New Toyota Highlander revealed - and it's electric only
The Toyota Highlander has been on sale for over 25 years, proving itself as one of the Japanese car maker’s most formidable models.
Long offered with a mixture of petrol and diesel engines, some with hybrid power, the longstanding workhorse has received its biggest change yet: a shift to all-electric power.
The Toyota Highlander becomes the brand’s third electric car to go on sale, following the BZ4X and the Urban Cruiser. The three cars are due to be followed by the electric Hilux pick-up truck and the C-HR+.
Let’s get into all the details of the new Highlander…
The new Highlander will be offered in select markets, including the US, with a choice of two battery options. The cheapest version measures 77kWh and offers up to 450km (280 miles) of range, while a larger 95.8kWh battery provides 514km (320 miles).
Drivers can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Front-driven cars get a power output of 221bhp and 198lb ft of torque, while all-wheel drive versions get 339bhp and 323lb ft.
The new Highlander receives a heavily modernised design for its new generation. It measures 0.8 inches lower than the previous version, and 2.3 inches wider. Its design features far cleaner lines and flush door handles, which aid aerodynamics, along with LED daytime running lights. It has a light bar at the front and rear.
Its interior also gets a modern-day refresh, with a 14-incj touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display behind the steering wheel and ambient lighting. Toyota says the Highlander also gets the largest panoramic sunroof in the company’s model line-up.
The electric Highlander is the company’s first electric seven-seat car. Toyota claims a spacious, three-row interior, emblazoned with soft-touch material and heated front seats as standard. With the third row folded flat, there’s 1291 litres of boot space available.
Toyota says ambient lighting is standard on the new Highlander, with up to 64 different colour options. Wireless phone charging is also included as basic equipment. Other equipment, including a head-up display and heated seats for the second and third rows are available as options.
If you have a large family with lots of phones to charge, the Highlander has USB-C ports in every row, on the back of the front seats, and on the rear window ledges for those in the very back of the car.
Storage space is ample throughout the car, with a large compartment in the centre console and cup holders in every row - 18 in total. Toyota has also included storage slots for tablets and mobile phones, and an electric tailgate is standard.
Toyota hasn’t detailed the maximum charging speed of the new Highlander, but says it will be capable of charging from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes.
As well as a suite of safety systems, the new Highlander will also be equipped with a built-in dashcam, which automatically records the previous 20 seconds of an incident. Other safety gear includes automatic headlights, dynamic, radar-guided cruise control, and road sign assistance, plus lane assist.
