Compare the2022 Land Rover Range Rover VelarVS 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

Both the Range Rover Velar and Highlander Hybrid have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Range Rover Velar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Highlander Hybrid’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Velar. But it costs extra on the Highlander Hybrid.

Both the Range Rover Velar and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Range Rover Velar comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Highlander Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Range Rover Velar’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Highlander Hybrid’s (6 vs. 5 years).

The Range Rover Velar P250’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (247 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Range Rover Velar P340’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 92 more horsepower (335 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Range Rover Velar P400’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 152 more horsepower (395 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Range Rover Velar and Highlander Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. The Range Rover Velar has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Range Rover Velar has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (21.7 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Range Rover Velar’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander Hybrid:

For better traction, the Range Rover Velar has larger standard tires than the Highlander Hybrid (255/50R20 vs. 235/65R18). The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (265/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Range Rover Velar’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze’s standard 65 series tires. The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Velar has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze. The Range Rover Velar’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

The Range Rover Velar offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Highlander Hybrid; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Range Rover Velar offers an optional continuously variable suspension system. Using sensors on steering angle, speed and other driver inputs, the shocks soften to improve ride, or stiffen when appropriate to aid handling on tricky roads or off-road. The Highlander Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Range Rover Velar has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Velar’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 Range Rover Velar 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.

The Range Rover Velar’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the Highlander Hybrid’s (53% to 47%). This gives the Range Rover Velar more stable handling and braking.

The Range Rover Velar handles at .82 G’s, while the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Velar has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.4 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Range Rover Velar to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Velar w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the Highlander Hybrid (9.9 vs. 8 inches).

The Range Rover Velar is 6 inches shorter than the Highlander Hybrid, making the Range Rover Velar easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Range Rover Velar has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander Hybrid with its rear seat up (30.9 vs. 16 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Range Rover Velar easier. The Range Rover Velar’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the Highlander Hybrid’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Range Rover Velar’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Highlander Hybrid’s (5291 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is only 3500 pounds. The Range Rover Velar offers up to a 5511 lbs. towing capacity.

The Range Rover Velar uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Range Rover Velar is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Highlander Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum, the Range Rover Velar has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard Entry and Exit Mode raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Range Rover Velar’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Highlander Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Range Rover Velar to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Range Rover Velar offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Range Rover Velar HSE has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Highlander Hybrid.

The Range Rover Velar’s optional Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.