Compare the2022 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2021 Infiniti QX50

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 QX50 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The QX50 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The QX50 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Highlander Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The QX50 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the QX50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Infiniti QX50:

	Highlander Hybrid	QX50
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	328	333
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	31%
Leg Forces (l/r)	545/323 lbs.	504/622 lbs.

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

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 Infiniti QX50:

	Highlander Hybrid	QX50
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	55	98
Chest Movement	.3 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	79 G’s	151 G’s
Hip Force	300 lbs.	306 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	152 lbs.	227 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	17 inches

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 QX50 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Infiniti doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the QX50.

There are over 6 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Highlander Hybrid’s reliability 38 points higher than the QX50.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander Hybrid third among upper midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The QX50 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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 21st, 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 Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Infiniti is ranked 11th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the QX50:

			MPG
Highlander Hybrid
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy
	AWD	LE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/35 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy
QX50
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX50 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Highlander Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The QX50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The QX50 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander Hybrid has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the QX50 (17.1 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Highlander Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Infiniti QX50 (6). This means the Highlander Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the QX50 every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Highlander Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the QX50:

	Highlander Hybrid	QX50
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12.1 inches

The Highlander Hybrid stops shorter than the QX50:

	Highlander Hybrid	QX50
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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 QX50; 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.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the QX50 (112.2 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Highlander Hybrid is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the QX50.

The Highlander Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the QX50’s (57.9% to 42.1%). This gives the Highlander Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The front grille of the Highlander Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The QX50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Highlander Hybrid has standard seating for 8 passengers; the QX50 can only carry 5.

The Highlander Hybrid has 36.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the QX50 (141.3 vs. 104.4).

The Highlander Hybrid has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the QX50.

Cargo Capacity

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the QX50.

	Highlander Hybrid	QX50
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	31.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.3 cubic feet	65.1 cubic feet

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the QX50’s in almost every dimension:

	Highlander Hybrid	QX50
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.8”/48”/80.7”	n.a./39”/71.7”
Max Width	50”	54.5”
Min Width	45.8”	41.5”
Height	31”	31.2”

Towing

The Highlander Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the QX50’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

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 QX50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Highlander Hybrid and the QX50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Highlander Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Highlander Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the QX50’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The Highlander Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the QX50 and aren’t offered on the QX50 Pure.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the QX50 offer available heated front seats. The Highlander Hybrid Platinum also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the QX50.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE/Bronze/Limited/Platinum has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The QX50 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 QX50 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Infiniti QX50 isn't recommended.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Infiniti QX50 by almost 12 to one during the 2021 model year.