2024 Porsche Cayenne vs. BMW X5 Comparison

With the X5, BMW created a mainstay of the midsize luxury SUV segment, a solid and popular vehicle that does its job well. But then the Porsche Cayenne came along and showed that these kinds of vehicles can also be fun to drive, stylish, and imbued with some actual offroad ability. But what, specifically, are the advantages of the Cayenne? Blue Grass Motorsport put together this guide to demonstrate the differences between these leaders in the midsize luxury SUV segment – a comparison all the more important since both vehicles were redesigned for 2024.

Porsche Cayenne vs BMW X5

2024 Porsche Cayenne	VS	2024 X5 xDrive40i
$79,200	MSRP	$67,500
348	Horsepower	375
64 ✓	Paint Color Options	11
25 ✓	Number of Available Wheel Options	8
10, with additional color options for specific parts ✓	Interior Color Options	8
8, including leather in 8 different colors ✓	Interior Trim Options	4
BOSE® 710 watts and 14 speakers, or Burmester® 1,455 watts and 21 speakers ✓	Available Premium Stereo	Harman Kardon® 464 watts and 16 speakers
Optional ✓	Passenger Infotainment Touchscreen	Not Available
Optional ✓	Offroad Package	Not Available
Optional ✓	Air Suspension	Not Available
Optional ✓	Rear Axle Steering	Not Available
Optional ✓	Rear Seat Entertainment System	Not Available

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To start off with, it might look like the X5 is a pretty good deal. Both vehicles come with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the X5 delivers this for a slightly cheaper price. But there is more to picking out a car than that, and you can see that when it comes to making a vehicle your own, the X5 can’t match the Cayenne. For starters, there are more paint choices, a lot more, including a range of historic Porsche racing colors. Wheel choices follow that same theme, and you’ll find many more wheel options for the Cayenne, and while BMW only offers performance tires on certain wheels, you have a choice of tires for any of the many wheels offered by Porsche. Finally, the Cayenne is offered with a wider variety of interior colors and trims, including the ability to choose separate colors for specific parts, like seatbelts, the stitching of the seat upholstery, and even dash and center console components.

When it comes to equipment, the BMW offers surprisingly little. No offroad package is available. Neither is rear axle steering, an air suspension, or a rear seat entertainment system. The available audio systems also follow this same theme, BMW offers a single premium option, while Porsche gives you a choice between a BOSE® 710 watt system with 14 speakers, or a Burmester® premium audio system that delivers 1,455 watts across 21 speakers.
Finally, a completely new feature in the Porsche Cayenne is the optionally integrated 10.9-inch passenger display. The additional touchscreen allows the front passenger to take the strain off the driver, for example by operating the navigation or selecting a media service.

Winner – Porsche Cayenne

There is no shortage of options when it comes to midsize luxury SUVs, and many of them do the job well. But when you want one that’s exceptional, and that you can really make your own, there is simply no substitute for the Porsche Cayenne. The X5 just doesn’t give you the kind of options you get with the Cayenne, and this is as true for equipment as it is for paint colors and interior trims materials. The Cayenne also delivers the kind of superior driving dynamics you expect from Porsche, but that’s something you need to experience for yourself, so let Blue Grass MOTORSPORT help you find your perfect Cayenne.