2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005 and entered its second generation in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a hallmark of recent Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian premium sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The HSE Silver trim added quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The HST trim offered a similar feature set but upgraded the powertrain and swapped quad-zone climate control for tri-zone. The HSE Dynamic featured a supercharged V8 engine, a limited-slip differential, and a two-speed transfer case. The Autobiography trim introduced high-end luxury with 22-way power-adjustable front seats and power soft-close doors. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition trims focused on performance, featuring a more powerful V8 engine, sport seats, and a stiffer suspension.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out among midsize SUVs with its distinctive design. Its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille made a statement, while the character line along the side resembled that of the Supra sports car. The taillights, reminiscent of Lexus models, added to its unique look. The 2021 model introduced the XSE trim, which featured a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia and lower spoiler. However, the XSE's performance enhancements were limited to suspension tuning and an appearance package.

The Limited trim, just below the Platinum trim, offered chrome roof rails and accents, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Limited trim featured near-flawless fit and finish, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim. The wood details, though not real, looked fabulous. The Highlander excelled in comfort and convenience, essential for a family car, with a focus on luxury rather than sportiness.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured the P400 powertrain, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains. The P400e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with electric assist for 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 produced 254 hp and 443 lb-ft.

The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition trims received a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive (4WD). The Range Rover Sport's height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response system allowed for impressive off-road capabilities and smooth on-road performance. Most variants could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. While not designed for high performance, the Highlander's powertrain provided smooth and predictable operation, suitable for family use. The Highlander Hybrid, covered separately, offered an alternative powertrain option.

The Highlander's powertrain was competitive within its segment, offering similar horsepower and torque to the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. It fell short of the Honda Pilot in horsepower but exceeded the Chevy Traverse. The Mazda CX-9 offered less horsepower but more torque. The Ford Explorer ST outperformed the Highlander but at a higher price. The Highlander's soft suspension contributed to a comfortable ride, though it tended to lumber through corners. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, enhancing driving excitement without transforming the Highlander into a performance vehicle.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, though it offered only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space when in use. The first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was tight and best suited for children.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured shelves ahead of the front seats, large enough for cell phones, with a pass-through for charging cords. A wireless charging pad was standard on trims above the LE. Second-row passengers enjoyed plenty of legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward to balance space between the middle and third rows. The third row could accommodate adults if the second row moved forward, though it was tight.

The Highlander's rear-seat climate control air vents were positioned on the ceiling, blowing straight down on middle-row passengers' heads. Cargo space behind the third row was 16 cubic feet, enough for small trips. Folding the third row provided 48.4 cubic feet, and folding both the second and third rows offered 84.3 cubic feet, suitable for most needs.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. The system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive, with earlier models experiencing bugs. The lower screen featured dials that controlled various functions, including fan speed, temperature, and off-road settings. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for menu navigation and switching between the native system and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A real volume button was located at the base of the lower screen.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on trims below the Limited trim, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available as an option on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly. Navigation was an optional feature, with mixed performance. While it handled specific addresses well, it struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The 12.3-inch screen was bright, crisp, and fast, though it only displayed certain apps in full width. The JBL audio system sounded good but not exceptional.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. Intersection support could engage the automatic emergency braking system when detecting an oncoming vehicle making a left turn. Other standard features included road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).