Compare the2024 Ford ExplorerVS 2024 BMW X4

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer 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 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Explorer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Explorer and X4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Explorer and the X4 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The X4 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Explorer 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The X4 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 52 more horsepower (300 vs. 248) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 258) than the X4 xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 18 more horsepower (400 vs. 382) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 369) than the X4 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Explorer uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (20.2 vs. 17.2 gallons).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X4.

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

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the X4 (255/65R18 vs. 245/50R19). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (275/45R21 vs. 245/45R20).

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The X4 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the X4 (119.1 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4.

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the X4’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer Timberline has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Explorer has standard seating for 7 passengers; the X4 can only carry 5.

The Explorer has 54.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X4 (152.7 vs. 97.8).

The Explorer has .4 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, 4.3 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 5.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the X4.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Explorer uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X4 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Explorer (except Base/XLT/ST-Line)’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 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The X4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Explorer to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X4.

The Explorer (except Base/XLT/ST-Line) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Explorer is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Explorer owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Explorer will cost $1555 to $4485 less than the X4 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Explorer will be $9823 to $20490 less than for the BMW X4.

The Ford Explorer outsold the BMW X4 by almost 20 to one during 2023.