Compare the2022 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Highlander Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the X3 xDrive30e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 xDrive30e has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Highlander Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3 xDrive30e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 xDrive30e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander Hybrid third among upper midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The X3 xDrive30e isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. BMW is ranked 12th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running its gasoline engine:

The Highlander Hybrid has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 xDrive30e (17.1 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Highlander Hybrid’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the X3 xDrive30e:

For better traction, the Highlander Hybrid has larger tires than the X3 xDrive30e (235/65R18 vs. 225/60R18).

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the X3 xDrive30e; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Highlander Hybrid is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than on the X3 xDrive30e.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the X3 xDrive30e’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the BMW X3 xDrive30e.

The Highlander Hybrid has standard seating for 8 passengers; the X3 xDrive30e can only carry 5.

The Highlander Hybrid has 39.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 xDrive30e (141.3 vs. 101.4).

The Highlander Hybrid has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 4.6 inches more rear legroom and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3 xDrive30e.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the X3 xDrive30e.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the X3 xDrive30e’s in every dimension:

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Highlander Hybrid uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X3 xDrive30e (1495 vs. 904 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X3 xDrive30e (1535 vs. 904 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 xDrive30e only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Highlander Hybrid Bronze/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Highlander Hybrid is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the BMW X3 by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.