Toyota has introduced the first electric Kluger – with a logo Highlander in the United States – as a rival to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 three-row SUVs, ahead of its upcoming unveiling.
Confirmation of the electric Highlander came via a third teaser released by Toyota North America, which showed a redesigned tailgate of the SUV in an 11-second clip.
The teaser revealed the electric powertrain by showing a BEV (battery electric vehicle) emblem beneath the Highlander badge, along with a full-width taillight design first seen in an earlier teaser image.
The clip was accompanied by the caption: “Meet the all-new 2027 Highlander. Featuring sleek, modern lines, an electric powertrain and a spacious three-row cabin with comfort for the entire crew.”
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In addition to a teaser of the rear, Toyota also previously released an image of the interior of the new Kluger EV.
Toyota Australia currently sources the Highlander from the USA and calls it Kluger here. However, the new Highlander EV will not make the journey Down Under as a Kluger EV.
“Toyota Australia is continually evaluating opportunities to further develop our vehicle range. However, we currently have no plans to introduce the Highlander BEV to the Australian market,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson said.
“We currently offer an extensive electrified range consisting of hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles, including the recently updated bZ4X.”
An electric Kluger was first announced by Toyota North America in 2024, but the launch was pushed back to the first half of 2026 due to increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States.
The current Kluger is sold exclusively with hybrid power in Australia, with Toyota switching most of its local passenger car and crossover SUV models – including the RAV4 – to hybrid-only offerings in mid-2024.
The existing Kluger is now in its fourth generation and has been in production since 2019. Based on Toyota’s typical six-year product life cycle, it is expected to be replaced in the near future.
The new Kluger EV is expected to be sold alongside next-generation gasoline and hybrid versions of the model currently produced at Toyota’s Indiana plant for most global markets outside of China.
The Highlander joins the even larger Grand Highlander crossover SUV in Toyota’s US model range.
Toyota has a relatively small electric vehicle range in Australia, which currently includes the RAV4-sized bZ4X SUV and the bZ4X Touring later this year.
Toyota Australia has also confirmed an electric version of the C-HR will be available to local showrooms in mid-2027, while an electric HiLux is planned to be introduced in 2026 and a hydrogen fuel cell version in 2028.
MORE: Explore the Toyota Kluger showroom
