[vtrain77]

Hi all - I'm cross shopping the X5 M50/60i vs the Cayenne S. I'm new to both brands and have only been able to drive the 2024 X5 40i and a 2023 Cayenne S. I liked the steering feel / suspension feel of the Cayenne S more, but not sure if it was fair to compare against the driving feel of the X5 40i. Can anyone comment on whether the steering precision / ride of the X5 M50i/60i are sharper / firmer than the 40i? Or is the difference b/w the 40i and 50i/60i mainly the engine / acceleration? Thanks.

[TurtleBoy]

Welcome to the forum. The M60i will offer a more sportier ride than the 40i (not sure if you drive the MSport or not) even with the base suspension since it has model-specific tuned kinematics and elasto-kinematics. If you go with the Adaptive M Suspension Professional then you will get the sportiest ride possible.

[vtrain77]

Thanks! I believe I drove the non-MSport 40i. Any thoughts on if the steering precision is also sharper?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by vtrain77

Thanks! I believe I drove the non-MSport 40i. Any thoughts on if the steering precision is also sharper?

I would assume the differences between the models have some effect on the steering. I'm sure others will chime in if they have any experience.

[Gadgetluva]

If driving dynamics and precise steering are what you’re after, then you should go with the Cayenne S if you’re ok with the price difference.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I would assume the differences between the models have some effect on the steering. I'm sure others will chime in if they have any experience.

I own a 2022 m50. I’ve driven many 40is, I’ve had a non m sport loaner for a week. I’ve test driven m sports a handful of times.

I don’t think the steering gets any more precise, it just gets heavier to try to mimick more precision if that makes sense.

As someone already said - if you’re after the better drivers car - the cayenne S. Especially the 2024 since it’s going back to having a v8 - I’d imagine 0-60 at that point will be pretty close too.

[stavstavcc]

Originally Posted by Gadgetluva

If driving dynamics and precise steering are what you’re after, then you should go with the Cayenne S if you’re ok with the price difference.

Other than the price, where, in your opinion, do you think that M60i wins over S?

[cmargosi]

I was able to drive a 24 Cayenne S (even though theres some sort of hold and they couldn't sell it, not sure if that's resolved) and the X5 M60i.

I ended up ordering the M60i, I felt it is was a better overall car, although it does give up some of the sportier feel of the Cayenne S.

I had a 2012 Cayenne and the interior hasn't changed much, and I still feel the new interiors are a little "stale". The tech isn't nearly as "wow" as the BMW and the Cayenne is notably slower than the M60, even with the M60 performance restrained.

As for the number steering, wish BMW would fix that, but its a problem in all new cars that rely on purely electric PS, IMO.

When fully equipped the price of the Porsche skyrockets and I just don't think anything about the car is THAT much better.

I don't know if I'd feel different if this was my only car vs. my daily driver. For full disclosure, I have other cars I would choose for canyon carving or a spirited drive and my BMW will do family duty and commutes.

[Mattl0806]

Good decision.
I don’t think any objective evaluation can explain the 35k difference for a slightly better driving, but slower straight line car that has significantly worse technology. Oh wait - that Porsche badge is worth 25k of badge bragging rights at the club, ahh now it all makes sense…

[Mattl0806]

I thought porsche would be the next car / brand for me - but I’m becoming less and less okay with this ridiculous premium they charge. Hard to lay out 140k for a Cayenne S, and in return receive the medium somewhat common place trim, and to add insult to injury, you won’t even have remote start lol!!

