Toyota has dominated the hybrid vehicle space for a very long time, first bringing out the iconic Prius over 25 years ago. But when it comes to pure EVs, the auto giant has erred on the side of caution, while emphasizing hybrid power for most models. They’re now speeding things up as far as full-battery vehicles in a big way.
“As we’ve seen demand for EVs continue to grow, we’ve continued to grow our portfolio as well,” said Toyota marketing manager Tim Rippinger.
An all-new Toyota EV arrives with a name from a former gasoline model: C-HR. For a number of years it was a gasoline-powered subcompact crossover SUV, now the name has returned as a full electric with a modern shape and up to 290 miles of range. It’ll be Toyota’s entry-level EV with a starting price of $37,000.
Moving up the size ladder, the bZ (initially called the bZ4X) gets some off-road chops with a new slightly larger variation called bZ Woodland. If you like off-pavement adventure, and traveling on battery power, this could be seen as a perfect blending of the two. More ground clearance, more cargo space, and all-terrain tires. The new bZ Woodland will start at $45,300 MSRP.
Now for some really big news: the most different Toyota Highlander yet. The next-generation 2027 Highlander will be a three-row pure electric vehicle.
“Twenty-five years of history,” Rippinger explained. “The first three-row mid-size SUV for Toyota, the first hybrid SUV for Toyota. Now, this is that next chapter. It’s the first three-row EV from Toyota.”
Toyota’s promising up to 320 miles of range for the new battery-only Highlander when it arrives at the end of 2026. For those who prefer gasoline, the Grand Highlander model continues on with internal combustion.
Once the electric Highlander arrives, that will give Toyota three new models in the electric vehicle space. Across the industry, auto manufacturers are all stepping to their own pace on how quickly they expand into electrification.
Toyota says one of the Highlander’s EV competitors will be the Kia EV9. Kia, along with sibling brand Hyundai, has chosen to offer a variety of electric models amid its product lineup. The EV9 is their biggest so far. The three-row Kia EV9 starts at $54,900.
Then there’s upstart maker Polestar, which has no choice but to stick with EVs, as it’s an all-electric brand. The newest is the Polestar 4, which starts at $56,400. It’s a roomy four-door hatchback with a distinctive design, notable for lacking a rear window. Instead, a rear-facing camera shows you what’s behind you in a monitor placed where you’re used to looking at the center rear-view mirror. It does take some getting used to, especially if you tend to be farsighted.
In the rearview mirror of hindsight, predictions of a rapid transition to EVs now look to have been overstated. But for now, Toyota is joining the ranks of automotive brands stepping further and further into the EV world, making a bigger bet on electric power adoption in the coming years.
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