[stein_325i]

Here's the latest comparison test from Car and Driver of the BMW X5 40i, Mercedes GLE 450, Audi Q7 3.0T, and Porsche Cayenne.

Overall the rankings aren't too surprising, with Porsche coming in first due to its driving dynamics, BMW coming in second for its great interior and shocking value (at least for the as tested vehicle), Audi in third for being the jack of all trades but master of none, and Mercedes in fourth for its lack of driving dynamics and frustrating infotainment.

One thing to take note is that the X5 tested is likely lacking dynamic options such as DHP, M-Sport, etc. so comments about the driving dynamics are for the car in its "base" form with no options to enhance the experience.

Here's the article -> https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...rsche-cayenne/

[AndroidRobot]

without reading it I know C&D will favor the Cayenne, then BMW as for the rest I assume the Audi is last. This is just how they always are...

[MystroX5]

C/D is all over the place in priorities and how they “judge” what is important to them. They optioned (or lack of optioned) a X5 model to fail against the Cayenne. No M-Sport handling option and they fault it’s handling?? The only take away is how strong a base model X5 holds up to the competition with the base engine.
I just can’t find any of their reviews consistent enough to view their options credible or professional.
C/D isn’t the motoring press we had 30 years ago.

[Aimster82]

I love the previous generation cayenne but I am not a fan of everything touch with this new generation

[vangoose]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

C/D is all over the place in priorities and how they “judge” what is important to them. They optioned (or lack of optioned) a X5 model to fail against the Cayenne. No M-Sport handling option and they fault it’s handling?? The only take away is how strong a base model X5 holds up to the competition with the base engine.
I just can’t find any of their reviews consistent enough to view their options credible or professional.
C/D isn’t the motoring press we had 30 years ago.

You compare base cayenne and x5 without any performance and handling options, cayenne wins easily. When add all the options there the gap is significantly narrowed but cayenne still leads. For majority buys, they will not opt for all the performance and handling options. A base cayenne is a Cayenne but a base x5 without handling options is not a x5, if you understand what I say.

If you want gadgets get x5, if you want better driving dynamics get cayenne if you are willing to pay the price difference. If you want power get x5 50i because cayenne price makes no sense.

[alexder]

It was very curious that C/D 300-mile trip MPG was 13 mpg for all 3 cars, and Audi got 12. ( you can see that data if you click "View Final Scoring..." pdf button at the end of the article). I'm considering X5 and wondering what MPG it gets in real world driving (city and highway).

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by alexder

It was very curious that C/D 300-mile trip MPG was 13 mpg for all 3 cars, and Audi got 12. ( you can see that data if you click "View Final Scoring..." pdf button at the end of the article). I'm considering X5 and wondering what MPG it gets in real world driving (city and highway).

Remember in the article they said MPG on the cars would be very low due to the rigorous and heavy footed driving. They don't drive the vehicles like the everyday consumer would.

[alexder]

I see. I may have missed that part. Thanks for pointing it out. Makes more sense now.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Remember in the article they said MPG on the cars would be very low due to the rigorous and heavy footed driving. They don't drive the vehicles like the everyday consumer would.

I drive mine on the harder side (50i) mileage is usually low teens like 12-16mpg at best

[BMWBear]

So they compared three new models to the outgoing Q7?
That makes no sense. Why not wait a few months and do a valid comparison?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by alexder

I see. I may have missed that part. Thanks for pointing it out. Makes more sense now.

On our 4,986 mile vacation trip last month I got 25.3mpg. That was mostly highway driving between 78 and 83mph but of course quite a bit of slow city driving while at the various destinations.

[alexder]

That's a terrific MPG. Good to know

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by BYEIL

So they compared three new models to the outgoing Q7?
That makes no sense. Why not wait a few months and do a valid comparison?

This article was featured in the magazines months before, it just recently made its way online for those who aren't subscribed. The refreshed Q7 wasn't unveiled when this was written.

[Germanauto]

Extremely accurate review of the X5. It has the right sauce to be a dynamic suv, but BMW has removed much of the feel/fun factor from the car. This seems to be the consistent theme in reviews of all G chassis vehicles.

Anyhow, the Cayenne is overrated. Steering feel is better but still not great. It feels cramped inside, has questionable ergonomics, doesn’t have the best interior materials, and is very costly. Porsche nickles and dimes for everything and leases poorly.

My folks were deciding between both vehicles recently and opted for a loaded X5 M sport. It’s $400/mo cheaper to lease than a similarly optioned Cayenne. The Porsche wasn’t worth it.

[buze]

What annoys me is BMW's boring colors. Seriously, it's a luxury car, perhaps you could get something a bit better than 'slightly blue' and 'various shade of black/grey'. Quite frankly I did pick Artic Grey not because I like it, just because I couldn't really be bothered. Same with black interior. Whoohoo you get beige, maroon or black interior. How so very exciting.

Just on the front pic of that video, the Audi and merc have better characters than the stupid white X5.

[geddylee]

Good to know I am not the only one that things the steering in the new X5 sucks. It's better in the Q7 which is saying something. The rest of the X5 is a big improvement though.

[BMWBear]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

This article was featured in the magazines months before, it just recently made its way online for those who aren't subscribed. The refreshed Q7 wasn't unveiled when this was written.

At the bottom of the page.
From the August 2019 issue

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by BYEIL

At the bottom of the page.
From the August 2019 issue

Car Magazines typically release their magazines earlier than the month on the actual magazine, like 2020 cars coming out in 2019, a magazine branded August can come to mailboxes in July. Also the website featured two separate comparisons featuring the GLE vs X5 and Cayenne vs Q7 featuring the same photos and test vehicles in early July,... anyways the point is, the comparison was written and done before the refreshed Q7 was revealed

[BMWBear]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Car Magazines typically release their magazines earlier than the month on the actual magazine, like 2020 cars coming out in 2019, a magazine branded August can come to mailboxes in July. Also the website featured two separate comparisons featuring the GLE vs X5 and Cayenne vs Q7 featuring the same photos and test vehicles in early July,... anyways the point is, the comparison was written and done before the refreshed Q7 was revealed

I’m well aware of how it works. You initially said the article was “featured months before” which was wrong. It’s been public information for months that the Q7 refresh would be released in the 3rd quarter of this year. To me this article has no value without an even playing field.
Even so articles like are nothing but opinion and would not sway me to one brand more than the other. It’s more entertainment then informative in most cases.

[Paladin1]

Based on comments in the article, the refreshed Q7 could only get worse in their review. Driving dynamics are almost the same, with the exception of the newly introduced turbo lag in the 3.0, instead of a SC, coupled with exclusive touch screen controls which apparently they didn't love in the GLE. It does have a slightly more svelte profile and some changes in the exterior tin.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by BYEIL

I’m well aware of how it works. You initially said the article was “featured months before” which was wrong. It’s been public information for months that the Q7 refresh would be released in the 3rd quarter of this year. To me this article has no value without an even playing field.
Even so articles like are nothing but opinion and would not sway me to one brand more than the other. It’s more entertainment then informative in most cases.

let's face it, the Audi isn't going to move up the list, at best it'll remain #3, but it's likely to fade to #4

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

On our 4,986 mile vacation trip last month I got 25.3mpg. That was mostly highway driving between 78 and 83mph but of course quite a bit of slow city driving while at the various destinations.

I drove from PCD in Spartanburg, SC to California and averaged 26mpg. Just duplicated this mileage on a 400 mile trip to LA. Around town I'm getting around 20 MPG. Not bad at all for a big heavy car.