Compare the2023 BMW X5VS 2023 Porsche Cayenne

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 Cayenne doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Cayenne doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Cayenne doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The X5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Cayenne.

The X5 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 Cayenne’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X5’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 Cayenne doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The X5’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 Cayenne doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X5 and the Cayenne 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 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 Cayenne has not been tested, yet.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Cayenne (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 X5’s warranty.

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

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.

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

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

The X5 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 19.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The X5 has a standard Brake Assistant to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Cayenne doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the Cayenne (265/50R19 vs. 255/55R19).

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 Cayenne’s standard 55 series front tires.

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 Cayenne doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Cayenne (117.1 inches vs. 114 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cayenne.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.2% to 49.8%) than the Cayenne’s (53.6% to 46.4%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cayenne (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the X5 xDrive40i is quieter than the Cayenne (39 vs. 40 dB).

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

The X5 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cayenne.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cayenne with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cayenne with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 60.3 cubic feet).

The X5’s cargo area is larger than the Cayenne’s in almost every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X5’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cayenne 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 Cayenne’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5 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 Cayenne doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The X5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Cayenne.

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 Cayenne can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X5’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 Cayenne’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Cayenne doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the X5 has standard extendable sun visors. The Cayenne doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The X5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Cayenne doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the X5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the X5 will cost $345 less than the Cayenne over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW X5 will be $5346 to $60134 less than for the Porsche Cayenne.

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

The BMW X5 outsold the Porsche Cayenne by almost six to one during 2022.