- Toyota will unveil several new and updated models in North America by 2028.
- Following the new RAV4, a fully electric Highlander is reportedly in development.
- It remains committed to sedans, with a new electric version currently rumored.
Toyota’s North American lineup is undergoing a wave of change, with major updates landing across its most popular nameplates. The best-selling RAV4 enters a new generation, and the Corolla Cross receives a mid-cycle refresh, but these headline moves are only part of a broader strategy. Over the next few years, Toyota is preparing an slate of model launches and facelifts across segments.
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An Electric Highlander May Be on the Way
Among the most significant developments, the Highlander appears set to make the jump to electric power. Toyota has already confirmed that a new range-extender version is coming to the Chinese market, but in North America, the next Highlander is expected to arrive as a battery electric vehicle.
More: Toyota’s Biggest SUV Brings More Luxury At A Higher Cost
According to Automotive News, the next-generation Highlander may show its face before the end of the year and begin arriving at dealerships in early 2026. It’s still uncertain whether it will adopt an all-new platform or continue using the TNGA-K architecture, which already supports electric powertrains in models like the Lexus ES.
Toyota’s choice to skip a hybrid option for the next Highlander likely comes down to shifting buyer preferences. So far this year, sales of the standard Highlander have collapsed, falling 50 percent year-over-year to just 30,056 units. Meanwhile, the larger and more spacious Grand Highlander has gained traction with U.S. buyers, with sales rising 19.7 percent over the same period last year to 65,419 units.
The Grand Highlander was introduced in 2023 and is expected to receive a facelift in 2027, keeping it fresh against the competition while retaining a combustion engine under the hood.
More Electric SUVs on the Horizon
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Toyota also intends to expand its electric SUV lineup with a three-row model roughly the size of the Grand Highlander. First previewed by the bZ5X concept back in 2021, the EV has seen several delays due to changing market conditions. Latest reports indicate production could begin in 2028 at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant.
Elsewhere in the SUV lineup, the RAV4 has just entered a new generation for the 2026 model year, following a strong run by its predecessor, which ended 2024 as the best-selling vehicle both globally and in the U.S.
The recently introduced Crown Signia is still early in its lifecycle, so a facelift likely won’t arrive before 2028. That same year, mid-cycle updates are also expected for the more off-road-oriented 4Runner and Land Cruiser, both of which are built on a truck-based ladder-frame platform
Sedans Still Have a Role to Play
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The Japanese brand remains committed to sedans, even as most automakers scale back their offerings in this space. The company’s loyalty to traditional bodystyles now looks like a strategic advantage, filling a gap left behind by departing rivals.
Even so, Automotive News reports that Toyota plans to stretch the time between updates or redesigns for its sedans, a move aimed at conserving development resources. Under this approach, the Camry isn’t expected to see a facelift until 2028, while the hydrogen-powered Mirai is likely to continue in its current form for the time being.
As for the smaller Toyota Corolla sedan that has just received a few updates for the 2026 MY, a new generation is on the horizon and could reach US showrooms sometime within the next couple of years. Meanwhile, the Crown fastback sedan is due for a refresh in 2026. Unfortunately, the stylish Crown Sedan, available in Japan, still shows no sign of a North American release.
More: Toyota’s Flagship EV Will Be Powered By Huawei And Xiaomi Tech
A fully electric sedan could join Toyota’s North American lineup in 2027, though details remain limited. Even if it adopts some design elements from the brand’s China-market EVs like the bZ7, a large sedan positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Tesla Model S, it’s unlikely to share much else with its Chinese counterpart.
If launched, such a vehicle would round out Toyota’s electric offerings, which currently center on crossovers and SUVs. These include the new C-HR+, the revised bZ models, and the bZ Woodland variants, all of which share the e-TNGA platform with their Subaru counterparts.
Trucks, Minivans, and Performance Models
Toyota continues to prioritize its truck lineup for the US market. The full-size Tundra, in production since 2021 and lightly updated for 2026, is expected to receive a more comprehensive facelift next year. A similar timeline is likely for the Sequoia SUV, which shares its underpinnings.
The more-recent midsize Tacoma, which launched in 2023, is scheduled for a facelift in 2027. More intriguing, though, are the persistent rumors of a smaller compact pickup that could debut around the same time. This long-discussed model is expected to feature a unibody platform and a hybrid powertrain, positioning it as a direct challenger to the Ford Maverick.
More: From Celica To Supercars And SUVs, Here’s What’s Coming In The Toyota GR Future Lineup
Fans of sporty models will be happy to know that the GR Corolla hot hatch is getting an update for the 2026 MY, including more aggressive aero, a revised chassis setup, and increased torque.
Toyota has ambitious plans for its Gazoo Racing lineup, though it’s still unclear which future models will make it to the U.S. market. Enthusiasts are hoping the rumored GR Celica will be among them, along with the next generations of the GR 86 and GR Supra.
Elsewhere in the lineup, the Prius is expected to receive a facelift in 2026 while retaining its hybrid and plug-in hybrid setups. The Sienna minivan is also due for an overhaul in 2027. A range-extended version has been confirmed for the Chinese market, but whether the US version will follow suit remains to be seen.
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