Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 BMW iX

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Porsche Cayenne 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 iX doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne 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 iX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and the iX 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, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (670 vs. 610) than the iX M60’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cayenne Turbo 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the iX xDrive50:

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 453 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The iX’s range is only 274 to 324 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 35 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge using a conventional 110-volt outlet can take up to 33 hours.

For better stopping power the Cayenne’s brake rotors are larger than those on the iX:

The Cayenne 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 iX doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The iX doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the iX:

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the iX (F:255/55R19 & R:275/50R19 vs. 235/60R20). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the iX (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 275/40R22).

The Cayenne’s standard 255/55R19 front and 275/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the iX’s standard 60 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the iX’s optional 40 series tires.

The Cayenne has a standard space-saver spare (not available on E-Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the iX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect 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 iX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the iX.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the iX xDrive50 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the iX xDrive50 (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the iX M60’s (35.1 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the iX xDrive50’s (39.8 feet vs. 42.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the iX (9.6 vs. 8.8 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Porsche Cayenne may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 1100 pounds less than the BMW iX.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Cayenne is quieter than the iX M60 (63 vs. 65 dB).

The Cayenne has .9 inches more front legroom and 1.4 inches more rear legroom than the iX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Cayenne’s rear seats recline. The iX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Cayenne is .6 inches lower than the iX (16.75” vs. 17.4”). The Cayenne’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the iX’s (16” vs. 17.3”).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Cayenne. The iX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Standard trailer sway control on the Cayenne uses the Porsche Stability Management sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The iX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cayenne has a higher standard payload capacity than the iX (1104 vs. 1003 lbs.).

The Cayenne has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the iX (1657 vs. 1054 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 13% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the iX, the Cayenne offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Cayenne offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The iX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The iX doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Cayenne to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The iX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The iX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The iX’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The iX isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the BMW iX by almost three to one during 2022.