2021 BMW X7 vs 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2021 BMW X7 was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, often seen navigating the bustling streets of Los Angeles. It was known for its superior interior quality, surpassing that of the Cadillac Escalade, and boasted a prestigious aura that outshone the Infiniti QX80 and Lincoln Navigator. The X7's technological sophistication was a step above the Lexus LX 570, and its visual presence was more commanding than the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Despite its impressive attributes, the X7's appeal was subjective, driven by personal preference and emotional connection.

The X7 was available in three versions, with the xDrive40i starting at $74,900, the M50i at $99,800, and the Alpina BX7 at $141,300. The test vehicle, an X7 xDrive40i, was equipped with luxurious features such as 22-inch aluminum wheels, premium leather, and a trailer hitch, totaling $91,745. Its design, characterized by a massive grille, was polarizing but fitting for a large SUV. Inside, the X7 shared similarities with the X5, offering high-tech design, quality materials, and a luxurious feel, making it a top contender in its class.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of production in its current form, continued to offer the Heritage Edition trim to celebrate its 65th anniversary. This edition was available in four colors, with Midnight Black being the most striking, complemented by bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof storage basket. The standard Land Cruiser, however, was delivered for review, featuring Magnetic Gray paint and Terra semi-aniline leather upholstery. Its exterior design was reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, with large headlights, taillights, and chrome accents, giving it a basic two-box shape with flared fenders.

Inside, the Land Cruiser showcased a mix of Toyota parts-bin switchgear and Lexus design themes, paired with high-quality materials. The interior featured plush leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The SUV's seating arrangement included a three-passenger third-row seat, which could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted. The Land Cruiser's cargo space was accessible via a split clamshell-style liftgate and tailgate, offering up to 82.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. Despite its dated design, the Land Cruiser maintained its reputation for off-road capability and ruggedness.

The 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40i was powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. The X7 featured BMW's eBoost mild-hybrid technology, which included a 48-volt starter/generator and a second battery. This system aimed to improve fuel economy by reducing the engine's load and enhancing responsiveness during acceleration. However, the 2021 X7 xDrive40i's fuel economy ratings were slightly lower than the previous year's model, with 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. Despite this, the X7 was known for its power, with BMW claiming a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. The SUV's Dynamic Handling Package, which included features like Active Comfort Drive and Integral Active Steering, contributed to a smooth and stable driving experience, although the vehicle's nearly 5,400-pound curb weight was noticeable on highways.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, producing 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by a Torsen limited-slip differential, Multi-Terrain Select traction assist, Crawl Control, and Off-Road Turn Assist. The SUV was also equipped with standard mud-and-snow tires and a full-size spare tire. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser's on-road performance was characterized by a muffled and numbed driving experience, with a need for more steering input when parking. The SUV's fuel economy was rated at 14 mpg in combined driving, with the test vehicle averaging 14.7 mpg on the testing loop. The Land Cruiser's towing capacity was rated at 8,100 pounds.

The 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40i test vehicle was equipped with several luxurious packages, including the Cold Weather Package, Luxury Seating Package, and extended premium Merino leather upholstery. The front seats were heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing outstanding comfort. The SUV featured a four-zone automatic climate control system, with an available five-zone system for third-row occupants. The X7's third-row seat was surprisingly spacious, accommodating adults comfortably. The power clamshell tailgate revealed a small cargo space behind the third row, which could be expanded to 48.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, and a maximum of 90.4 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was adorned with plush, premium, perforated leather upholstery and featured tall, wide, supportive seats. The front seats were automatically heated and ventilated, and the wood-and-leather steering wheel was heated. The SUV offered a commanding view of the road, with a 28-air-vent climate control system and robust grab handles for easy entry and exit. The three-passenger third-row seat could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted, but leg support was lacking for longer trips. The Land Cruiser's cargo space was accessible via a split clamshell-style liftgate and tailgate, providing 41.4 cubic feet of volume with the third-row seats folded and a maximum of 82.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats down.

The 2021 BMW X7 was equipped with a 12.3-inch iDrive 7.0 infotainment system with navigation, featuring both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. The system also included enhanced SiriusXM 360L with a free one-year subscription, Connected Package Pro with real-time traffic data, parking information, and BMW Remote Services. The "Hey BMW" natural voice recognition system was praised for its speed and accuracy, although the gesture control feature was less reliable. The test vehicle also featured a head-up display, which provided additional convenience for the driver.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology was considered outdated, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that required tapping rather than swiping or scrolling. The system ran on Toyota's Entune technology, similar to that found in a typical Corolla, and lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The voice-recognition system was limited in its capabilities, but Siri Eyes Free voice control was available. The Land Cruiser also came with a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, which was not touchscreen and did not support streaming content. However, it did include a 14-speaker JBL Synthesis premium audio system and a free three-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.

The 2021 BMW X7 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety technologies, with additional features available in the optional Driving Assistance Professional Package and Parking Assistance Package. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included Active Driving Assistant Pro, which offered advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. The X7's driving assistance technology was praised for its accuracy, smoothness, and trustworthiness, although some issues were noted with the lane-maintenance system in certain situations.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with 10 airbags and a curb weight of almost 6,000 pounds, providing a good chance of survival in a collision with smaller vehicles. However, crash-test ratings were not available for this vehicle. The Land Cruiser came standard with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additionally, the Land Cruiser featured a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services, which included automatic collision notification and an emergency call button. However, the absence of more advanced driving assistance systems, such as automated lane-changing capability, was noted as a potential drawback in this price class.