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Luxury and off-road capabilities collide: toyota highlander vs bmw x3 – the ultimate off-road adventure

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to...

What To Know

  • The Highlander received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating in all six crash tests conducted by the IIHS.
  • The X3 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating in all six crash tests conducted by the IIHS.
  • The Highlander gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, while the X3 gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the….

The Toyota Highlander and BMW X3 are two of the most popular midsize SUVs on the market. They offer a similar combination of space, comfort, and performance, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. In this blog post, we’ll compare the Toyota Highlander vs BMW X3 in detail to help you decide which one is right for you.

Performance

The Toyota Highlander is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. The BMW X3 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

In terms of acceleration, the Toyota Highlander is slightly faster than the BMW X3. The Highlander can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, while the X3 takes 7.5 seconds.

However, the BMW X3 has a higher top speed than the Toyota Highlander. The X3 can reach a top speed of 130 mph, while the Highlander has a top speed of 115 mph.

Fuel Economy

The Toyota Highlander is more fuel-efficient than the BMW X3. The Highlander gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The X3 gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Interior

The Toyota Highlander has a more spacious interior than the BMW X3. The Highlander has 158.7 cubic feet of passenger space, while the X3 has 152.7 cubic feet of passenger space.

The Highlander also has more cargo space than the X3. The Highlander has 42.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats and 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row of seats. The X3 has 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats and 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row of seats.

Features

The Toyota Highlander comes standard with a variety of features, including:

  • Three-zone automatic climate control
  • Eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Six-speaker audio system
  • Rearview camera

The BMW X3 comes standard with a variety of features, including:

  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Eight-speaker audio system
  • Rearview camera

Safety

The Toyota Highlander and BMW X3 have both received good safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Highlander received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating in all six crash tests conducted by the IIHS. The X3 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating in all six crash tests conducted by the IIHS.

Price

The Toyota Highlander has a starting price of $35,250. The BMW X3 has a starting price of $45,000.

Which One Is Right for You?

The Toyota Highlander and BMW X3 are both excellent midsize SUVs. The Highlander is more spacious, fuel-efficient, and affordable than the X3. The X3 has a more powerful engine, higher top speed, and more luxurious interior than the Highlander.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which SUV is right for you is to test drive both of them. This will give you a chance to experience their performance, features, and comfort firsthand.

Key Points

The Toyota Highlander and BMW X3 are two of the best midsize SUVs on the market. They offer a similar combination of space, comfort, and performance, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. The Highlander is more spacious, fuel-efficient, and affordable than the X3. The X3 has a more powerful engine, higher top speed, and more luxurious interior than the Highlander.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which SUV is right for you is to test drive both of them. This will give you a chance to experience their performance, features, and comfort firsthand.

Questions You May Have

Q: Which SUV is more fuel-efficient, the Toyota Highlander or the BMW X3?

A: The Toyota Highlander is more fuel-efficient than the BMW X3. The Highlander gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, while the X3 gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Q: Which SUV has a more spacious interior, the Toyota Highlander or the BMW X3?

A: The Toyota Highlander has a more spacious interior than the BMW X3. The Highlander has 158.7 cubic feet of passenger space, while the X3 has 152.7 cubic feet of passenger space.

Q: Which SUV has a more powerful engine, the Toyota Highlander or the BMW X3?

A: The BMW X3 has a more powerful engine than the Toyota Highlander. The X3 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the Highlander is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque.

Mike Sullivan

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to guides and industry news updates. When he's not writing about Ford, you can find Mike cheering on his favorite NFL team at the local pub on game days.
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