- Toyota’s new teaser confirms a three-row configuration.
- We may have already seen the car as a concept.
- Expect an electric SUV about the size of the Highlander.
When Toyota teased “something new” last week, some assumed it was a pickup truck. However, the latest official preview confirms that it is a large SUV with three rows of seating and a large glass roof. The boxy family hauler offers captain’s chairs in the second row, where passengers benefit from their own climate control.
We adjusted the brightness of the teaser image to reveal more detail, as the third row was not immediately noticeable in the untouched image. Toyota seems to be showcasing a six-seater interior with decent legroom for those left behind, who can also charge their devices via USB ports mounted at the base of the C-pillars.
Although the vehicle’s name remains a mystery, it is likely to be a production version of the larger BZ concept shown in 2021. Images of the patent later surfaced online, sparking little imagination. The rear light bar teased by Toyota in late January closely matches the concept’s design.
Expect the production model to feature traditional side mirrors and larger door handles. It could be a nearly electric SUV the size of the Highlander when it goes on sale, possibly later this year, possibly as early as the 2027 model year. A Subaru counterpart is also in the pipeline, continuing the brand’s EV collaboration with the BZ/Solterra and Bz Woodland/Trailseeker twins.
It’s also worth remembering that in February 2024, Toyota announced plans to invest $1.3 billion in its Georgetown, Kentucky plant to build a three-row electric SUV. Fast forward two years, and this teaser is likely our first real look at the vehicle. It is too early to say whether it will be EV-only or will arrive alongside the next-generation Highlander, which is powered by combustion engines. Either way, the Grand Highlander should stay on sale, given its recent debut.
Whether it ends up being called the BZ Highlander or something completely new remains to be seen, but a familiar name will make sense. We’ll know for sure on February 10.
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Source: Toyota
Take Motor 1: Demand for EVs may be cooling in the United States, but Toyota’s electric push continues. The newcomer is shaping up to be a credible rival to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, targeting larger families ready to move beyond internal combustion.
That said, if this isn’t somehow a production-ready BZ Bigger, what else could be? An alternative is the 2023 Land Cruiser SE concept. However, the electric off-roader features slightly different taillights, making the older BZ concept a far more likely candidate.
