Remember the SUV Toyota has been teasing for the past few weeks? Well, it’s finally out, and it looks like it’s the all-new Highlander.
The next-generation Toyota Highlander gets updated styling with a Camry- and Prius-like front end. A lightbar adorns the front fascia, extending into C-shaped headlamps on the sides. There’s no visible grille, indicating that this is, in fact, electric.
The boxy look extends to the sides, where chiseled fenders house the massive 22-inch wheels. The two-tone color option in the photos shown here adds to the boxy look. At the rear, there’s a lightbar on the tailgate, horizontally splitting the rear. The upper half slopes ever so slightly downward, while the lower half extends flat all the way to the bumper.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Review: 2026 Hyundai Kona 1.6 HEV Premium 6DCT
Gallery: Here’s a closer look at the Mitsubishi Versa Van
Toyota’s goal was to create a comfortable cabin built with premium materials, and the result looks stunning. Across the Highlander range, SofTex-trimmed seats are available, wiht the top-of-the-line trim spec’d with captain’s chairs in the second row. Said row can be folded with the press of a button to access the third row, which Toyota claims has ample room for two adults.
Plenty of charging ports and trays are available, and storage is ‘cleverly designed.’ There’s a multi-function center console with multiple trays for various items. In true Toyota fashion, there are also a lot of cup holders—18 to be exact.
Now, onto the powertrain. The base XLE trim can be had with either a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive layout with a 77kWh battery as standard. The XLE can also be spec’d with a 95.8kWh battery that’s also available in the top-of-the-line Limited AWD variant.
Total power outputs are rated at 221hp and 268Nm for FWD variants and 338hp and 437Nm for AWD versions. Estimated driving range, er, range from 462km to 515km depending on battery and motor configuration. Vehicle-to-load technology is also available. The Highlander supports up to Level 3 DC charging that allows recharging from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes.
Amenities here include a head-up display and a 64-color ambient-lighting system. Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 is also equipped here, which includes features like forward-collisin warning with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. Proactive Driving Assist is also available, a feature that uses the Highlander’s camera and radar to provide gentle braking and steering inputs for assistance, such as in distancing your vehicle from the one in front. This feature only works when system operating conditions are met.
There’s also a 12.3-inch instrument cluster paired with a 14-inch infotainment system with a six-speaker setup as standard. Top-spec variants get a premium JBL audio setup with 11 speakers.
What do you think of the all-new Toyota Highlander? This likely won’t make it to the Philippines, but if it did, do you reckon it’ll be a good option for the SUV market?
More photos of the next-gen Toyota Highlander 2026:
