Toyota is delaying the Highlander EV, but there’s a bigger problem brewing

Toyota is refuting a report claiming that it’s pushing back the launch of its first three-row electric SUV, the Highlander EV, again. Toyota’s 3-row Highlander EV put on the back burner

Dan Clougher is an automotive journalist and former classic and sports car dealer with hands-on experience across luxury, performance, and collector vehicles. Before joining CarBuzz, he managed his own showroom and worked with both independent and franchise dealers, specializing in classic and high-end models. Since 2023, Dan has contributed to HotCars and CarBuzz, producing news coverage, buyer’s guides, and in-depth features on classic and modern cars. His work draws on a practical understanding of the used and collector car markets, with a focus on value, rarity, and historical significance. High depreciation in the luxury segment is nothing new, and in fact, it's something we've covered here plenty of times in the past at CarBuzz. However, while there certainly is plenty to celebrate about a $40,000 luxury sedan now selling for $12,000, or tanking EV prices, this piece zeroes in on some of the biggest losers when it comes to plummeting values. Fully loaded SUVs from some of the most prestigious automakers are, on paper, properly desirable cars.

Tom started his career as a daily newspaper reporter in metro Detroit and after a decade changed course to cover cars, spending the next 25 years at Wards Automotive doing test drives, technology and supplier coverage, editing WardsAuto World magazine and managing the Wards 10 Best competitions for powertrains, then interiors, then the user experience. He became executive editor at Autoweek in 2022 and joined Valnet in 2025. At CarBuzz, he's returned to his roots: a reporter seeking out news and trends and telling stories, but with more experience. Tom's wife has been putting up with him since 1990, and they have two adult children. He runs half-marathons and plays guitar in a rock band with other Detroit auto writers, called the Exhaust Tones. When the Lexus NX compact crossover came to the US in 2014, many critics found the hourglass-shaped "spindle grille" far too aggressive, some suggesting that it resembled the angry Predator face from the sci-fi thriller. The redesigned Lexus RX also got the same controversial grille treatment. But Lexus got the last laugh, because the RX and NX have consistently been the brand's bestsellers for years.

Olfactory elements don’t typically headline a new-car introduction, but that’s the case for the 2027 Lexus NX. Five years after the arrival of the second-gen NX—currently the brand’s second-best seller—Lexus has treated it to an update that goes beyond the usual facelift, although many of the changes are hard to spot. Perhaps that’s why, at the new model’s introduction, Lexus started by showing off the new Sensory Concierge system. With Sensory Concierge, Lexus follows Mercedes, Lincoln, and others down the path of the car as a wellness spa. Making its debut in the NX, but sure to spread to other Lexus models, this is a fragrance atomizer that can coordinate with music and ambient lighting. There are three moods: Inspire, Radiance, and Revitalize. All combine a perfume diffuser, music, specific ambient lighting, and a signature visual animation on the center display (those animations stop if you shift out of Park); some of the themes also open or close the sunroof shade and alter the climate control settings. The system is initiated via the touchscreen, and doing so requires a bit of a dive: Settings, then Vehicle, then Sensory Concierge.

LexusThe NX powertrain lineup is hybrid-only for 2027. LexusThe NX350h is a traditional gas-electric hybrid and makes 244 horsepower. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusThe NX450h+ is a plug-in hybrid, and it’s good for 324 horsepower. LexusBoth Lexus models have a restyled front fascia and new headlamps. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusIn profile, the car looks hardly changed. LexusKeep scrolling to see more pictures of the 2027 Lexus NX. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusFor Sale Near YouSee all results for near 13565

LexusThere 2027 Lexus NX’s refresh includes a new dashboard and a redesigned center console. LexusThis bright red interior is exclusive to the F Sport. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusA digital instrument cluster is standard. LexusThe new steering wheel is slightly smaller than the old one. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusA 14.0-inch touchscreen is standard on all trim levels. LexusA row of buttons is integrated into the dash trim. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusWireless phone charging is standard throughout the line. LexusThe shifter has been redesigned. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusKeep scrolling to see more pictures from inside the 2027 Lexus NX. LexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLexusLexusFor Sale Near YouSee all results for near 050000