Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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

Both the iX and Highlander Hybrid have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The iX has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Highlander Hybrid’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The BMW iX 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the iX’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The BMW iX’s optionalSurround View is available with washers for its front and rear cameras, ensuring crystal-clear visibility in any weather condition. Conversely, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid only offers a rear camera washer, which may not provide the same level of all-weather performance.

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

Both the iX and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 iX weighs 972 to 1334 pounds more than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Highlander Hybrid (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 iX xDrive45’s standard electric motors produces 159 more horsepower (402 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The iX xDrive60’s standard electric motors produces 293 more horsepower (536 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The iX M70’s standard electric motors produces 407 more horsepower (650 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the Highlander Hybrid:

The iX can travel with zero emissions for 312 to 364 miles (dependent on model). The Highlander Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid (6). This means the iX produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Highlander Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

The iX M70’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 Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the iX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander Hybrid:

The iX stops much shorter than the Highlander Hybrid:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (275/40R22 vs. 235/65R18).

The iX xDrive45/60’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The iX’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX xDrive45/60 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander Hybrid XLE. The iX’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

The iX offers an available 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 Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The iX has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The iX 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Highlander Hybrid (118.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander Hybrid.

The iX M70 handles at .86 G’s, while the Highlander Hybrid Platinum pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.9 seconds quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The iX has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 4.5 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear hip room than the Highlander Hybrid.

The front step up height for the iX is 1.6 inches lower than the Highlander Hybrid (17.4” vs. 19”). The iX’s rear step up height is 1.9 inches lower than the Highlander Hybrid’s (17.3” vs. 19.2”).

The iX has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander Hybrid with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 16 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is limited to 3500 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

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

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

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

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Highlander Hybrid’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

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

The BMW iX 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 Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

The iX 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 Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

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

The iX’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.