Compare the2025 BMW iXVS 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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

Safety

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The iX’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the iX and Highlander Hybrid have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The iX 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.

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the iX. But it costs extra on the Highlander Hybrid.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the iX has standard Cross Traffic Warning with braking function with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the iX and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 1075 to 1488 pounds more than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The iX 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 iX’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Highlander Hybrid’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Highlander Hybrid (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Engine

The iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 273 more horsepower (516 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 367 more horsepower (610 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW iX is faster than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	iX xDrive50	iX M60	Highlander Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	3.2 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	12.3 sec	11.5 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	115.8 MPH	121.6 MPH	85.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
iX
	AWD	xDrive 50 20" Wheels Electric Motors	82 city/84 hwy
		xDrive 50 22" Wheels Electric Motors	82 city/81 hwy
		xDrive 50 21" Wheels Electric Motors	82 city/81 hwy
		M60 22" Wheels Electric Motors	75 city/79 hwy
		M60 21" Wheels Electric Motors	75 city/77 hwy
Highlander Hybrid
			MPG
	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

The iX can travel with zero emissions for 284 to 309 miles (dependent on model). The Highlander Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid (7). This means the iX produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Highlander Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The iX’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 60 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	iX	Highlander Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches

The iX stops much shorter than the Highlander Hybrid:

	iX	Highlander Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (275/40R22 vs. 235/65R18).

The iX xDrive50’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The iX’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 iX xDrive50 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE. The iX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

Suspension and Handling

The iX offers an available 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 iX has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’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 iX 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 iX’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Highlander Hybrid (118.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander Hybrid.

The iX M60 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 iX M60 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.9 seconds quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The iX has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the Highlander Hybrid.

The front step up height for the iX is 1.6 inches lower than the Highlander Hybrid (17.4” vs. 19”). The iX’s rear step up height is 1.9 inches lower than the Highlander Hybrid’s (17.3” vs. 19.2”).

Cargo Capacity

The iX has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander Hybrid with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 16 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The iX’s standard easy entry system 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 iX’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The iX’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.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Highlander Hybrid’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The iX’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 BMW iX has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

The iX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Highlander Hybrid.

The BMW iX has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Highlander Hybrid XLE/Limited/Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Highlander Hybrid XLE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

The iX’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Parking Assistant Professional will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the iX first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Highlander Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

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