Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 BMW X4 M

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 X4 M 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 X4 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and the X4 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the X4 M:

	Horsepower	Torque
Cayenne GTS 4.0 turbo V8	453 HP	457 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid	455 HP	516 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne Turbo 4.0 turbo V8	541 HP	567 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	670 HP	663 lbs.-ft.
X4 M 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	473 HP	457 lbs.-ft.
X4 M Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	503 HP	479 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running on electricity gets better mileage than the X4 M:

			MPGe
Cayenne
	AWD	E-Hybrid Electric Motor	45 city/48 hwy
		Turbo S E-Hybrid Electric Motor	40 city/44 hwy
X4 M
			MPG
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
		Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X4 M:

			MPG
Cayenne
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	20 city/22 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/22 hwy
		2.9 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	17 city/20 hwy
X4 M
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
		Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy

The Cayenne can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The X4 M can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 M (19.8 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 M (23.7 vs. 17.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Cayenne CCB’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X4 M:

	Cayenne CCB	X4 M
Front Rotors	17.3 inches	15.6 inches
Rear Rotors	16.1 inches	14.6 inches

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 X4 M 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 X4 M doesn’t offer air brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 M (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. F:255/45R20 & R:265/45R20).

The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X4 M Competition’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X4 M’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

Suspension and Handling

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 X4 M 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 X4 M.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Cayenne’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 X4 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the X4 M (114 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4 M.

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 6.3 feet tighter than the X4 M’s (35.1 feet vs. 41.4 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the X4 M’s (39.8 feet vs. 41.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 M (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.5 inches higher than on the X4 M (9.6 vs. 8.1 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Cayenne uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X4 M doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Cayenne has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 4.8 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4 M.

Cargo Capacity

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 M with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 M with its rear seat folded (60.3 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Payload and Towing

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 X4 M doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cayenne has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X4 M (1104 vs. 840 lbs.).

The Cayenne has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X4 M (1657 vs. 840 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X4 M, 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.

The Cayenne’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 M doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Cayenne’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 M does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

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 X4 M 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 X4 M 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 X4 M 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 X4 M doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cayenne offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X4 M.

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 X4 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

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 X4 M isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the BMW X4 by 49% during 2022.