Compare the2022 Bentley BentaygaVS 2022 BMW X5 M

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Bentley Bentayga have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X5 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Bentley Bentayga 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 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Bentayga and X5 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Bentayga has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X5 M’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Bentayga has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The X5 M doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Bentayga helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then projects the image on the windshield, near the driver’s line of sight. The X5 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Bentayga and the X5 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, available collision warning systems and lane departure warning systems.

The Bentayga comes with a full 3-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X5 M’s 50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

The Bentayga’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X5 M’s standard 4.4 turbo V8. The Bentayga’s 4.0 turbo V8 produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X5 M Competition’s standard 4.4 turbo V8. The Bentayga SPEED’s standard 6.0 turbo 12-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (626 vs. 617) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 553) than the X5 M Competition’s standard 4.4 turbo V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Bentayga gets better mileage than the X5 M:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Bentayga’s fuel efficiency. The X5 M doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

For better stopping power the Bentayga SPEED’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X5 M:

The Bentayga offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The X5 M doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

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

The Bentayga has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Bentayga’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X5 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Bentayga SPEED’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the X5 M’s (39 feet vs. 42 feet). The Bentayga’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the X5 M’s (40.6 feet vs. 42 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Bentayga has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 M (9.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Bentayga to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Bentayga’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the X5 M Competition (9.7 vs. 8.4 inches).

The Bentayga is 68.9 inches shorter in height than the X5 M, making the Bentayga much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The design of the Bentley Bentayga amounts to more than styling. The Bentayga has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .34 Cd. That is significantly lower than the X5 M (.38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Bentayga get better fuel mileage.

The Bentayga offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X5 M can only carry 5.

The Bentayga has 1.9 inches more front legroom and 3.5 inches more rear legroom than the X5 M.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Bentayga’s middle row seats recline. The X5 M’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Bentayga’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 M’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 Bentayga has a 7165 lbs. towing capacity. The X5 M has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Mitigation on the Bentayga uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 M doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Bentayga has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X5 M (1510 vs. 1080 lbs.).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Bentayga to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X5 M doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Bentayga has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 M doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Optional air conditioned the front and second row seats keep the Bentayga’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The X5 M doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Bentayga and the X5 M offer optional massaging front seats. The Bentayga also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the X5 M.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Bentley Bentayga has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) on the dashboard. The X5 M doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.