2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 BMW X7

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling elements from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, notably in its trapezoidal grille and upright fascia, giving it a rugged look that was popular among midsized SUVs. However, the design softened on the sides with a character line that swooped over the rear wheel arch, a flourish also seen on the Toyota Supra and Sienna. This added unnecessary visual weight, making the Highlander appear somewhat bloated. The rear design echoed the trapezoidal grille, but overall, the vehicle's styling felt disjointed compared to more cohesive designs like the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot.

Inside, the Highlander's unconventional interior was less jarring. The asymmetrical dash featured a metallic styling element that spanned the passenger side, creating a helpful storage tray. The infotainment touchscreen was mounted high on the dash, reducing driver distraction. The Bronze Edition introduced 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric seat upholstery with a triangle motif, which seemed more suited to a paper towel than a car. The Softex synthetic leather substitute felt more like vinyl, disappointing when compared to more convincing alternatives. The rear seating area had more hard plastics, typical for family SUVs, but the third row was particularly uncomfortable with unyielding armrests.

The 2023 BMW X7 underwent a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a bolder design inspired by the BMW 7 Series sedan. The front featured LED accent lights and recessed headlights, maintaining the oversized kidney grille that was polarizing. While the new styling aimed for boldness, it sacrificed grace and cohesiveness. The sides and rear remained largely unchanged, providing some relief from the controversial front-end design.

Inside, the X7's dashboard received a refresh with a curved glass display housing the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The centre console featured a toggle switch-like gear selector, replacing the previous crystal lever. Interior materials were of premium quality, with supple leather upholstery and a sport leather steering wheel. The X7 offered a choice of interior trims, with matte and open-pore wood alternatives preferred for their warmth and lack of glare. The interior was sturdily built, with no creaking on bumpy roads, and the revisions gave it a modern and elegant appearance.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive, with a supplemental electric motor powering the rear axle. Toyota estimated a 0-100 km/h time of just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs in its class. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as speed built. The CVT's lack of gear shifts resulted in an uninspired drone when more power was needed, especially on hills.

Braking was traditional, with a soft pedal feel and seamless transition from regenerative to physical brakes. The ride quality was soft, with the suspension smoothing over road imperfections, allowing the Highlander to corner with adequate confidence. The cabin remained mostly free of wind and road noise on the highway, making it one of the quieter midsize SUVs.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup started with the base xDrive40i model, featuring a new 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The xDrive all-wheel drive system propelled the X7 to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with a similar hybrid system, delivering 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, achieving 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Despite its weight of nearly 2,720 kilograms, the X7 handled well on the road. The V8 provided potent acceleration, while the base six-cylinder was adequate for most drivers. The brake pedal was soft, suitable for a large luxury SUV. Handling was limited by the X7's weight and ride height, but body roll was well managed, and the ride remained comfortable over road imperfections. The X7 offered a good blend of performance and comfort, appealing to a wide range of drivers.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with plenty of adjustments for drivers of all sizes. However, the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned, leaving the elbow unsupported. Storage was ample, with a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats were spacious, accommodating taller passengers with ease, and offered sliding and reclining options for added comfort. The third row was less accommodating, suitable for occasional use by children or smaller adults.

Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seatbacks folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed. Limited and Platinum trims included a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2023 BMW X7 provided ample space, with the second-row seats accommodating taller passengers comfortably. Accessing the third row required some time as the power-operated middle row slid and tilted out of the way. The third row offered adequate headroom and legroom for average-sized adults, though thigh support was limited. Cargo space behind the third row was 362 litres, expanding to 1,376 litres with the third row stowed, and 2,560 litres with all rear seats folded. The X7 featured a split tailgate and a button to lower the air suspension for easier loading.

Front-seat passengers had adequate storage, with a large covered bin in the centre console, a wireless charging pad, and well-sized cupholders.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with a 12.3-inch option available on top trims. The system was quick to respond, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons for common features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging available on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system were also standard on these trims.

The 2023 BMW X7 came with the latest iDrive 8 infotainment system, which was less intuitive than previous iterations. Many physical buttons were eliminated, with functions moved to the screen, complicating basic operations. Voice commands were available but interrupted audio playback. A Harman Kardon premium sound system was standard, with a head-up display available.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. A surround-view camera system and head-up display were available on the top Platinum trim.

The 2023 BMW X7 lacked crash test results from the NHTSA and IIHS, but it offered a comprehensive list of safety features. Standard features included frontal collision warning, a blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, and parking sensors. Optional features included a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a highway driving assist feature.