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The X7 Alpina has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.
The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Highlander Hybrid, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.
The Alpina XB7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Toyota doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Highlander Hybrid.
The X7 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Highlander Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.
The X7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X7’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.
The X7 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.
For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X7’s wheelbase is 10 inches longer than on the Highlander Hybrid (122.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).
For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X7 is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander Hybrid.
The X7’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.4% to 50.6%) than the Highlander Hybrid’s (53% to 47%). This gives the X7 more stable handling and braking.
The X7 xDrive40i handles at .86 G’s, while the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.
The X7 xDrive40i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD (26.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).
For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.
