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Is The All New 2027 Toyota Highlander REALLY Going To Sell? | Ep. 324

Is The All New 2027 Toyota Highlander REALLY Going To Sell? | Ep. 324

TFL Car Chat Feb 16, 2026 60 min
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About this episode

The discussion centers around the upcoming 2027 Toyota Highlander, which will be fully electric, and whether it will succeed in the market. The hosts explore Toyota's current electric vehicle lineup, including the BZ series, and debate the implications of shifting from a popular gasoline model to an all-electric version. They also touch on the design elements of the new Highlander, comparing it to competitors and discussing the trend of increasing technology in vehicles, including the pros and cons of electronic features like door handles and shifters.

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Concept

electric vehicles

"Toyota is already offering a 5,000-thord discount or 0% APR financing on their three electric vehicles. Did you know Toyota even had three electric vehicles?"

Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline, which can be better for the environment.

Car

Toyota Highlander

"...oday's podcast, we're going to talk about the new Highlander. [SPEAKER_02]: And we're going to find out, is it..."

The Toyota Highlander is a family-friendly SUV that has lots of room for people and their stuff. It's known for being safe and reliable, which is why many families choose it.

Car

Toyota bZ4X

"They have the BZ, which used to be the BZ4X."

The Toyota BZ4X is a new electric SUV from Toyota, designed to be eco-friendly and part of their electric vehicle lineup.

Car

Toyota Chr

"...ng out next week. [SPEAKER_00]: They have the new CHR, which you remember we saw in Plano. [SPEAKER_00]..."

The Toyota C-HR is a small SUV that has a cool, modern look. It's great for people who want something stylish that can still carry a few passengers and bags.

Car

Toyota Grand Highlander

"is the Highlander, not the Grand Highlander, but the Highlander, which is going all electric in 2027."

The Toyota Highlander is a popular SUV that will become fully electric by 2027, meaning it will run on electricity instead of gasoline, which is part of a trend in the car industry.

Car

Mazda Cx5

"...[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so I just drove the new Mazda CX5 and we're gonna talk about [SPEAKER_02]: tech ove..."

The Mazda CX-5 is a small SUV that looks nice and is fun to drive. People like to talk about it because it has a good mix of comfort and style.

Term

EV

"...I was under the assumption that the new Highlander was going to come both as an EV and as an non-EV..."

An EV, or electric vehicle, is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. This means it doesn't produce exhaust fumes and can be better for the environment.

Car

Toyota RAV4

"Um, I think one of the big mistakes toilet made with the BZ is they should have just called it the RAF4 or RAF4 EV, because Highlander such a strong brand just like RAF4 is, it makes sense to leverage that."

The Toyota RAV4 is a smaller SUV compared to the Highlander and is very popular for its reliability and practicality. It can also come in a hybrid version, which is more fuel-efficient.

Term

electric door handles

"Yeah, I mean, not, well, not real ones are still electric, but yeah, I was going to say they're not real at all, they're still but they're not like the ones you have to push out, sure. There are recessed holes that you can reach into and actually grab onto something."

Electric door handles let you open the car doors without a traditional handle. Instead, you push a button or touch a spot, which can look sleek but might be tricky if there's a power failure.

Term

electronic shifter

"And I think it's especially like the, there are, there's an argument to be made for like an electronic shifter, right?"

An electronic shifter is a modern way to change gears in a car using buttons or a dial instead of a traditional stick. It helps make the inside of the car look nicer and gives you more room.

Term

rotary shifter

"I remember when the four fusion went to the rotary shifter."

A rotary shifter is a round dial that you turn to change gears in a car, instead of using a stick. It helps make the car's interior look cleaner and gives you more room.

Term

three in the tree

"When it opened up a lot of space, three in the tree tummy, three in the tree."

'Three in the tree' is an old way to change gears in a car where the gear stick is located on the steering column. It was popular in older cars and helped save space inside the car.

Term

three on the tree

"You don't even know what a three on the tree. Because I think a lot of people don't know that back in the 60s, they would put the shifter over here behind the steering wheel. So it was a lever that you would actually put in gear behind the steering wheel, and so that could throw it up a lot of space."

'Three on the tree' is a way to describe a gear shifter that is located on the steering column of a car. This was popular in older vehicles, especially trucks, because it saved space inside the car.

Term

aerodynamic

"...the reason you do that, especially with an EV is because it makes the car more aerodynamic..."

