2027 Toyota Highlander

[Bridgecity]

The new Highlander is revealed tomorrow.  Very exciting :p  Apparently it's BEV only, which I found very surprising.  However, word is the Grand Highlander has stolen a good portion of the Highlander's sales so Toyota has elected to make the Highlander electric only.  Disappointing, however I'm not likely to ever buy one.  I thought there'd be a PHEV option. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUiUgxTEdLQ/

[Tortoise]

That's a strange choice. A PHEV Highlander sounds perfect.

[dkazzed]

I'm willing to bet Highlander sales fell off the cliff after the introduction of the Grand Highlander, so rather than discontinue the Highlander, they decided to continue it on as an electric.

There were rumours there might be an EREV Highlander too, would be a much better choice than PHEV.

[Oliver]

In the U.S. Highlander sales were from 223k in 2022 to 56k last year.

But they also only sold 137k Grand Highlanders last year so between the two they are down a bit.

Overall SUV sales are still up though, just a bit of reallocation of product. Land Cruiser and Crown Signia have been added, Venza is gone. Most of the growth seems to be at the lower end though - more RAV4s and Corolla Crosses.

[dkazzed]

Crown Signia doesn't seem like a huge seller, but I wonder if they ever expected it to be?

[RRocket]

Crown Signia doesn't seem like a huge seller, but I wonder if they ever expected it to be?

I loved the regular Crown sedan test drive.

And by all accounts the Signia is quite nice to drive too

[Tortoise]

I really really like the Crown Insignia, it's as close to making a wagon as Toyota gets.

[RRocket]

I really really like the Crown Insignia, it's as close to making a wagon as Toyota gets.

Ya, the BZ was more wagon like profile too. You can't really tell until it's side by each with a RAV4 or something.

Then the C pillar back with the raked hatch/window is evident.

[Blizzard]

The Crown Signia looks great, I really like it! I'd totally rock one of those over one of the typical crossovers. It seems somehow more bespoke and upscale than your standard RAV4 or Highlander.

It reminds me of the first-generation Venza, which was really sleek for its day. I remember someone on my street got a fully-loaded V6 version right around when they came out in 2009, and it had those 20" rims that were huge compared to what other cars were offering at the time. That car definitely made my parents' Mazda Tribute seem stodgy and old, lol. I still think they look good today.

[Blueprint]

The Crown Signia looks great, I really like it! I'd totally rock one of those over one of the typical crossovers. It seems somehow more bespoke and upscale than your standard RAV4 or Highlander.

It reminds me of the first-generation Venza, which was really sleek for its day. I remember someone on my street got a fully-loaded V6 version right around when they came out in 2009, and it had those 20" rims that were huge compared to what other cars were offering at the time. That car definitely made my parents' Mazda Tribute seem stodgy and old, lol. I still think they look good today.

Yup, the initial run of Venza with dubs had a strong Hot Wheels vibe. The Mentor had one, but 4 cyl. with smaller wheels.

[RRocket]

The Crown Signia looks great, I really like it! I'd totally rock one of those over one of the typical crossovers. It seems somehow more bespoke and upscale than your standard RAV4 or Highlander.

Absolutely my impression as well. The Crown feels far nicer than a Toyota and starts to encroach into Lexus territory.

It's sort of in between Toyota and Lexus.

[dkazzed]

It's the perfect empty nester vehicle, and now if the Grand Highlander feels too large but you still want a HEV not a BEV.

Back to the Highlander, I've seen reviewers get into the 3rd row and it is indeed spacious despite having one less seatbelt than the outgoing Highlander. I know I used to hate on not putting 3 seat belts in the back, but if the 3rd row is too small for adults but also too narrow to put three booster/child seats across if not car seats in, 3 seats are useless except for 10-13 year olds.

Towing capacity is only 2,600 lb for the 77kWh AWD and 3,500 lb for the 95.8 kWh AWD. I know I've been shopping for 3,500 lb GVWR campers to tow with my Ioniq 9, but the 500 lb tongue weight restriction is the more limiting factor. 3,500 lb towing capacity likely has a 350 lb tongue weight restriction. I do like the front right placement of the charging port for simply pulling into charging stalls but it is far in and won't work with V3 and older Superchargers.  I am questioning the decision for everyone to move to NACS when Alpatronics, Ionna, Electrify, etc. is continuing to install CCS chargers. It was an ok decision at best prior to 2024.

[RRocket]

. I know I've been shopping for 3,500 lb GVWR campers to tow with my Ioniq 9, but the 500 lb tongue weight restriction is the more limiting factor. 3,500 lb towing capacity likely has a 350 lb tongue weight restriction.

Check out the Safari Condo A Series.

Aerodynamic and lightweight.