Compare the2023 BMW X3 MVS 2023 Porsche Macan

The X3 M’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Macan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X3 M has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Macan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 M has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Macan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X3 M’s standard Cross Traffic Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Macan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The X3 M’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Macan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X3 M and the Macan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 M its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Macan has not been tested, yet.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 M for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Macan (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 80 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X3 M’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

The X3 M has more powerful engines than the Macan:

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW X3 M, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Macan.

For better stopping power the X3 M’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Macan:

For better traction, the X3 M has larger tires than the Macan (F:255/45R20 & R:265/45R20 vs. F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19).

The X3 M’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Macan’s standard 55 series front and 50 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 M has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Macan.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3 M’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Macan (112.8 inches vs. 110.5 inches).

The X3 M’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the Macan’s (55.7% to 44.3%). This gives the X3 M more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the X3 M has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Macan (8.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the X3 M to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3 M’s rear seats recline. The Macan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Macan with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Macan with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 52.9 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3 M’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Macan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the X3 M’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Macan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The X3 M offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Macan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The X3 M offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Macan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the X3 M the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote or with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Macan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X3 M’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Macan’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the X3 M has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The X3 M’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Macan’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the X3 M owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the X3 M will cost $805 to $4295 less than the Macan over a five-year period.

The BMW X3 outsold the Porsche Macan by over four to one during 2022.