Kind of a head scratcher IMO. I realize Toyota initially started design on this 2027 Highlander some years back but they didn't have a good track record with battery vehicles and the Highlander is one of their most important models so why roll the dice? Now battery car sales are falling right when this is going to hit the market.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TCiK1w-mpY

In recent years Toyota has had some very serious engine problems, may be fixed now. I think it was a V-6 twin turbo.

Now with the tax credit gone, and a newer creation power plant, electric, I wouldn’t be too quick to jump on it.

They already have a proven hybrid powertrain at least optional in that car. (I haven't kept up with every new development.) Why all-electric? Why now? The timing couldn't be worse.

As well, every generation of cars (from all makers) gets progressively bigger, more expensive, harder to see out of, have little puffed-up engines that don't last the length of the car note, and more loaded with "nanny" crap.

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2027 Highlander

Not a fan of the looks...

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They already have a proven hybrid powertrain at least optional in that car.

That's in the Grand Highlander.

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Not a fan of the looks...

I forgot to mention uglier. The much-maligned Pontiac Aztek doesn't look so bad now. Shit, it was downright ahead of its time. This car looks like Boba Fett.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

Looks like something Nissan would design.

Uh, no. Not a chance. Toyota has gone down the shitter lately. Not completely. But headed that way unless they pull their head out very soon.

It was either this or retire the name Highlander completely as the Grand Highlander has completely cannibalized Highlander sales. They even dropped the LE trim from the regular Highlander so you have to start at XLE.

I'm 100% against this, as I'm also annoyed there's no non-hybrid Camry since 2025 and RAV4 starting in 2026. I know Toyota's have the best hybrids in the business, but my type of driving is not significantly benefited by hybrids. Electrics a no-go.

As a 12 year EV driver (daily driver only) you do not buy new EV’s. They depreciate 50% pretty quickly, so only buy used. You can bag a used one, with low miles, for 50% of the original cost. EV’s make sense for a small commuter type car like a hatchback, smaller sedan, etc. And low purchase price, and reliable. Expensive EV’s are stupid. Large ones are stupid as well. Heavy as shit, super complicated and extremely expensive. You’ll take a bath on it via depreciation.

What they should have made instead was a Corolla EV. Hatch, sedan or both. Basically what I’m talking about, a lower cost commuter type vehicle with 200 mile range to keep the cost down and the weight down. I don’t know what Toyota is doing but I’m glad my GRC was featured in his video, in the exact same color and spec.

Oh, HELL no!

Was a Toyota fanboy, replaced my Tundra with an F250 because the dumbasses dropped the V8.

Hopefully my '20 RAV4 will last until the kids take my driver's license away.

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Originally posted by Prefontaine:
As a 12 year EV driver (daily driver only) you do not buy new EV’s. They depreciate 50% pretty quickly, so only buy used. EV’s make sense for a small commuter type car like a hatchback, smaller sedan, etc.

Along that line I think the Slate pick up could be a useful 2nd vehicle EV as a commuter as well as running errands to Home Depot, moving furniture, hauling mulch, bicycles, etc.

So they're keeping a hybrid powertrain in the larger Grand Highlander, only the all new Highlander will be BEV. But the new Highlander's wheelbase has increased 8" so it's as large as the Grand?

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They already have a proven hybrid powertrain at least optional in that car. (I haven't kept up with every new development.) Why all-electric? Why now? The timing couldn't be worse.

My thoughts exactly. Makes no sense.

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Originally posted by ridewv:
Along that line I think the Slate pick up could be a useful 2nd vehicle EV as a commuter as well as running errands to Home Depot, moving furniture, hauling mulch, bicycles, etc.

Yep. I just did a deal on a replacement for mine on Friday (getting a newer one with triple the range of mine) since it’s costing me about $10k or more less than a Slate. Neighbor bought mine and took it from me last night. I wanted to wait on the Slate, but this was too good of a deal to pass up and way cheaper. These pics were taken before I bought my Ridgeline. For several years I made it work. I got 22-23 bags in so it required 2 trips. For a daily or beater, acquiring one used, well you won’t beat the cost. I bagged a replacement for $19,500 with 3336 miles on it (it’s really brand new, inside and out), and it has 212 mile range. Still under factory bumper to bumper and Nissan sells the 7 year extended bumper to bumper for $1500 to make it a full 10 year bumper to bumper warranty. Slate with bigger battery pack and some mild options I expect to be $30k.

