2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was a standout in the midsize SUV segment, offering a distinctive design that set it apart from the typical crowd of family vehicles. Its bold styling featured wide headlights, a long hood, and a trapezoidal grille, giving it a commanding presence. The character line along the side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-inspired taillights added to its unique appeal. The introduction of the XSE trim level brought a sportier look with a restyled front end and 20-inch alloy wheels, although it was more about appearance than performance. Inside, the Highlander Limited trim impressed with its luxurious feel, featuring tan leather seats, dark brown accents, and wood details, creating a comfortable and upscale environment.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 embraced a modern, streamlined design as an electric vehicle, distinguishing itself from Volkswagen's gasoline models. Its sleek profile and wheels pushed to the corners gave it a unique look, although it didn't quite resemble a traditional SUV. The interior combined Volkswagen's minimalist style with a tech-focused aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic elements. The ID.4's cabin felt spacious, with good front headroom and a comfortable driving position, although rearward visibility was compromised by thick rear pillars. The ID.4's design aimed to provide a familiar experience for drivers transitioning from gasoline cars, with a focus on comfort and practicality.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. While not a performance powerhouse, the Highlander provided smooth and reliable operation, making it a solid choice for family transportation. Its powertrain was competitive within its class, offering similar horsepower and torque to rivals like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, enhancing driving excitement without compromising comfort.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered two powertrain configurations. The base rear-wheel drive version featured a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. An all-wheel-drive version added a second electric motor, boosting total power output to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The ID.4 prioritized comfort over sportiness, with a smooth ride and balanced handling. Its electric motor provided instant torque for quick acceleration, although regenerative braking was less aggressive than in some other EVs, offering a more traditional driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in providing comfort and practicality for families. Its interior featured spacious shelves for storage, accommodating large cell phones and charging cords. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with available captain's chairs for added comfort. The third row offered limited space, suitable for adults only if the second row was adjusted. Cargo capacity was competitive, with 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,150 litres with the third row folded, and 2,245 litres with both rows down.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a spacious cabin with more front headroom than some gasoline crossovers. While rear headroom and legroom were average, the ID.4 provided 858 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1,818 litres with the seats folded. The absence of a "frunk" allowed for more cabin space, enhancing the feeling of roominess. The ID.4's interior design prioritized practicality, with a unique twist-grip gear selector and efficient heating features for cold climates.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch screen available on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The navigation system, available from the Limited grade, had limitations in locating points of interest, but the 12.3-inch screen offered a bright and crisp display. A JBL audio system was included from the Limited grade, providing good sound quality.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a standard 10-inch touchscreen, with an optional 12-inch screen, both supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced traditional controls. While visually appealing, the touchpads lacked tactile feedback, making them challenging to use while driving. The ID.4 also featured a natural-language voice-control system and the innovative ID.Light, which communicated information to the driver through a light strip.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, offering advanced driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind spot monitoring and LED headlights were standard. The Highlander received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA for RWD versions. It offered a range of driver aids, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. New features like Travel Assist and Emergency Assist enhanced safety, with Travel Assist providing automated lane centring for highway driving.