a logical evolution of a bestseller: it maintains the DNA of a reliable and comfortable family SUV, but corrects the most obvious weaknesses of the outgoing model and aligns itself with Toyota's global hybrid strategy.

Key data

• Based on the architecture and proportions of the Toyota Grand Highlander, with a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model.
• The mechanical range is focused on four-cylinder hybrid engines, including a 2.5 hybrid and a 2.4 turbo hybrid, according to the source.
• Disappearance of the naturally aspirated V6 engine in favor of more efficient solutions with more torque at low revs.
• Cabin with three rows of seats that are more usable and better access to the third row.
• A more usable trunk even with all three rows up, one of the big changes compared to the previous Highlander.
• Interior with large screens, new multimedia system and design inspired by the Grand Highlander.
• Update to the Toyota Safety Sense driving assistance package, aligned with the brand's latest SUVs.
• Positioning as a three-row family SUV below the Grand Highlander, but larger than the outgoing Highlander.
• Main rivals: Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer and other three-row SUVs from the North American market.
• Power figures, consumption and prices not yet officially confirmed by Toyota.

The important thing

• What's changing: More size, more interior space and an almost entirely hybrid mechanical range, with a definitive goodbye to the V6.
• Why it matters: The Highlander is one of Toyota's key family SUVs, and now it's addressing its biggest weaknesses.
• What remains to be confirmed: Power, fuel consumption, towing capacity, prices and the possible arrival of a plug-in hybrid version.

From Cars&Pizza News' perspective, the 2027 Highlander does exactly what it needed to do: grow where it mattered most (space and efficiency) and align itself with the hybrid strategy that's working for Toyota. It remains to be seen if the price will be right and if the brand will venture into a plug-in hybrid, but on paper, the move makes perfect sense. Does this new Highlander fit the bill as your ultimate family SUV, or are you still looking at its rivals?