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Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I bagged a replacement for $19,500 with 3336 miles on it (it’s really brand new, inside and out), and it has 212 mile range. Still under factory bumper to bumper and Nissan sells the 7 year extended bumper to bumper for $1500 to make it a full 10 year bumper to bumper warranty. Slate with bigger battery pack and some mild options I expect to be $30k.

Local dealer has a 24 SV Plus CPO with 11.5k on the clock for $15.6k
From your post in my other thread, I was tempted, just not ready to make the jump to EV yet.

Might make a decent option for my oldest when she gets her license next year. Good for local running and to/from school.

Rolling lithium ion battery fire shitbox.

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Originally posted by Prefontaine:

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Originally posted by ridewv:
Along that line I think the Slate pick up could be a useful 2nd vehicle EV as a commuter as well as running errands to Home Depot, moving furniture, hauling mulch, bicycles, etc.

Yep. I just did a deal on a replacement for mine on Friday (getting a newer one with triple the range of mine) since it’s costing me about $10k or more less than a Slate.....

For certain use battery vehicles make good sense. My concern with a Slate is not so much the motor, battery, and range, but the vehicle itself. I wouldn't want any kind of vehicle that rattled, creaked, rode rough, handled poorly, and was noisy no matter what powered it.

I'm going to say the number one selling brand for 5 years running Globally has a better insight into their customers and this is what they're asking for. Remember, there is a hybrid version which if there was no EV appetite they could have leaned on enirely.

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Originally posted by P250UA5:

Local dealer has a 24 SV Plus CPO with 11.5k on the clock for $15.6k
From your post in my other thread, I was tempted, just not ready to make the jump to EV yet.

Might make a decent option for my oldest when she gets her license next year. Good for local running and to/from school.

The one in Conroe? I saw that. It’s a good deal but that stealer is known for shenanigans (dealer add ons and bs). I also wanted the lowest mileage one I could find since how you charge it and drive it dictates how long the pack lasts. In 12 years on the one I sold, I managed the range well. I have panels so charging is next to free and all I ever did to the previous one was 12V replacements every 3-4 years. In cabin air filters, and I had the brake fluid flushed once, and the refrigerant for the AC replaced as I ran it down to zero. Other than tires and a 12V every few years, that’s about it. They are a perfect commuter and ideal for say a high school or college kid. Providing you get a used one, the accountants say per mile it’s the cheapest car to own on the road per mile. Need more range for that 1-2 times a year trip, rent a gas car. You won’t beat the thing per mile in terms of cost.

Your thread had me look at them again. I was going to buy a new 86 premium with the PP but it would have been double the cost and due to explosion population here, pretty pointless. If I was closer to relocating to my land yes, but that’s years away now. All the construction north of the metroplex caused our home values to dip 100k. It’ll come back but take time. A beater is a beater. I’m amazed that I snagged another one, updated, with triple the range, for about the same cost as the one I acquired 12 years ago. And this one was 100% built in the USA in Tennessee.

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Originally posted by ridewv:
For certain use battery vehicles make good sense. My concern with a Slate is not so much the motor, battery, and range, but the vehicle itself. I wouldn't want any kind of vehicle that rattled, creaked, rode rough, handled poorly, and was noisy no matter what powered it.

Yup, good points. I’m not so concerned with that, it’s the fact it’s all new and unproven. I thought about your points though. And that meant I would not be an early adopter. Never have liked being a guinea pig with vehicles. So add in a few years of watching how it goes, seeing ownership experience, reliability, etc. It’s not like there are going to be Slate stealerships popping up all over. They are going to authorize service via existing shops, etc, and that’s certainly something very new to market. Good idea to sit back and watch others be their beta testers but I hope it wrecks the market. Fed rebate is gone, which is fine by me, but in this space new to market companies are known to advertise low, then reality hits and the prices climb. I’m glad I sewed this up for another 7-10 years. Next daily will be bought at or close to retirement for me and hopefully by then they have the coffin/rectangles that drive themselves and I can app send it out to pick up whatever supplies I need and recall it. Boring mundane driving in traffic I’d rather not even do it. And if I have to, do it in the most cost efficient manner possible. Spend the real $ on your fun stuff that you actually enjoy. I don’t enjoy daily driving in traffic. Vehicles are tools in a toolbox to me. Pick the right one for the job.