Compare the2025 BMW X5VS 2024 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.

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 X5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Cayenne doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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.

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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The BMW X5 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 a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Cayenne has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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 76 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X5’s warranty.

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 BMW X5’s reliability 15 points higher than the Cayenne.

As tested in Car and Driver the X5 xDrive50e 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6:

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

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Cayenne can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The X5 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cayenne S E-Hybrid/Turbo E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 18.5 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 (275/45R20 vs. 255/55R20).

The X5’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 Cayenne’s standard 55 series front 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 Cayenne’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear 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).

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.7% to 50.3%) than the Cayenne’s (56% to 44%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the X5 M60i xDrive’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s (39.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cayenne E-Hybrid (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The X5 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom 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 rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cayenne doesn’t offer automatic folding 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 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the X5 has a standard rear variable intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Cayenne only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Porsche Cayenne by almost four to one during 2023.