Compare the2023 BMW X5VS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The X5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW X5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X5 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 Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X5 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the X5 and the Grand Cherokee 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 and 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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 176 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee has not been tested, yet.

The X5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Grand Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Grand Cherokee’s (12 vs. 5 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the X5 have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X5’s reliability 33 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X5 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

The X5 has more powerful engines than the Grand Cherokee:

As tested in Motor Trend the X5 40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V6:

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

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Jeep only offers a regenerative brake system on the Grand Cherokee 4xe.

Regardless of its engine, the X5’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (M50i only). Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee V6/4xe.

The X5 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Cherokee 4xe Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X5 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Grand Cherokee. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the BMW X5 as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The X5 stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the Grand Cherokee (265/50R19 vs. 245/70R17).

The X5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 70 series tires. The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Grand Cherokee Summit’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee Laredo. The X5’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Grand Cherokee Summit.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X5 M50i offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Jeep doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Grand Cherokee.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Grand Cherokee.

The X5 xDrive40i handles at .89 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee 4x4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X5 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 (25.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee (8.7 vs. 8.4 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The X5 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The X5 has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the X5 is .7 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (19.5” vs. 20.2”). The X5’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (20” vs. 21.5”).

The X5 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 70.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X5 easier. The X5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.8 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X5’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Grand Cherokee’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (5952 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 is only 7200 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 32% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 26th.

The X5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the X5 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. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Cherokee’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X5 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X5’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Cherokee Summit’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.