The 2027Toyota Highlander The electric SUV was introduced as a competitor to the Kia EV9 and the Hyundai Ioniq 9. The automaker confirmed that the long-standing three-row SUV nameplate will only be available in electric form in North America starting later this year.
This 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 found in the current Australian market model.
Toyota Australia told Daily Sparkz However, there are no plans to discontinue the Kluger hybrid locally, suggesting that Kluger exports will continue to be tailored to the needs of the local market – although the US factory is the source of Highlander/Kluger models for all markets except China.
“We have no current plans to introduce the Kluger EV in Australia,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson said Daily Sparkz. “The Kluger Hybrid remains part of Toyota’s Australian product range.”
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The switch to all-electric power comes as hybrid sales have surged in the US (and Australia).
However, the loss of the hybrid Highlander probably won’t be felt as clearly there as in Australia.
That’s because Toyota has an even broader SUV offering in the U.S. market, with the Highlander sitting above the RAV4 and Crown Signia two-row crossover SUVs, but below the Grand Highlander three-row crossover SUV.
In addition to the LandCruiser Prado (called “Land Cruiser” in the US), Toyota offers the similarly sized 4Runner off-road SUV and the even larger Sequoia. Apart from the RAV4 and Prado, none of these SUVs 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 behind the LandCruiser Prado and LandCruiser 300 Series, meaning the Kluger has a bigger role here.
When it comes to electric SUVs in Australia, the RAV4-sized bZ4X will be joined by the bZ4X Touring this year and an electric C-HR in 2027.
The new Highlander EV offers a cleaner, edgier look with 19- to 22-inch diameter wheels, slim LED daytime running lights and a choice of single-tone and dual-tone paint finishes.
At 5,049mm long, the EV is 99mm longer and 59mm wider than the previous model, offset by a 20mm lower roofline and riding on a 201mm longer (3,051mm) wheelbase.
The Highlander EV was introduced in the US with a choice of six- or seven-seat configurations, the former with a pair of second-row captain’s chairs and the first electric powertrain on the nameplate.
This new electric vehicle for the US market shares its powertrain with the RAV4-sized Toyota bZ4X and is based on an updated version of Kluger’s existing TNGA-K platform, with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.
Although Toyota hasn’t revealed full powertrain details, an output of 165kW/269Nm has been confirmed for the front-wheel drive versions, while the all-wheel drive models have an output of 252kW and 438Nm.
While the performance measurements differ slightly on paper in the US, both performances are broadly consistent with the front- and all-wheel drive versions of the bZ4X (badged “bZ” in the US) sold in Australia.
The standard 77 kWh lithium-ion battery is said to achieve a range of 462 km for front-wheel drive versions, in the all-wheel drive versions the range drops to 434 km, while a larger 95.8 kWh battery, offered exclusively with all-wheel drive, enables a range of 515 km.
For the time being, these range figures are manufacturer-estimated values, which are probably based on the more stringent US EPA test cycle.
There is an 11kW onboard charger and a standard NACS port. According to Toyota, charging the battery by 10 to 80 percent via a DC charger takes just 30 minutes.
The Highlander EV also features Vehicle-to-Load functionality – a feature offered in Australia on the Kia EV9 – allowing the car to power appliances or even a home battery.
Despite the increase in exterior dimensions, the switch to electric power has an impact on luggage space: Toyota claims 45.6 cubic feet (1,291 liters) of storage space with the third row stowed, compared to 48.4 cubic feet (1,370 liters) in the previous hybrid and gasoline models.
There are 18 cup holders throughout the cabin, as well as storage compartments and holders for phones and tablets in the second row, as well as 64 colors of ambient lighting. Toyota’s “SoftTex” synthetic leather interior is standard.
Up front there are physical buttons for climate control and audio functions, as well as a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an optional head-up display.
The 14.0-inch center touchscreen features an integrated dashcam that can record 20-second clips, while safety equipment includes rear cross-traffic alert and a Proactive Driving Assistant (PDA) that can steer and brake the vehicle.
MORE: Explore the Toyota Kluger showroom
