Compare the2024 Porsche CayenneVS 2024 BMW X3

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 X3 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 X3.

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 X3 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Cayenne has Rear Cross Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X3’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Cayenne and the X3 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 and available around view monitors.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

Engine

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the X3:

	Horsepower	Torque
Cayenne 3.0 turbo V6	348 HP	368 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid	463 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne S 4.0 turbo V8	468 HP	442 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne S E-Hybrid 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid	512 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	729 HP	700 lbs.-ft.
X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	248 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
X3 M40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	382 HP	369 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Cayenne S E-Hybrid/Turbo E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (23.7 vs. 17.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Cayenne	Cayenne CCB	X3	X3 M40i
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	17.3 inches	13 inches	13.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	16.1 inches	13 inches	13.5 inches

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 X3 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 X3 doesn’t offer air brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the X3 (F:255/55R20 & R:295/45R20 vs. 245/50R19). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (F:285/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20).

The Cayenne’s standard 295/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X3’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the X3. The Cayenne’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the X3.

Suspension and Handling

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The X3 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the X3.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X3 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the X3 (114 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne E-Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s minimum ground clearance is 1.5 inches higher than on the X3 (9.5 vs. 8 inches).

Passenger Space

The Cayenne has .8 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

The front step up height for the Cayenne is 1.8 inches lower than the X3 (16.75” vs. 18.5”). The Cayenne’s rear step up height is 2.5 inches lower than the X3’s (16” vs. 18.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The Cayenne’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

	Cayenne	X3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.6”/74.9”	36.5”/69”
Max Width	42”	47”
Min Width	42”	43.3”
Height	30.4”	30.1”

Payload and Towing

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X3’s (7700 vs. 4400 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 X3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cayenne has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X3 (1424 vs. 902 lbs.).

The Cayenne has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X3 (1601 vs. 941 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X3, the Cayenne offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Cayenne’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 X3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cayenne to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 X3 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 X3 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 X3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cayenne offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X3.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Porsche Cayenne has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Parking Assistance can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The X3’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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