Model Year | 2012 | 2013 | |
Model | BMW X3 | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | turbocharged 3.0L I6 DOHC-4v 224 kW@5800 407 Nm@1200 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 201 kW@6200 336 Nm@4700 |
|
Transmission | 8-speed shiftable automatic | 5-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,809 mm | 2,789 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,648 mm | 4,785 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,882 mm | 1,910 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,661 mm | 1,730 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,915 kg | 1,935 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 67 L | 73 L | -6 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 1,034 mm | 1,031 mm | 0 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,455 mm | 1,516 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0 mm | 1,440 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,013 mm | 1,097 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 993 mm | 1,019 mm | 992 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,422 mm | 1,511 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0 mm | 1,435 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 935 mm | 973 mm | -38 mm |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0 mm | 922 mm | -922 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0 mm | 1,397 mm | -1 mm |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0 mm | 1,074 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0 mm | 742 mm | -742 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,948 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,812 mm (over 3 rows) | -1 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 782 L | 292 L | 490 L |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 27.6 | 1,198 L | 26.6 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 1,792 L | 2,701 L | -1 L |
2012 BMW X3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | Thanks partly to power-adjustable side bolsters, the X3's optional sport seats are both supportive and comfortable. They're firm where you want them to be firm, yet (unlike those in the Audi and Mercedes-Benz) cushy where you want them to be cushy. The Volvo XC60's seats are also very comfortable, but can't quite match the BMW's lateral support. You sit substantially higher than in a BMW sedan, both relative to the ground and to the instrument panel. The windshield is more distant than in the original X3, making the current one seem considerably larger, but it remains more upright than in most recently designed crossovers. The forward visibility many people buy a crossover to get can be gotten here. Rear seat legroom increased by an inch with the 2011 redesign, and is now competitive. A couple of adults will fit, so there's no compelling functional reason to step up to the X5 unless you require tall people to be comfortable back there. see full BMW X3 review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2012 BMW X3.
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2012 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space. see full Toyota Highlander review |