Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 BMW X5

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 X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Cayenne. But it costs extra on the X5.

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 X5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and the X5 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, 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 has more powerful engines than the X5:

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the X5 40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

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

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

The Cayenne can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The X5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the Cayenne and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Cayennes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 (23.7 vs. 21.9 gallons).

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

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 X5 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 X5 doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the X5:

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X5 (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21).

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 X5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the X5 xDrive pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.4 seconds quicker than the X5 xDrive40i (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 6.2 feet tighter than the X5’s (35.1 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the X5’s (39.8 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (9.6 vs. 8.7 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 up to about 250 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The design of the Porsche Cayenne amounts to more than styling. The Cayenne offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .3 to .35 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Cayenne get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Cayenne is quieter than the X5 xDrive40i (63 vs. 64 dB).

The Cayenne has 1.3 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and 2.9 inches more rear legroom than the X5.

The front step up height for the Cayenne is 2.8 inches lower than the X5 (16.75” vs. 19.5”). The Cayenne’s rear step up height is 4 inches lower than the X5’s (16” vs. 20”).

The Cayenne’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 Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X5’s (7700 vs. 5952 pounds).

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 X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cayenne has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1104 vs. 827 lbs.).

The Cayenne has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 (1657 vs. 1030 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.

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 X5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

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 X5 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 X5 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’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 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 X5’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its August 2019 issue and the Porsche Cayenne won out over the BMW X5 xDrive40i.

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 X5 isn’t in the top three.