Compare the2025 Porsche CayenneVS 2025 BMW XM

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 XM doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Cayenne and XM have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Cayenne has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XM’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 XM doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and the XM have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne second among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The XM isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 15 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.

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

The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the XM (23.7 vs. 18.2 gallons).

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

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 XM 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 XM doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops shorter than the XM:

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XM (F:285/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. F:275/35R23 & R:315/30R23).

The Cayenne Base/S has a standard space-saver spare (not available on E-Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the XM; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

The Cayenne handles at 1.02 G’s, while the XM pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XM (23.6 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 24.3 seconds @ .8 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XM’s (39.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XM (9.5 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Porsche Cayenne may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 1400 pounds less than the BMW XM.

The Cayenne is 7.1 inches shorter than the XM, making the Cayenne easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cayenne has .7 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the XM.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Cayenne’s rear seats recline. The XM’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume than the XM with its rear seat up (27.3 vs. 18.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Cayenne easier. The Cayenne’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31 inches, while the XM’s liftover is 32.8 inches.

The Cayenne’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The XM’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Cayenne’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The XM doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XM’s (7716 vs. 5952 pounds).

The Cayenne has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XM (1415 vs. 1041 lbs.).

The Cayenne has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XM (1601 vs. 1043 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, BMW is ranked 13th.

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 XM does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Cayenne’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the XM doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 XM 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 XM doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The XM doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

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

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the BMW XM by over 10 to one during 2024.