Compare the2023 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2023 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 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 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 Grand Cherokee are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk/Overland/Summit 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 displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The X5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Grand Cherokee its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 36 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Grand Cherokee 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 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 Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running on electricity gets better mileage than the X5:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X5:

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The X5 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 Grand Cherokee V8’s fuel efficiency. The X5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Grand Cherokee 4xe for maximum performance). The X5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 (23 vs. 21.9 gallons).

The Grand Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

For better stopping power the Grand Cherokee’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the X5:

The Grand Cherokee 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 X5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’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 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the X5’s (38 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (10.9 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 600 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The design of the Jeep Grand Cherokee amounts to more than styling. The Grand Cherokee has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .357 Cd. That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Grand Cherokee get better fuel mileage.

The Grand Cherokee offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Grand Cherokee has 1.5 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear legroom than the X5.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the X5 with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 33.9 cubic feet).

The Grand Cherokee’s cargo area is larger than the X5’s in almost every dimension:

The Grand Cherokee’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’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 Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment 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 Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The X5 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Grand Cherokee 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 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Grand Cherokee has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1240 vs. 827 lbs.).

The Grand Cherokee has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 (1280 vs. 1030 lbs.).

The Grand Cherokee’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 X5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Grand Cherokee has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Grand Cherokee’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the X5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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

The Grand Cherokee 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 X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the BMW X5 by almost three to one during 2022.