Compare the2024 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2024 BMW X7

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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 BMW X7 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 X7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable front 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 X7 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the X7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The X7 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Highlander Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X7 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.

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 28 points higher than the X7.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 9th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the X7:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X7 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Highlander Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the BMW X7 (5 to 7). This means the Highlander Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X7 every 15,000 miles.

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 X7 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the X7 w/Rear Steering’s (37.4 feet vs. 40.7 feet). The Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the X7 xDrive40i’s (37.4 feet vs. 42.7 feet).

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1400 pounds less than the BMW X7.

The Highlander Hybrid is 8.7 inches shorter than the X7, making the Highlander Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the X7 can only carry 7.

The Highlander Hybrid has 2.2 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear shoulder room and 6.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the X7.

The front step up height for the Highlander Hybrid is 1 inches lower than the X7 (19” vs. 20”). The Highlander Hybrid’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the X7’s (19.2” vs. 20.5”).

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the X7.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Highlander Hybrid easier. The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.2 inches, while the X7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

The Highlander Hybrid’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X7’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X7 (1495 vs. 1180 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X7 (1535 vs. 1261 lbs.).

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 X7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Highlander Hybrid 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 X7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Highlander Hybrid is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander Hybrid will cost $6575 to $12585 less than the X7 over a five-year period.

The Highlander Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Highlander Hybrid will retain 55.94% to 57.42% of its original price after five years, while the X7 only retains 46.74% to 50.28%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid will be $46054 to $100145 less than for the BMW X7.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the BMW X7 by almost six to one during 2023.