Key PointsToyota previews premium seven-seat electric SUV interior ahead of February debutThree-row layout with captain’s chairs confirms flagship family-focused positioningThree-row layout with captain’s chairs confirms flagship family-focused positioningLarger than bZ4X Touring, targeting EV9-sized electric SUV segmentLarger than bZ4X Touring, targeting EV9-sized electric SUV segment
Toyota is edging closer to revealing its next major electric SUV, and this time the spotlight is firmly on the cabin. Ahead of its official debut on February 10 in the US, the Japanese brand has released the first images of the interior of its new three-row electric SUV, offering clear clues about where it sits in the range and who it is designed for.
The message is unmistakable. This is not a budget EV. It is a family-focused flagship aimed squarely at buyers who want space, comfort and technology without giving up Toyota familiarity.
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A premium, family-first cabin
The newly released images show a seven-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs, instantly signalling a top-tier configuration rather than a basic people mover. White leather and leatherette dominate the interior, creating a clean, high-end look that would not feel out of place in a Lexus.
Key cabin highlights include:
Seven-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairsWhite leather and leatherette across seats, dash, console and doorsDesign clearly aimed at flagship-level buyers
Up front, a fully digital driver display sits behind the steering wheel, paired with a large central infotainment screen that anchors the dashboard. Toyota appears to be striking a balance between modern design and usability.
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Key cabin highlights include:
Seven-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairsWhite leather and leatherette across seats, dash, console and doorsDesign clearly aimed at flagship-level buyers
Up front, a fully digital driver display sits behind the steering wheel, paired with a large central infotainment screen that anchors the dashboard. Toyota appears to be striking a balance between modern design and usability.
Notable cockpit features include:
Fully digital driver instrumentationLarge central touchscreen infotainment displayPhysical volume and power knob for the audio systemClimate controls combining capacitive touch with physical buttons
Other details reinforce the premium positioning, with comfort and ambience clearly prioritised for family use.
Additional interior features shown:
Electric blue ambient lighting across dashboard and door trimsPanoramic glass roof for a brighter cabinThree-zone climate control for all seating rowsPerforated leather upholstery, suggesting optional seat ventilation
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What we know about the new electric SUV
While Toyota has not officially named the model, industry chatter suggests it will wear the bZ Highlander badge in the US, tapping into the strong family-SUV reputation built by the petrol-powered Highlander over more than two decades. This would follow Toyota’s recent naming reset, where the bZ4X was simplified to bZ in the American market, and the longer bZ4X Touring became the bZ Woodland.
The new electric SUV will be larger again. With three rows of seating, it is expected to stretch beyond the 4.85-metre bZ4X Touring, making it Toyota’s biggest electric passenger vehicle to date. Production is planned at Toyota’s Indiana plant, alongside the petrol and hybrid Highlander, known locally as the Kluger.
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Originally scheduled to enter production in late 2025, the project was delayed as Toyota prioritised demand for the Grand Highlander and its Lexus TX sibling. That delay now appears to be ending, with the interior reveal signalling that launch is finally approaching.
Toyota has also left the door open for a Subaru twin. Just as the bZ4X spawned the Solterra, and the bZ4X Touring became the Trailseeker in the US and E-Outback in Europe, this three-row EV could eventually underpin a Subaru-branded electric SUV to complement the petrol Ascent.
What this could mean for Australia
For Australian buyers, this teaser raises more questions than answers, but the implications are significant.
The Highlander is sold locally as the Kluger, and Australian-delivered models already come from the same Indiana factory that will build this electric SUV. That removes one major barrier to a local launch. The bigger unknown is right-hand-drive production, which Toyota has not confirmed.
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Naming is another hurdle. In Australia, Highlander is already used by Hyundai as a trim grade, meaning Toyota would need a different badge if the vehicle arrives here. A name like bZ5X has been floated in enthusiast circles, but nothing is official.
If it does make the jump to Australia, this SUV would instantly become Toyota’s largest electric vehicle in the local line-up, slotting above the bZ4X and targeting buyers currently choosing electric alternatives like the Kia EV9. For families wanting seven seats, familiar Toyota ergonomics and dealership coverage, it could be a compelling proposition.
It would also signal a shift in Toyota’s Australian EV strategy, moving beyond compact and mid-size models and into the high-volume family segment where SUVs like the Kluger have traditionally dominated.
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