2021 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 BMW X5 demonstrated the high-quality craftsmanship expected from the brand. Part of BMW's true SUV range, the X5 epitomized luxury with its unmistakable kidney grille and robust body shape. The full adaptive LED headlights on its corners and high-end finishes like matte aluminum grilles, satin aluminum underbody protection, roof rails, and side window surrounds added to its upscale appearance. The M Sport styling brought a sportier look with body-color trim and high-gloss black accents. Owners had the option to choose between various wheel sizes, ranging from 19 to 22 inches. Inside, the X5 maintained brand consistency with controls and displays that could be found in any other BMW model. The interior, while replete with black plastic that collected dust easily, did not lack leather and soft-touch materials. M Sport models featured an aggressive interior design with an M sports steering wheel, unique pedals, seat piping, and model-specific trim strips.

Conversely, the 2021 Toyota Highlander made a bold statement with its design. Its assertive trapezoidal grille, wide headlights, and long hood added to its distinctiveness. The character line along its side, inspired by the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights contributed to its standout appearance. Despite looking longer and lower than its predecessor, the Highlander did not compromise on its size. For 2021, Toyota introduced the XSE trim with a sportier aesthetic including a restyled front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, a unique lower spoiler, and a larger lower air intake. The Limited trim, just below the Platinum, exuded luxury with chrome roof rails and accents. Inside, the trim levels focused on luxury with near-flawless fit and finish, comfortable tan leather seats, and attractive yet faux wood details.

The 2021 BMW X5 boasted multiple powertrain options. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The sDrive model offered rear-wheel drive, while the xDrive came with all-wheel drive. More powerful options included the X5 M50i with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, and the X5 M with a twin-turbo V8 generating 600 hp or 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new xDrive45e plug-in hybrid combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, producing 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque with up to 30 miles of all-electric range. Despite its power, the plug-in model struggled with steering dynamics and wheel play at low speeds. All variations featured premium gasoline engines with varying fuel efficiency, with the xDrive45e achieving up to 50 MPGe.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander, with its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. Although not designed for high-speed racing, the Highlander's powertrain ensured smooth and confident merging onto highways. When compared to competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, the Highlander held its own, with similar horsepower and torque. The XSE trim added sportier suspension features, including higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, a rear stabilizer bar, and improved power steering, but remained focused on providing a comfortable ride rather than high-speed performance.

The 2021 BMW X5 utilized space efficiently. Up front, the center console featured well-placed cupholders, although the plethora of buttons, knobs, and dials could be confusing at night. Seating remained comfortable for short trips but became hard during extended drives. Rear seats accommodated two adults comfortably and could be supplemented with an optional third row. The split liftgate offered ease of use with power functionality and an adjustable vehicle height button, assisting with loading and unloading cargo. Without the third row, the X5's cargo space was ample, though slightly reduced in the xDrive45e model. However, the second-row seats proved difficult for children and awkwardly-sized cargo due to narrow door openings.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled at maximizing driver and passenger comfort. A set of front shelves provided ample space for even large cell phones, with built-in USB port access. Higher trims included a wireless charging pad located within the center console. Second-row seats offered generous legroom and could slide forward to allow third-row access, accommodating adults with some compromise. One critique was the rear-seat climate control vents positioned only in the ceiling, potentially blowing air directly on passengers' heads. Cargo space varied with seating configurations: 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both second and third rows down. This capacity made the Highlander versatile for various luggage and equipment needs, although some larger minivans outperformed it in cargo volume.

The 2021 BMW X5 came packed with standard technology features, including a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional upgrades included remote start, quad-zone automatic climate control, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. However, the iDrive system required a learning curve, and wireless Apple CarPlay sometimes took over musical operations uninvited, necessitating a reset to disconnect.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim, standard on the top-tier Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trims. The optional navigation system functioned well with specific addresses but struggled with points of interest. The 12.3-inch unit provided a bright, crisp display but limited certain apps to smaller portions of the screen. The JBL audio system was serviceable, but not exceptional. The inclusion of volume and tuning knobs was a plus, although the limited functionality of the larger screen raised questions about its value.

The 2021 BMW X5 was equipped with numerous standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane-keeping assistance had mixed performance in testing, particularly with handling and visibility issues. The X5 earned high safety ratings, with nearly all Good scores from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured an enhanced suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+). This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received top safety ratings, achieving a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.