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Good decision.
I don’t think any objective evaluation can explain the 35k difference for a slightly better driving, but slower straight line car that has significantly worse technology. Oh wait - that Porsche badge is worth 25k of badge bragging rights at the club, ahh now it all makes sense…

This is a very good way to describe the difference.
I've owned 5 Porsches in my life and was considering a '24 Cayenne S order since they have repalced the 2.9L with the 4.0L V8.
My nicely optioned X6 M60i stickered at 101K(no Exec Pkg. or BW) while the Cayenne S was going to be high 130s. No way that 35K is justified, not even close. Porsche pricing has taken their products to a point that I consider foolish and that is with the understanding that Porsche does not ever compete on price.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by cobramite

This is a very good way to describe the difference.
I've owned 5 Porsches in my life and was considering a '24 Cayenne S order since they have repalced the 2.9L with the 4.0L V8.
My nicely optioned X6 M60i stickered at 101K(no Exec Pkg. or BW) while the Cayenne S was going to be high 130s. No way that 35K is justified, not even close. Porsche pricing has taken their products to a point that I consider foolish and that is with the understanding that Porsche does not ever compete on price.

Amazing how Porsche can make a 101k bmw look like a steal of a deal!!

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Amazing how Porsche can make a 101k bmw look like a steal of a deal!!

They do! Very glad that I decided against another Porsche and went with the M60i which is a fantastic vehicle that I would buy again in a heartbeat.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

I think Porsche in general and Cayenne looks better than X5, but still very hard to justify the price delta though

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

I think Porsche in general and Cayenne looks better than X5, but still very hard to justify the price delta though

Agree with you but purely subjective and also agree not worth the premium, the x5 is a good looking suv too.

If I’m sticking to a 100k and I want the “badge” - I’d forgo the performance and get the RRS.

X5 40 - ultimate bargain
Cayenne base - worst decision of value / performance / status symbol trade off.
RRS - if you want luxury and badge
X5 m60i if you care about performance and relative value
Cayenne S - I’ve got so much money I don’t care. But then the S decision is dumb and you should get the turbo GT or GTS(not yet out) please

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by cobramite

They do! Very glad that I decided against another Porsche and went with the M60i which is a fantastic vehicle that I would buy again in a heartbeat.

Has the mild hybrid addition in m60i helped with the throttle responsiveness compared to the m50?

[MC113]

Originally Posted by vtrain77

Hi all - I'm cross shopping the X5 M50/60i vs the Cayenne S. I'm new to both brands and have only been able to drive the 2024 X5 40i and a 2023 Cayenne S. I liked the steering feel / suspension feel of the Cayenne S more, but not sure if it was fair to compare against the driving feel of the X5 40i. Can anyone comment on whether the steering precision / ride of the X5 M50i/60i are sharper / firmer than the 40i? Or is the difference b/w the 40i and 50i/60i mainly the engine / acceleration? Thanks.

I picked up a 2024 M60i to replace my 2020 Range Rover Sport P525 (Supercharged V8) - so my preferences when it comes to driving characteristics are admittedly a bit more comfort and livability oriented. This is my fourth X5 - and I've been quite happy with it overall - but the '24 V8 Cayenne S wasn't available at the time I was doing my decision making. From my test drives I'd say the drivetrain, steering and suspension experience you have is going to be completely dependent on the equipment the car has. Whether or not those fit your preferences is totally subjective, and I am not sure if misc. internet folks or even professional journalist reviews online are going to tell you anything all that valuable.

If sportiness is what's important to you, I'd pop open Google and search inventories within driving distance for:

For the X5 - you'll definitely want to drive the M60i to decide if you want the performance of the V8 and whether or not you find the standard M Differential and Adaptive M Suspension give you the sportiness you're looking for. If that's not enough, you'll also want to drive one with the Adaptive M Suspension Professional.

Same with the Cayenne S - the 2024 reintroduced a V8 and a bunch of cosmetic changes inside and out that you're going to want to see and experience for yourself. And - again - the characteristics will differ pretty significantly with our without the Sport Chrono Package (expanded drive modes and launch control) and the Adaptive Air Suspension.

