The Highlander Limited offers optional Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Q7 doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Highlander Limited's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Q7 doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

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 Q7 doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Q7 doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Highlander and the Q7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

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 Q7 is not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2016.

Toyota's powertrain warranty covers the Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q7.

There are almost 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Audi 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 34% better than the Q7.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 14th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the Q7:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q7 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Q7:

The Highlander has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Highlander flat and controlled during cornering. The Q7's suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Q7 3.0 TDI Premium (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Q7's (38.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 to 1050 pounds less than the Audi Q7.

The Highlander is 9.2 inches shorter than the Q7, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Highlander has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Q7 uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Q7 can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 11.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q7 (144.9 vs. 133.2).

The Highlander has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, .3 inches more third row headroom and 6.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The Q7's third row seats don't recline.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Q7's rear cargo window doesn't open.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q7's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Q7 doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

Standard Entune App Suite for the Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, tagging songs to buy them later, finding fuel prices at nearby service stations, searching the internet and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Q7 doesn't offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

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 Q7 doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Highlander is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn't offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $2645 to $6580 less than the Q7 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 Q7 only retains 47.97% to 54.05%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $21445 to $26409 less than for the Audi Q7.

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