Compare the2022 BMW X5 xDrive45eVS 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

The X5 xDrive45e’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 xDrive45e offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The X5 xDrive45e’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Cayenne Coupe.

The X5 xDrive45e has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Cayenne Coupe’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X5 xDrive45e has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the Cayenne Coupe.

The X5 xDrive45e’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X5 xDrive45e and the Cayenne Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X5 xDrive45e its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 103 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cayenne Coupe has not been tested, yet.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 xDrive45e for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Cayenne Coupe (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 81 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X5 xDrive45e’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is ranked 24th.

The X5 xDrive45e’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 54 more horsepower (389 vs. 335) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (443 vs. 332) than the Cayenne Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6. The X5 xDrive45e’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (443 vs. 405) than the Cayenne S Coupe’s standard 2.9 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Cayenne Coupe running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Cayenne Coupe running its gasoline engine:

The X5 xDrive45e’s maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 30 miles, over two times as far as the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe’s 14-mile range.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X5 xDrive45e higher (7 out of 10) than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe (3 to 5). This means the X5 xDrive45e produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cayenne Coupe every 15,000 miles.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The X5 xDrive45e has a standard Brake Assistant to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X5 xDrive45e can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the X5 xDrive45e uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Cayenne Coupe, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5 xDrive45e’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Cayenne Coupe (117.1 inches vs. 114 inches).

The X5 xDrive45e’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47.7% to 52.3%) than the Cayenne Coupe’s (55.9% to 44.1%). This gives the X5 xDrive45e more stable handling and braking.

The X5 xDrive45e offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Cayenne Coupe can only carry up to 5.

The X5 xDrive45e has 2.6 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cayenne Coupe.

The X5 xDrive45e has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cayenne Coupe with its rear seat up (33.1 vs. 22 cubic feet). The X5 xDrive45e has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cayenne Coupe with its rear seat folded (71.2 vs. 54.3 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X5 xDrive45e’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The X5 xDrive45e’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Cayenne Coupe’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5 xDrive45e has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The X5 xDrive45e’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Cayenne Coupe.

If the windows are left open on the X5 xDrive45e the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Cayenne Coupe can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X5 xDrive45e’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Cayenne Coupe’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the X5 xDrive45e has a standard rear wiper. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the X5 xDrive45e has standard extendable sun visors. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The X5 xDrive45e’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer an automated parking system.