Toyota Highlander EV Coming - Is This It?

[Virtio]

It's definitely going to be a 3-row something, probably Highlander EV. Here's the interior. Full reveal on Feb 10th.

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[Rivdog]

Just curious why you think it's a disaster.

Same price as the competition yet far, far less power. Poor range. Very slow charging. Recalls immediately. Poor interior design.

 

[HaveBlue]

Well Toyota has had lots of motor issues lately. Both the new 4cyl and 3.5L turbo motors are going through bearings every 30K. Like Hyundai they claim debris left in from manufacturing but tear downs have shown it's a defect instead.

 

[elektrode]

Looks like a Sienna minivan

It's definitely going to be a 3-row something, probably Highlander EV. Here's the interior. Full reveal on Feb 10th.

 

[savethemanual]

Confirmed it's Highlander.

https://insideevs.com/news/786751/toyota-highlander-ev-name-confirmed/

 

[savethemanual]

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a70293168/2027-toyota-highlander-ev-revealed/

 

[Tim-in-CA]

Press release

https://pressroom.toyota.com/elevat...n-the-next-generation-2027-toyota-highlander/

 

[Virtio]

Looks nice. 320 miles of range. Has wireless Carplay. Made in USA. Estimated to start at $55K. Subaru and Lexus versions due by end of the year too.

 

[Thedude]

I owned Toyotas for 35 years. They actively campaigned against EVs. And refused to make a fuel efficient TACO. Never going back to Toyota. Rivian 4 life.

The Tacoma is as fuel efficient as any midsize truck can be. When you’re pushing a brick through the air there’s only so much you can do. No different than the R1T being an inefficient EV compared to an EV sedan.

 

[Rade]

I am having a hard time placing any belief in a major manufacturer suddenly releasing a premium EV when they have nothing else in the segment. I would fear that whatever they came out with, much like the Ford F-150 Lightning, will only be flash in the pan, an optional power-train for a one or two years and then vanish.

 

[DuoRivian]

I am having a hard time placing any belief in a major manufacturer suddenly releasing a premium EV when they have nothing else in the segment. I would fear that whatever they came out with, much like the Ford F-150 Lightning, will only be flash in the pan, an optional power-train for a one or two years and then vanish.

They have several EVs with the soon to launch bZ Woodland and CHR to complement the already improved bZ. So this is their fourth model - more than most companies.

 

[Ecupip]

What else do they have to lose? The Highlander sales have already cratered from what they once were. I don't think this will do well for them. The majority of Toyota buyers don't want a hybrid, let alone a full ev.

 

[DuoRivian]

What else do they have to lose? The Highlander sales have already cratered from what they once were. I don't think this will do well for them. The majority of Toyota buyers don't want a hybrid, let alone a full ev.

The Highlander sales fell because the Grand Highlander came out. Also incorrect to say Toyota buyers don’t want a hybrid when the take rate was close to 50% for the previous Camry and RAV4 and now those are 100% hybrid and doing well sales wise.

This looks a reasonable vehicle and they have taken the right approach of slowly building into the EV space. Charging in with grand ideas like GM and Ford in 2020-2022 did not lead to success, instead led to billions in losses.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I want to believe this a serious attempt from Toyota, but man, this is bland, even for them. I hate the whole EVs are "soulless appliances" argument, but this feels like that argument personified. They can't expect people to walk into a dealership and ask about it and then tell them with a serious face it starts at $55k? It's the whole issue IMO that Kia and Hyundai have with the Telluride v EV9 and Palisade vs Ioniq9 - you can get a fully loaded hybrid that looks better and 2x the range for the base price of the BEV. Not a good strategy.

I want to be wrong. I believe that once we start to see the Japanese automaker start releasing actual EVs that we will see more momentum for EVs stateside, but this ain't it.

 

[BlueberryQuadzilla]

The Tacoma is as fuel efficient as any midsize truck can be. When you’re pushing a brick through the air there’s only so much you can do. No different than the R1T being an inefficient EV compared to an EV sedan.

Agreed, Aero is what it is, although an ev sedan isn’t an ev truck. In 1996 the mpg was 20/26/22 by 2018 Toyota had “improved“ to 20/23/21. When forced to make improvements Toyota offered a hybrid in 2024 or diesel in other markets for a midsize. Toyota had a reliable engine and rode that as long as possible to make more money. Could they have given us a more fuel efficient brick? Yes, but they didn’t. That is the legacy auto business model. I switched my support to Rivian because they are trying to make the world better through their products and also make money, hopefully soon. Glad to see Toyota getting in the market to provide more choice for everyone.

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