The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The X5 doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn't offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To help make backing safer, the Highlander Limited/Platinum's cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X5 doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Highlander and the X5 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the BMW X5:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota's powertrain warranty covers the Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 64% better than the X5.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander FWD V6 gets better fuel mileage than the X5 sDrive35i (19 city/25 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X5 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the X5:

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the X5's (38.7 feet vs. 41.7 feet).

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 650 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the X5 can only carry up to 7.

The Highlander has 13.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X5 (144.9 vs. 131).

The Highlander has .2 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the X5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The X5's third row seats don't recline.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the X5.

The Highlander's liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5's tailgate's top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

The Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1455 vs. 1110 lbs.).

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X5's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $3105 to $5190 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 58.27% to 61.09% of its original price after five years, while the X5 only retains 46.68% to 48.05%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $25820 to $31393 less than for the BMW X5.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications: