2027 Lexus TZ Vs. 2027 Toyota Highlander EV: Side-by-Side Gallery

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For an automaker that was very slow to embrace fully electric models, Toyota has sure made up for lost time. Over the last year or so, new EVs like the bZ Woodland and C-HR have arrived. Most recently, the brand entered the still-small three-row EV segment with the 2027 Highlander. It hasn’t taken long for the luxury version of that to arrive in the form of the Lexus TZ. Here, we’ll take a look at how these related vehicles compare in design, underpinnings, technologies, and performance.

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The Lexus TZ and Toyota Highlander are both three-row electric SUVs, and both have squared-off designs that look similar in profile. The front fascias do without traditional grilles, with flat surfaces and headlights that speak to each brand’s current design language.

2027 Lexus TZLexus

2027 Toyota HighlanderToyota

The TZ has rounded wheel arches, whereas the Highlander’s are squarer in their shape. Both have ultra-slim taillights that wrap around the body. In terms of size, they’re nearly identical; the TZ is 200.8 inches long, whereas the Highlander is 198.8 inches. Both are 78.3 inches wide, with the same 120.1-inch wheelbase. The Lexus is just 0.2 inches lower.

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The family connection is very evident from the back, with similar full-width taillights that stretch across the body. Both vehicles are based on the TNGA platform, but the Lexus is expected to be tuned for greater comfort and refinement.

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The Lexus TZ comes with standard dual motors and all-wheel drive. It produces 402 horsepower, exceeding the 338 hp of the dual-motor Highlander. The Toyota is also available in front-wheel-drive guise with a 221-hp single motor. The powertrain specs immediately place the TZ in a more premium league than the Highlander.

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The Lexus TZ comes with two battery options: 76.96 kWh and 95.82 kWh. That matches what’s available in the Toyota, but the Highlander has a better claimed range of up to 320 miles. The maximum estimated range in the TZ is 300 miles.

The Highlander’s battery can be recharged from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes, the same as the TZ’s claimed time. Both are equipped with a NACS port.

2027 Lexus TZLexus

2027 Toyota HighlanderToyota

The Highlander looks premium by Toyota standards, with an airy interior that’s offered with various light color schemes. Both have a large center touchscreen and digital gauge cluster, but the Lexus has even more premium materials, including forged bamboo interior trim inserts.

2027 Lexus TZLexus

2027 Toyota HighlanderToyota

In the second row, the Highlander can be equipped with heated seats, but the TZ also offers second-row seat ventilation. The front passenger seat and second-row seats in the Lexus also offer ottomans, a first for the brand and another detail that makes it more comfortable.

2027 Lexus TZLexus

2027 Toyota HighlanderToyota

Whereas all Highlander models have a fixed glass panoramic roof that’s the largest in the Toyota range, the Lexus offers an optional opening panoramic roof with a power sunshade. Passengers in the Toyota get access to an optional 11-speaker JBL sound system, but the Lexus has a much better 21-speaker Mark Levinson setup.

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Both vehicles offer generous cargo space and easy folding of the back seats, especially in the TZ with its one-touch folding for second and third rows. Lexus claims 13.8 cubic feet of space behind the TZ’s third row, while the Highlander has 15.9. The TZ’s space behind the second row is unknown, but it should be similar to the Highlander’s 45.6 cubic feet.

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The 2027 Toyota Highlander will go on sale at the end of 2026 with an estimated base price of around $53,000. Expect to pay closer to $65,000 for the Lexus TX, which will go on sale at around the same time.

While we expect the Highlander to be a very comfortable family vehicle, the TZ’s greater power and refinement will see it competing with other luxury SUVs like the Volvo EX90.

This story was originally published by Autoblog on May 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.