One recommendation from my shopping experience is to actually reach out to the dealers which have the cars you want to drive and schedule a date and time to take a look. In 20 years, I have never had a dealer be unwilling to pull a car from inventory when I've taken that approach and it'll save you having to wait around if you're coming in on a weekend and they're busy. As online shopping has gotten more sophisticated with filtering by packages etc. it's dead easy to cluster your test drives and just make a weekend day of it.

I don't know if you have a price limit in mind, but I can say for me the choice was a little easier in that I could get my car for $104k out the door and a similarly equipped new RRS or Cayenne S (which at the time had two less cylinders) would've been about $20k more at minimum. We had a Cayenne S in the family many years back - and I like Volkswagen Group cars - but the value for money on the Cayenne specifically just didn't add up for me. At the time we had ours it was a corporate stablemate and shared a platform and a lot of components with the (now euro only) Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. The Cayenne - and Audi Q5-based Macan - are money printers for Porsche to be able to fund their purist vehicles and really changed the company's fortunes. As a car person, I'm grateful for that and Porsche obviously does their magic on them especially once you get into the Turbo models. Beneath that, much like the Bentley Bentayga or Lamborghini Urus, a non-trivial amount of the premium you're paying for those brands' "takes" on the underlying platform is for the brand association with their heritage cars.

[BeEmVee]

If you want a Porsche, get a 911. Otherwise stick to BMW.

[jo2134]

Currently in a pre-LCI X5MC and my 5th consecutive BMW. I absolutely love it after nearly 2 years in it. That being said I just ordered a 24’ Cayenne S. It is true that you pay a premium for a similarly (and usually less optioned) car compared to BMW. The LCI G05 is the first X5 that I had to convince myself I liked and after sitting in one I really felt the center dash with iD8 and new air vents etc is a downgrade compared to pre-LCI. It feels cheapened and more tacky to the pre-LCI as does the exterior design in my opinion excluding the taillights. The X5MC LCI looks fantastic in my opinion but the non-M variants don’t do it for me.

After test driving a well optioned Cayenne S I was sold on the premium feel you get over the BMW. The overall build quality feels much more solid when it comes to little things like closing the door, pressing buttons and shifting through drive modes. I do agree that some of the premium is “paying for the badge” but it is definitely a more premium feeling vehicle overall. Handling wise there is no question the Porsche is the winner and with Air Suspension I’d say it matches the BMW in comfort.

Price aside the Cayenne is only the winner over the X5 in this segment my opinion as the GLE lacks in all areas compared to these 2 amazing cars.

End of the day different strokes for different folks so drive both and decide based off of that!

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Has the mild hybrid addition in m60i helped with the throttle responsiveness compared to the m50?

Throttle response in the M60i is instantaneous. Off idle punch out of the hole throws you back in the seat. They did their job in fine fashion with the "mild hybrid" system if you consider a 147 lb ft of torque punch when called for mild.
The M50i was very strong. The M60i is noticeably more powerful with the new S68 and hybrid assist. The S68 in the M60i has demonstrated HP at the engine to be around 580 and that was on 91 octane. This is no surprise as BMW always underrates and in some cases the BMW engine #s are produced at the wheels.
Range is now using the S68 in their RR Sport.

[0_steve]

If choosing, I would highly advise a pre-LCI M50. The sounds, steering and ability to use bimmercode to get rid of annoyances wins it for me.

My new M60 is fine, but had it not been for a drivetrain issue along with an expiring warranty, I would have been happier keeping my previous M50.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by cobramite

Throttle response in the M60i is instantaneous. Off idle punch out of the hole throws you back in the seat. They did their job in fine fashion with the "mild hybrid" system if you consider a 147 lb ft of torque punch when called for mild.
The M50i was very strong. The M60i is noticeably more powerful with the new S68 and hybrid assist. The S68 in the M60i has demonstrated HP at the engine to be around 580 and that was on 91 octane. This is no surprise as BMW always underrates and in some cases the BMW engine #s are produced at the wheels.
Range is now using the S68 in their RR Sport.

That sounds like an awesome upgrade! Thanks for sharing