Aerodynamics is about how air moves around a car. A car designed to be more aerodynamic can use less fuel and go faster because it cuts through the air better.

Term

manual override

"...you still need a manual override..."

A manual override is a way to control something by hand if the automatic system stops working. In cars, it helps you open doors or operate features even if the buttons fail.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"...anual override [SPEAKER_02]: So, in a Tesla, in a Corvette, you've got the button, but you also have to have..."

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that many people admire. It's known for being powerful and fun to drive, which is why it often comes up in conversations about exciting cars.

Car

Tesla Model Y

"Yeah, so we just released a new model Y, and in that one you've got the button, and then right in front of it, you've got a little handle you can pull up."

The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV made by Tesla. It's popular for being spacious and having cool tech features like self-driving capabilities.

Car

Toyota Land Cruiser

"...we just bought a 2005 land cruiser and I drove back from the ranch because we're going to take it off road tomorrow..."

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a large SUV that is great for driving on rough terrain. The 2005 version is known for being tough and reliable, which is why many people like to use it for off-roading.

Brand

Mercedes-Benz

"No design or said, hey, let's somehow incorporate this screen, at least Mercedes does that..."

Mercedes-Benz is a famous car brand that makes luxury vehicles. They are known for having nice designs and technology in their cars.

Brand

Porsche

"...at least Mercedes does that, so Porsche does that, right? They have this new curved screen that's like a ski slope."

Porsche is a high-end car brand that makes sports cars. They are known for having stylish designs and new technology in their cars, like curved screens.

Term

kilowatt hour battery

"And it's going to have a 77 kilowatt hour battery, a 98 kilowatt hour battery, front will drive 280 miles of range or so..."

A kilowatt hour is a way to measure how much energy a battery can hold. The bigger the number, the more energy it can store, which usually means the car can go further on a single charge.

Term

charging speed

"So the first place is they specifically didn't mention in the press release or during the press presentation, what's the charging speed?"

Charging speed is how fast you can fill up an electric car's battery. The faster it charges, the less time you have to wait before you can drive again.

Term

800 volt system

"...when you compare it to like an 800 volt system that like the ionic has, it's pretty, it's pretty, you know, it's getting dated."

An 800 volt system is a type of electrical setup in electric cars that helps them charge faster. The higher the voltage, the quicker you can fill up the battery.

Car

Volkswagen Egolfs

"[SPEAKER_00]: So they'll have an electric highlander and a gas highlander, which also has three rows. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, I just, it's an interesting conversation though, because like I've been talking to a bunch of EV owners, and you know, I run into my travels, and everything from like e-golfs, derivians, to Tesla's. [SPEAKER_02]: And I've been talking to these folks like how often are you DC fast charging them and probably the 10 or 12 conversations I've had in the last two weeks, not a single one has ever used a DC fast charger."

The Volkswagen e-Golf is an electric car that looks like a regular Golf but runs on electricity instead of gas. It's a good option for those who want to drive green and save on fuel.

Car

Dodge Charger

"...o weeks, not a single one has ever used a DC fast charger. [SPEAKER_02]: I just think that people that are ..."

The Dodge Charger is a big car that's known for being really fast and having a cool look. People like to talk about it because it offers a lot of power and is fun to drive.

Car

Rivian R1T

"So like when I asked this one guy, I'm like, how fast is your Rivian R1 teacher, I've done a DC teacher, he's like, I don't know, I'm like, you carry, he's like, no, because I wouldn't road trip."

The Rivian R1T is a new electric truck that can go off-road and is made for outdoor adventures. It's designed to be tough and has cool tech features.

Car

Volkswagen Id Buzz

"but when we bought the ID buzz, one of the reasons besides the fact that Steve was great over at Volkswagen of a running was we wanted a road trip because that is the quintessential road trip that she had been through SUVs are that."

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a new electric van that looks like the old VW buses. It's designed for families and is great for road trips.

Term

EVs

"every other manufacturer is pulling back for EVs and now..."

EVs stands for electric vehicles, which are cars that run on electricity instead of traditional fuels like gas.

Term

batteries

"The batteries are also going to be built here..."

Batteries are devices that store energy, and in electric cars, they provide the power needed to drive the vehicle.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"I mean, think of the most popular cars, Corolla."

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that's very popular because it's dependable and gets good gas mileage. Many people choose it for everyday driving.

Car

Toyota Tacoma

"Tacoma, only sold North America."

The Toyota Tacoma is a smaller truck that many people in North America buy for its strength and ability to drive off-road. It's popular for work and adventure.

Car

Toyota Camry

"Mostly the biggest selling cars, Camry, around the world."

The Toyota Camry is a popular car that many people like because it's comfortable and lasts a long time. It's a good choice for anyone needing a reliable vehicle.

Car

Toyota Crown

"...ing because that car, you know, would be the last crown of my list because it was at least One maybe not ..."

The Toyota Crown is a big, fancy car that's comfortable to drive. It's often talked about because it has a lot of nice features and is seen as a luxury vehicle.

Car

Lincoln Nautilus

"...at's a really good one. [SPEAKER_00]: Also in the Nautilus. [SPEAKER_02]: I also think gear shift should nev..."

The Lincoln Nautilus is a fancy SUV that's designed for a smooth and comfortable ride. People talk about it because it has a lot of nice features and is great for long trips.

Term

CarPlay

"...is YGM is getting rid of CarPlay."

CarPlay is a system that lets you connect your iPhone to your car so you can use apps and music on the car's screen.

Car

Ford Ranger

"...e headlights would be terrible and lockers on the Ranger Raptor Yeah, that's one two that's a little bit [..."

The Ford Ranger is a smaller truck that can be used for work or play. It's tough and can handle rough roads, which is why people often mention it when talking about trucks.

Term

Ranger Raptor

"...headlights would be terrible and lockers on the Ranger Raptor..."

The Ranger Raptor is a special version of the Ford Ranger truck that is built for off-roading, with better suspension and a stronger engine.

Car

Chrysler P Chrysler

"[SPEAKER_02]: Maverick is not bought by truck buyers, and we know that because when we did the towing test, we actually heard back from the Ford people and they say we've run the data and these Maverick buyers are not towing at all. [SPEAKER_02]: They are not truck buyers and Ford flat out said the PR manager was like, people are buying Mavericks are not truck buyers and they sell a heck of a lot of Mavericks because what slate knows is that the baits [SPEAKER_02]: that are our friend Henry Ford and Walter P. Chrysler and Mr. Durand are using to get those truck buyers that bait's not gonna work on a non-truck buyer but the fish are different, right? [SPEAKER_02]: You need the right bait for the right fish."

The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a small car that has a unique, old-fashioned look. People remember it because it was different from most cars on the road and was popular for a while.

Car

Ford Maverick

"...believe that because we had a, we had a, we had a maverick. [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, yes, we had a maverick."

The Ford Maverick is a small truck that's easy to drive and good on gas. It's a great choice for people who want a truck without spending too much money.

Car

Ford F150

"...no one's crushed out being a maverick with an F-150. I don't even think people are crushed out being a maverick with the ranger."

The Ford F-150 is a large truck that many people use for work or towing. It's very popular in the U.S. and is known for being tough and reliable.

Car

Honda CR-V

"Then the conversation changes, because a slate doesn't work like my CRV. It doesn't have a back seat, right?"

The Honda CR-V is a popular small SUV that offers a lot of space and good gas mileage. It's a great option for families or anyone needing extra room for passengers and cargo.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

"...KER_00]: I can give you a good example of that, a wrangler. [SPEAKER_00]: Or a wrangler, I think appeals to ..."

The Jeep Wrangler is a tough car that's great for driving off-road. People love it because it can go almost anywhere and has a unique, boxy shape.

Car

Cupra Born

"...tric truck and she'll be like, hey, when Tommy is born, right? [SPEAKER_00]: I'll be like, you know what..."

The Cupra Born is a sporty electric car that looks cool and is fun to drive. It's a great choice for people who want a fast car that doesn't use gas.

Car

Mitsubishi Outlander

"[SPEAKER_02]: No. [SPEAKER_02]: Normal Outlander. [SPEAKER_02]: It's $5,000 more in the Mitsubishi..."

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a family SUV that has room for lots of people and their gear. It's a good choice for families who need space and want a reliable car.

Car

Fiat 500e

"...So like the, [SPEAKER_02]: We need to replace our 500E. [SPEAKER_02]: See, you're soon, because the leas..."

The Fiat 500e is a small electric car that's perfect for driving around the city. It's easy to park and helps reduce pollution, which is why people like it.

Car

Jeep Cherokee

"...ould talk about, you're going to go drive the new Cherokee and believe? [SPEAKER_00]: No."

The Jeep Cherokee is a smaller SUV that's good for both city driving and going off-road. It's a popular choice for people who want a car that can handle different types of roads.

28 cars featured

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