Yes, the fifth-generation 2027 Highlander is battery-electric only. Toyota's reveal lists two grades, XLE and Limited, no gas or hybrid trim, and a manufacturer-estimated range up to 320 miles. That's a break from every prior Highlander, including the 2026 Highlander still on sale today with a gas engine or a hybrid option.
Does the 2027 Highlander still come as gas or hybrid?
No. Toyota's release lists a battery-electric powertrain across both grades, XLE and Limited, and never mentions a gas or hybrid option for the 2027 model year. Toyota's history section for the car notes the first Highlander arrived for 2001 and the Highlander Hybrid followed for 2006. The outgoing fourth generation still sells with a 2.4-liter gas engine or a 2.5-liter hybrid. Toyota doesn't use the word "discontinued" in the release; it simply doesn't list either powertrain for 2027.
What driving range does Toyota estimate for the 2027 Highlander?
It depends on the battery and drivetrain, and Toyota gives three separate figures. The XLE comes standard with a 77.0-kWh battery in front-wheel drive, manufacturer-estimated at 287 miles. All-wheel-drive XLE buyers choose between that same 77.0-kWh battery, estimated at 270 miles, or a larger 95.8-kWh battery, estimated at 320 miles. The Limited grade comes only in all-wheel drive, with the 95.8-kWh battery standard and the same 320-mile estimate. Toyota's release calls these manufacturer estimates, not EPA-rated figures; EPA hasn't rated the 2027 Highlander yet.
What else does Toyota's newsroom say about size and power?
The 2027 Highlander seats up to seven across three rows, with a loveseat-style second row. Toyota lists 45.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row folded flat, and 15.9 with all three rows in use. Toyota's horsepower figures split by drivetrain. FWD models make 221 net combined horsepower and 198 lb-ft of torque; AWD models make 338 net combined horsepower, with 198 lb-ft from the front motor and 125 from the rear. Toyota's release counts the 2027 Highlander as its fourth EV sold in the U.S., after the bZ, bZ Woodland and C-HR, and calls it the first BEV assembled in America. Toyota builds it at its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, using battery cells from Toyota's new plant in Liberty, North Carolina.
When does it go on sale, and what will it cost?
Toyota says sales of the 2027 Highlander are expected to begin in late 2026, continuing into early 2027. Its newsroom has not published an MSRP, saying pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date, so there's no dollar figure yet to compare against the outgoing Highlander's sticker.
How efficient was the outgoing gas and hybrid Highlander?
RideTruth's EPA data for the 2026 Highlander, the last model year before the switch to electric, shows the two engines' ratings. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder is EPA-rated 24 MPG combined. The 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder, in its two all-wheel-drive configurations, is rated 35 MPG combined.
Both engines run on regular gasoline, and neither is a plug-in, so EPA rates no electric range for either.
How many complaints did the fourth-generation Highlander get?
NHTSA has logged 1,340 complaints on the fourth-generation Highlander across the 2020 through 2026 model years combined, RideTruth's count as of September 23, 2026. Complaints started at 321 in the 2020 Highlander, the generation's first model year, then peaked at 524 in 2021. They fell in every year since: 253 in 2022, 189 in 2023, 42 in 2024, 9 in 2025 and 2 so far in 2026.
Sales volume and time on the road aren't factored into these counts, and a complaint is one owner's report, not a confirmed defect.
Toyota hasn't priced the electric Highlander yet. If you're keeping a 2020-2026 Highlander in the meantime, save it to your garage to check it for new recall campaigns.