Toyota will keep building the present, 2026 model Highlander through December as planned.
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With all the excitement (and controversy) surrounding the impending launch of the all-new, all-electric 2027 Toyota Highlander , you’d think Toyota would be in a hurry to launch it. But as first reported by Cars.com , the start of production for the three-row EV SUV will be delayed. In the meantime, Toyota will continue to offer the present, 2026 Highlander through at least December (2026 model year Highlanders will likely be available into 2027).
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We reached out to Toyota, and a U.S. representative confirmed to us that the 2027 Highlander EV will indeed be delayed by at least eight weeks, without giving a reason, although the Cars.com report mentioned that it’s making “additional adjustments.” Final on-sale timing will be updated shortly, although no firm details were immediately forthcoming.
As for the 2026 Highlander, the wind-down plan has not changed, according to the same spokesperson, with production of both the gas-only and hybrid versions running through the end of the year.
Demand for the present version of the aging three-row SUV remains high, with the hybrid model especially showing the strongest demand. According to Toyota’s second-quarter financial report, overall Highlander sales are up 6.7 percent year to date, while the hybrid version is up a whopping 48.9 percent. Meanwhile, sales of all electrified Toyotas rose 21.1 percent, led by the RAV4 Hybrid.
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Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like).
Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.