Toyota’s 2027 Grand Highlander Woodland adds a half-inch lift, all-terrain tires and a removable cooler

Toyota’s biggest three-row crossover now has an outdoorsy trim of its own. The 2027 Grand Highlander Woodland, announced on October 1, sits about half an inch taller than other Grand Highlanders and rides on all-terrain tires. It also brings a removable cooler for the second row, which tells you exactly who Toyota has in mind.

This isn’t a rock crawler, and Toyota doesn’t pretend it is. Instead, the Woodland is a family hauler with a few trail-friendly upgrades and a lot of camping-weekend gear. Think gravel roads to a lake cabin, not boulder fields.

The new grade follows the Woodland versions of the RAV4 and Land Cruiser. As a result, the badge is turning into Toyota’s shorthand for soft-roading with real hardware underneath. Here is what the Grand Highlander version adds, what it costs to get into the lineup, and what changed elsewhere for 2027.

What the Grand Highlander Woodland adds

A Toyota Grand Highlander, the base for the Grand Highlander Woodland
Image Credit: Toyota

The lift comes from taller coil springs. AutoGuide reports the gain as half an inch of extra ground clearance. Meanwhile, Carscoops puts it at 13 mm from the springs. Toyota Canada’s own release lists 12 mm and credits the tires and the taller springs together. Either way, it’s a modest bump, enough to help on rutted trailhead roads.

Those tires are all-terrain rubber mounted on 18-inch matte black alloy wheels. Toyota hasn’t named a tire brand or size in the coverage we read. On top, the Woodland wears roof rails with crossbars. Carscoops also lists LED fog lights, a tow hitch, mud guards, black accents and black badging.

Inside, the gear list gets more specific. The headline item is a removable second-row console cooler, and Toyota says it holds six 12-ounce cans. AutoGuide notes that it carries Woodland branding. There are all-weather floor mats, plus a cargo tray with pop-up dividers to keep muddy boots away from groceries.

Toyota also fits a 120V/1500W outlet in the second row. That’s enough to run a small appliance at a campsite. In addition, the Woodland gets a heated steering wheel, enhanced lighting and second-row captain’s chairs, so it seats seven.

Hybrid power and all-wheel drive only

Every Grand Highlander Woodland is a hybrid, and every one has all-wheel drive. The system pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor, a nickel-metal hydride battery and an eCVT, according to Carscoops. Total system output is 245 horsepower. AutoGuide describes the all-wheel drive as Toyota’s electronic on-demand system.

That choice keeps the Woodland efficient. AutoGuide quotes up to 36 mpg combined for the regular 2.5-liter hybrid. In Canada, Toyota rates the Hybrid XLE, Woodland and Limited at 7.0 L/100 km combined.

However, the hybrid comes with a towing trade-off. Toyota Canada’s release lists 3,500 pounds of towing for the hybrid grades. By comparison, Motor1 notes that gas and Hybrid MAX models can tow up to 5,000 pounds. So if you pull a heavy camper, the Woodland’s hitch may not be the right one.

The rest of the Grand Highlander’s space carries over. Toyota Canada quotes 33.5 inches of third-row legroom and 37.2 inches of third-row headroom. With the rear seats folded, cargo space reaches 97.5 cubic feet.

The rest of the 2027 Grand Highlander lineup

The Woodland arrives as two other versions leave. Both AutoGuide and Carscoops report that Toyota dropped the Hybrid Nightshade Edition and the Hybrid MAX Limited for 2027. In effect, the Woodland takes over the “different-looking hybrid” role the Nightshade used to play.

Other trims get smaller updates. XLE models, gas and hybrid, gain a heated steering wheel and new 18-inch dark gray wheels. The gas Platinum gets new 20-inch two-tone wheels, according to Carscoops. Meanwhile, the Hybrid MAX Platinum trades its chrome and gunmetal trim for high-gloss black on the grille, window surrounds, roof rails and mirror caps.

The engines don’t change. The 2.4-liter turbo four makes 265 horsepower in gas models. Then there’s the Hybrid MAX, which adds electric motors to that turbo engine for 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Every 2027 model also keeps a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.

What the Grand Highlander Woodland costs

The lineup starts at $42,560 for a gas LE with front-wheel drive, before a $1,595 destination charge, Carscoops reports. The cheapest hybrid, the Hybrid LE, starts at $45,910, according to both AutoGuide and Motor1.

We’re leaving the Woodland’s own price out for now. The figures published so far don’t agree with each other, and Toyota Canada says its pricing will be available closer to the on-sale date. Because the Woodland builds on the XLE, expect it to sit above the base hybrids once Toyota confirms the number. For context, the Hybrid LE already costs $3,350 more than the gas LE before any options.

Motor1 also points out that Toyota isn’t positioning the Woodland as a serious off-roader. For buyers who want more capability, Motor1 notes that Toyota’s more outdoor-focused factory trims include the Trailhunter versions of the Sequoia and Tundra. In other words, the Woodland is the gentle end of that range, aimed at families who need three rows first and a gravel road second.

When it reaches dealers

Toyota builds the Grand Highlander at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, according to AutoGuide and Motor1. AutoGuide reports that the 2027 models are scheduled to reach dealer lots before the end of 2026, and Toyota Canada expects the Woodland at Canadian dealers later this year.

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