Compare the2023 Jeep WranglerVS 2023 BMW X4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler 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 X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Wrangler 4-Door are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Wrangler and the X4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Wrangler 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Jeep dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the X4’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

The Wrangler has more powerful engines than the X4:

The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 12 more horsepower (260 vs. 248) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 258) than the X4 xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 369) than the X4 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the X4:

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X4:

The Wrangler 4Xe can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The X4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The X4 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (21.5 vs. 17.2 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The X4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better traction, the Wrangler’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (315/70R17 vs. 245/44R20).

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X4 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X4; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The X4 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door 4x4’s wheelbase is 5.6 inches longer than on the X4 (118.4 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 1.2 inches wider in the front than the average track on the X4.

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the X4’s (34.5 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler Sport 2-door has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (9.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Jeep Wrangler may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the BMW X4.

The Wrangler has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X4 (103.7 vs. 97.8).

The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (72.4 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The X4’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The X4 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler 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 X4 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Wrangler has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X4 (1233 vs. 937 lbs.).

The Wrangler has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X4 (1351 vs. 937 lbs.).

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X4 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Wrangler has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Wrangler (except Sport) offers an optional 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 X4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the BMW X4 isn’t available as a soft top.

Insurance will cost less for the Wrangler owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Wrangler will cost $2028 to $5265 less than the X4 over a five-year period.

The Wrangler will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Wrangler will retain 70.15% to 81.11% of its original price after five years, while the X4 only retains 49.07% to 49.17%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Jeep Wrangler will be $11344 to $28010 less than for the BMW X4.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The X4 has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the BMW X4 by over 18 to one during the 2022 model year.