### Toyota’s Electric Gambit: The 2027 Highlander EV Aims to Conquer the Midsize SUV Market
Toyota has unveiled the fully redesigned, all-electric 2027 Highlander, marking a pivotal strategic shift for the world’s best-selling automaker. This vehicle represents several critical firsts: it is Toyota’s inaugural three-row electric vehicle for the U.S. market and the first Toyota EV to be assembled in America at its Kentucky factory. The launch arrives at a complex juncture for the auto industry. While Toyota’s patient hybrid-focused strategy appears validated amid slowing global EV sales and rivals’ financial losses, the company is also acknowledging market realities. The Highlander EV is a direct response to challenges like avoiding potential tariffs through domestic production, targeting America’s most popular vehicle segment (the three-row midsize SUV), and leveraging a trusted, familiar nameplate over its confusing „bZ” branding.
### Packed with Tech and Practicality, the Highlander EV Enters a Crowded Segment
The 2027 Highlander EV is designed to be a competitive and fully-featured family hauler. It will be offered in XLE and Limited trims, with front-wheel or all-wheel drive options and a choice of 77kWh or 95.8kWh battery packs. Top configurations promise up to 320 miles of estimated range and 338 horsepower. Inside, it boasts a modern tech suite with a 14-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a massive fixed panoramic glass roof. Practicality is a key focus, with seating for seven, over 45 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row folded, and abundant connectivity options like wireless charging and USB-C ports across all three rows.
### Charging, Capability, and Competitive Positioning
Embracing the industry standard, the Highlander will come equipped with a NACS port for access to Tesla’s vast Supercharger network, enabling a 10-80% charge in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions. A significant innovation is the inclusion of vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, a first for a Toyota EV, allowing it to power devices or even serve as a home backup power source. Sizing up at 198.8 inches long, it directly competes with established electric three-row SUVs like the Rivian R1S and Kia EV9. With pricing to be announced later this year, the Highlander EV joins a renewed Toyota EV lineup that is already gaining traction, signaling the automaker’s serious intent to capture market share after a cautious start to the electric era.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/875906/toyota-highlander-ev-suv-range-specs.