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2024 Porsche Cayenne vs BMW X5: Which is Better?
Porsche makes their SUVs, like the Cayenne, feel super fun to drive, thanks to their cool sports car background. Even though the Cayenne is not the smallest SUV, it handles turns well and can go pretty fast, especially if you pick the fancy versions with a hybrid engine or a powerful V8. It might not be as crazy fast as Porsche’s sports cars, but the Cayenne finds a good balance, making the driver happy and giving plenty of room for passengers and stuff. Now, the BMW X5 is not as thrilling as the Cayenne or as smooth as the Genesis GV80, but it finds a middle ground, mixing things from both sides. With three engine options, including a smooth six-cylinder, a strong V8, and a green plug-in hybrid, the X5 works for lots of people. It looks fancy inside with nice materials and cool tech.
| Porsche Cayenne | BMW X5 | |
| Dimensions | 194.1 in x 78.1 in x 65.2–66.1 in | 194.3 in x 78.9 in x 68.7 in |
| Engine | 3.0L turbocharged V6 + AC motor | 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 |
| Horsepower | 512 hp | 523 hp |
| Torque | 553 lb-ft | 553 lb-ft |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.9–4.0 sec | 3.9 sec |
| 0-100 MPH | 10.4–10.5 sec | 11.9 sec |
| Top-Speed | 163 mph | 127 mph |
Porsche Cayenne
Engine & Performance
Porsche gives you a bunch of choices for the Cayenne, starting with a turbocharged 3.0L V6 that has 348 hp. If you’re into saving some gas, there’s a plug-in hybrid version called the E-Hybrid. It brings together an electric motor and a turbocharged V6, giving you a total of 463 hp. The Cayenne S steps it up with a 468-hp twin-turbo V8 that sounds awesome and accelerates like a champ. If you want a bit of both worlds, there’s the S E-Hybrid, using a turbocharged 3.0L V6 and an electric motor for 512 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. We might also get a super-powerful GTS model, but Porsche hasn’t officially confirmed that yet. No matter which engine you pick, they all work with a smart eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
Price & Mileage
The Porsche Cayenne starts at $80,850 for the regular Cayenne and can go up to $100,750 for the Cayenne S E-Hybrid. We like the basic Cayenne, which already comes with cool stuff like a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10-speaker stereo, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, among other popular features. If we were to choose, we’d add some thoughtful extras to make it even better. According to the EPA, the standard Cayenne should give you around 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, while the S model with the V-8 engine gets about 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
Acceleration & Features
The Cayenne Turbo GT rockets to 60 mph in an incredible 2.8 seconds, and it covers the quarter-mile in just 11.2 seconds at 121 mph. Activate the launch-control system in the Sport or Sport Plus drive modes, and the Cayenne E-Hybrid hits 60 mph in a quick 4.2 seconds. A time matched by the Cayenne S and 0.7 seconds faster than a 2019 Cayenne. Inside, the Cayenne treats the driver and front passenger to a lineup of digital displays stretching across the entire dashboard. The central stage belongs to a 12.3-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. On the right, there’s a secondary 10.9-inch display for the front passenger. The driver gets a separate 12.6-inch screen behind the steering wheel, showing vehicle speed, the tachometer, a trip computer, and other functions.
BMW X5
Engine & Performance
The X5 comes with three different power setups, each linked to a specific model. X5s with the sDrive40i or xDrive40i labels get a 375-hp turbocharged inline-six engine. The plug-in hybrid xDrive50e combines a turbocharged inline-six with an electric motor for a total of 483 hp. Lastly, the M60i packs a powerful punch with its 523-hp twin-turbo V8, standing out as the leader. All three powertrains work with an eight-speed automatic transmission, ensuring drivers have more than enough power for any driving situation.
Price & Mileage
The BMW X5 has a starting price of $66,195 for the sDrive40i and can go up to $90,295 for the xDrive M60i. The fuel economy estimates for the plug-in hybrid xDrive50e are not available from the EPA yet, but for the sDrive40i with RWD and the xDrive40i with AWD, they are rated at 23 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The V8-powered M60i model is expected to get around 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
Acceleration & Features
The xDrive40i with 335 hp manages a quick 4.8-second run to 60 mph. The M60i, with its robust 523-hp twin-turbo V8, impressively accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. On a test track, the xDrive50e, the plug-in hybrid, sprinted to 60 mph in the same quick time of 3.9 seconds. Stepping into the X5’s cabin reveals a curved display wall spanning two-thirds of the dashboard. A 12.3-inch screen serves as a gauge display, while a larger 14.9-inch touchscreen provides access to BMW’s iDrive infotainment interface. Users can control the system via a center-console-mounted rotary knob. Standard features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot.