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CGI teases a refreshed Grand Highlander for 2027
Toyota’s three-row Grand Highlander may still be fresh from its 2023 debut, but a recent CGI reveal imagines a mid-cycle update for the 2027 model year that gives the family-friendly crossover a sharper, more modern face. Digital artist Dimas Ramadhan — the creator behind the Digimods DESIGN YouTube channel — has posted a concept rendering that reinterprets Toyota’s design language while keeping the model’s roomy proportions intact.
Exterior tweaks: evolutionary, not revolutionary
The virtual refresh preserves the Grand Highlander’s tall, spacious silhouette, so interior room and third-row practicality remain unchanged in the concept. Most changes are at the extremities:
- Front fascia: the distinctive trapezoidal grille remains but adopts a honeycomb motif. The small upper radiator grille between the headlights has been removed for a cleaner look.
- Lighting: the most noticeable shift is a slim LED accent bar that arcs up toward the fenders, while the main headlights move lower into a split-headlight arrangement — a trend many automakers are following for a sportier face.
- Bumpers and intakes: both front and rear bumpers receive subtle restyling, including small vertical air intakes that add visual depth.
- Rear end: Ramadhan’s concept ditches the C-shaped LED signatures for teardrop-shaped taillights that wrap onto the flanks, paired with refreshed alloy wheel designs.
The CGI release focuses on exterior styling only; there’s no interior view or drivetrain speculation from the artist.
What stays the same under the skin
Toyota’s actual 2026 Grand Highlander lineup remains unchanged in the real world, with familiar powertrain choices and a clear trim structure. Key facts for shoppers and enthusiasts:
- Base engine: 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing about 265 hp.
- Hybrid options: a 2.5-liter hybrid with roughly 245 hp, plus the Hybrid Max variant that delivers 362 hp and full-time AWD.
- Trim availability: LE, XLE, Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum for the 2.4 and standard hybrid; Hybrid Max is offered in Limited and Platinum only.
Pricing starts at about $41,360 for the gasoline LE (destination excluded). The hybrid LE begins near $44,710, while Hybrid Max Limited and Platinum cross into higher territory at approximately $55,190 and $59,275 respectively.
Market context and what a mid-cycle refresh could mean
In the crowded three-row SUV segment — from mainstream rivals to near-luxury crossovers — mid-cycle updates are often used to sharpen aesthetics and renew consumer interest. Toyota’s rumored direction in these CGI images leans toward a more premium, dynamic appearance without compromising the Grand Highlander’s practical mission: spacious seating, family-friendly utility, and competitive hybrid efficiency.
Quote highlight:
"The CGI refresh leans into a sleeker lighting signature while keeping the cabin-focused proportions intact — a sensible move for buyers who want style without losing function."
Bottom line
Ramadhan’s Digimods DESIGN concept gives us an intriguing preview of how Toyota could evolve the Grand Highlander’s styling mid-cycle: cleaner front-end graphics, updated lighting, and nuanced bumper work. While it’s only digital imagination for now, these renders offer a useful look at potential design directions as Toyota continues to defend its position in the three-row hybrid SUV market.
If Toyota chooses similar real-world changes for 2027, expect improvements that are mostly cosmetic — preserving the powertrain lineup and the Grand Highlander’s core appeal as a roomy, efficient family crossover.
Highlights:
- CGI concept by Digimods DESIGN (Dimas Ramadhan)
- Exterior-focused refresh: new grille pattern, split headlights, teardrop taillights
- 2026 real-world powertrains remain: 2.4L gas, 2.5L hybrid, and Hybrid Max (362 hp)
- Pricing band: from ~$41k to ~$59k depending on powertrain and trim
Source: autoevolution
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