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BMW X4 vs Porsche Cayenne

2025 BMW X4 vs 2025 Porsche Cayenne — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

BMW X4

2025 BMW X4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS4 – 1BMW X4 wins 4 of 5 categories
Porsche Cayenne

2025 Porsche Cayenne

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The BMW X4 is more fuel-efficient: 24 vs 22 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $350 a year less in fuel for the BMW X4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Porsche Cayenne is the bigger car, about 6 inches longer.

The two cars

The 2025 BMW X4 is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 187 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 113-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,323 lb (M40i 4dr SUV).

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (3.0L 6-cyl turbo and 4.0L 8-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 194 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,376 lb (Base / S 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2024 X4 and the 2018 Cayenne have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2020 X4 and the 2019 Cayenne.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Premium Gasoline, Hybrid
Fuel
Plug-in Hybrid, Premium Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

24 MPG
Best combined MPG
22 MPG
22 city
City / highway MPG (best)
21 city
$3,400
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,750

Performance & space

248 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
729 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
187.4 in
Length
193.7 in
75.6 in
Width
78 in
63.8 in
Height
66.1 in
4,147 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,376 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
11
1
Recalls (2025)
2
28
Recalls, all years since 2005
28
4
Owner complaints (latest year)
6

Interest

6,571
Wikipedia views, 30 days
30,338

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2018
2020
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the BMW X4 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (24 vs 22 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (6 in shorter)

Choose the Porsche Cayenne if…

  • You want more power (up to 729 vs 248 hp)
  • You want more room (6 in longer)

Pros & cons of each

2025 BMW X4

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
  • Modest powerUp to 248 hp, versus about 335 hp for similar 2025 models.

2025 Porsche Cayenne

  • Strong performanceUp to 729 hp, versus about 456 hp for similar 2025 models.
  • Plug-in hybrid version availableOffered as a plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

Full 2025 BMW X4 specs →Full 2025 Porsche Cayenne specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →