Toyota is giving the Grand Highlander its outdoor-oriented trim for 2027, slotting a new Woodland Edition into a lineup that already spans gas, hybrid, and Hybrid MAX powertrains. The Woodland Edition arrives exclusively as a 2.5-liter Hybrid with all-wheel drive, and it brings genuine hardware changes over the standard grades: 18-inch matte black alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, taller springs adding a half-inch of ground clearance, LED fog lamps, mud guards, a tow hitch, and a removable console cooler that fits six twelve-ounce cans in the second row. The rest of the lineup sees modest revisions, and gas models start at $42,560 with hybrid grades opening at $45,910.
For a vehicle that debuted only three model years ago, the Grand Highlander has already carved out meaningful ground in its segment. The addition of Woodland follows the same formula Toyota has applied across the 4Runner bZ, RAV4, and other nameplates, trading chrome and gloss trim for black badges, black roof rails, black mirror caps, and black shark fin antenna. It’s a coherent look, and the mechanical lift separates it from a pure appearance package.
Three Powertrains, One Lineup
The 2027 Grand Highlander’s powertrain structure carries over from the 2026 model. The 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 265 hp and pairs with either front-wheel drive or Dynamic Torque Control AWD depending on the grade. The 2.5-liter Hybrid system delivers 245 total system horsepower and is available in front-wheel drive or electronic On-Demand AWD. At the top, the Hybrid MAX generates 362 total system horsepower through Full-Time Electronic AWD and is offered only in Platinum grade.
Fuel economy figures break down this way: the Hybrid XLE with front-wheel drive earns a manufacturer-estimated 36 combined MPG, while Hybrid LE, XLE, Woodland, and Limited models in AWD configuration come in at 34 combined. The gas LE, XLE, and Limited grades rate 24 MPG combined with front-wheel drive and 23 MPG combined with AWD. The Hybrid MAX Platinum earns an estimated 27 combined MPG. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds on gas and Hybrid MAX grades, and 3,500 pounds on the standard Hybrid grades.
The Woodland Edition inherits the Hybrid’s 245 hp system output and 34 combined MPG estimate in its standard AWD configuration. Whether the all-terrain tires and raised ride height nudge actual efficiency below Toyota’s figure is, practically speaking, what buyers with real dirt roads in their future should want to test.
What the Woodland Actually Gets You
Beyond the tires and springs, the Woodland Edition builds on the XLE grade’s feature set. That means leather-trimmed seating in black, 7-person capacity with second-row captain’s chairs, a heated leather steering wheel, dual Qi wireless charging, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 across the board. The removable second-row console cooler and the 120V/1500W power outlet positioned at the rear of the center console and in the cargo area are Woodland-exclusive additions. All-weather floor mats with Woodland branding and the enhanced cargo tray with pop-up dividers round out the package.
One notable exclusion: the Hybrid Nightshade Edition that was available for 2026 does not carry over to 2027. Buyers who wanted the blacked-out look without the all-terrain hardware will now find the Woodland Edition is essentially the only dark-trim option in the Hybrid grades.
Grade-by-Grade Changes for 2027
Outside of the new Woodland Edition, the 2027 updates are incremental. The Hybrid MAX Platinum grade gets a blackout treatment across its grille mesh, hood trim, roof rails, window trim, mirror caps, and shark fin antenna, shifting from the outgoing mix of gunmetal, chrome, and body color to an all-black exterior accent package. Gas-powered Platinum grades receive a new wheel design. XLE grades in both gas and hybrid form add a standard heated steering wheel and swap to 18-inch dark gray painted finish wheels.
The Hybrid MAX Limited grade is discontinued for 2027, tightening the Hybrid MAX offering to Platinum only. The grade structure now reads LE, XLE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, with powertrain availability varying across those grades: LE and XLE take gas or Hybrid, Woodland Edition is Hybrid-only, Limited takes gas or Hybrid with AWD standard on the Hybrid, and Platinum spans gas and Hybrid MAX.
Interior and Technology
The cabin carries over its core dimensions. Third-row legroom sits at 33.5 inches with 37.2 inches of headroom, and cargo capacity reaches 97.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. Toyota says seven carry-on suitcases fit with all three rows occupied, a figure that matters more to families cross-checking seat-up cargo than the folded number.
Standard equipment across the lineup includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Toyota Audio Multimedia, three-zone automatic climate control with second- and third-row vents, and seven USB-C charging ports. The Limited and Platinum grades add an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and LED fog lamps as standard. Platinum adds a 10-inch head-up display, panoramic moonroof, panoramic view monitor, digital rearview mirror, and Traffic Jam Assist (subscription required).
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on every trim, covering pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, full-speed range radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard across the board.
2027 models are expected to arrive at dealers later this year, built at Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant. Toyota has not announced a specific on-sale date beyond that window.
Toyota has steadily expanded its Woodland badge across multiple nameplates as an alternative to the more trail-specific TRD Pro grade, and the Grand Highlander’s size makes it a natural fit for families who want occasional dirt-road credibility without trading the Hybrid’s efficiency numbers. At $45,910 to open the Hybrid lineup, the Grand Highlander competes directly with the three-row electric options emerging from Toyota’s own stable, which means buyers cross-shopping within the brand now have more to weigh than ever. The Woodland Edition gives them a clear answer for one specific use case. Whether it’s the right answer depends on whether they actually use those all-terrain tires.
Source: Toyota. Images courtesy of Toyota.
