Compare the2027 BMW X5 VS 2026 Toyota Highlander

The X5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Highlander doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW X5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Highlander doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X5 has standard Cross Traffic Warning with Braking with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the X5 and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, 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 X5 weighs 763 to 840 pounds more than the Toyota Highlander. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The X5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Highlander’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Highlander’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Highlander (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Toyota.

The X5’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 129 more horsepower (394 vs. 265) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 310) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 40 40i xDrive gets better fuel mileage than the Highlander (24 city/28 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Highlander doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X5 has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (21.9 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Highlander doesn’t offer launch control.

The X5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Highlander are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the X5 has larger tires than the Highlander (F:255/50R21 & R:284/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The X5’s 255/50R21 front and 284/45R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The X5’s tires are lower profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander XLE. The X5’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum.

The X5 has a standard 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’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The X5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Highlander doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The X5 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 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the Highlander (119.5 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Highlander.

The X5 has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 4.2 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room and 3 inches more rear hip room than the Highlander.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander with its rear seat up (27.3 vs. 16 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Highlander’s (7710 vs. 5000 pounds).

The X5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the X5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Highlander. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The X5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The X5’s standard Comfort Access allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Highlander doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

The X5’s optional power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The Highlander doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The X5’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’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The X5’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 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The BMW X5 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 Limited/Platinum.

The X5 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 Limited/Platinum.

The X5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Highlander.

Both the BMW X5 and the Toyota Highlander have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the rear seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the X5 also has a standard wireless charging system in the rear seat. The Highlander does not.

The X5’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW X5 outsold the Toyota Highlander by 36% during 2025.