2025 BMW X3 vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. The Grand Highlander was notably large, with a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, providing a spacious interior. Its design was inspired by rugged vehicles, featuring a blockier style akin to the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 BMW X3, with its redesigned appearance, was seductive for a two-box SUV. It featured a long and tall hood, a captivating dashboard-to-axle ratio, and a tapering greenhouse and roofline, giving it an athletic look. The test model's Arctic Race Blue paint and Calm Beige upholstery added to its allure. Inside, the X3's cabin was simple yet elegant, with quality materials in expected areas. However, some plastic elements revealed its price point. The X3 was available in 30 xDrive and M50 xDrive models, both with standard all-wheel drive. The base model's price was competitive with its primary rivals, the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The X3 offered good value, especially with its well-equipped 30 xDrive test vehicle, which included extra-cost paint, wheels, and several option packages.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. At the top, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain boasted 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was large, making it less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander, but it offered solid brakes and adequate acceleration. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Despite its weight, the X3 achieved a zero-to-100 km/h time of 6.3 seconds, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive AWD system. The engine's power curve provided peak torque and horsepower from 1,600 rpm to 6,500 rpm. The X3 also had a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, enhancing off-the-line responsiveness. For more power, the M50 xDrive offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with 393 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, reaching 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The X3's M Sport package and sport-tuned suspension provided a dynamic driving experience, though the ride quality was firm. The turbo-four engine delivered impressive fuel economy, though our test vehicle's consumption was higher than official ratings.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. This extra length translated to ample storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. Even with all seats in place, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander was comfortable, with good visibility and plenty of room in every row, accommodating even six-foot adults in the third row.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a unique driving position, with a view of the hood framed by the front fenders, providing a sports car-like feel. Inside, the X3 felt spacious, with a simple dashboard featuring the BMW Curved Display. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and upholstered in Veganza artificial leather. However, the rear seats were less comfortable, with low positioning and hard front seat-back panels. The cargo area measured 892 litres, with a lightweight cargo cover and additional storage under the load floor. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo and passenger arrangements.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, handling tasks through voice commands. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 11-speaker JBL stereo was standard on higher trims, providing good sound quality. While Toyota's tech had improved, careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2025 BMW X3 featured the BMW Curved Display with iDrive 9 software, offering a user-friendly experience. However, creating profiles and accessing BMW Digital Services proved challenging during testing. The system occasionally froze, and the default Guest profile lacked access to certain features. Despite these issues, the navigation system with augmented video worked well, and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity was flawless. The test vehicle's infotainment issues may have been unique, but they highlighted potential challenges with the new system.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite featured automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a rewarding experience with its driver assistance features. Standard equipment included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Premium Package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Steering Assistant technology. The Parking Assistant Professional Package provided semi-automated parking tech. The X3 earned a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, with four-star ratings for frontal-impact crash tests.