Porsche Cayenne Coupe v BMW X6 2023 Comparison

The 2023 BMW X6 xDrive40i lining up here is priced from $144,900 plus on-road costs, while the Porsche Cayenne Coupe opens at $146,700 plus ORCs.

Tested in their entry-level form, it’s the BMW X6 that holds an $1800 price advantage over the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. In relative prestige terms, there’s not much in it.

As tested, however, the gap significantly widens. Allow yourself to be seduced by the eye-watering options lists and you will pay well north of those list prices.

The as-tested price for our BMW X6 comes in at $155,600 plus ORCs, and the Porsche Cayenne Coupe moves considerably upmarket to $187,410 plus ORCs.

The bulk of those ‘extras’ lie with visual treats rather than performance-enhancing additions – style over substance.

Both the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe and BMW X6 xDrive40i start their respective line-ups with a prestige-worthy equipment list as standard.

The BMW’s highlights include active LED headlights with high beam assist, adaptive M Suspension, ambient interior lighting, keyless entry/start, heated electric leather seats with memory function for the driver, a panoramic sunroof and M Sport brakes.

Then there’s the Enhancement Package ($6000) that includes 22-inch wheels, tyre pressure monitoring, a Harman Kardon 16-speaker stereo and fancy ‘Crafted Clarity’ glass for some interior buttons and switches. The M Sport Pro package ($3000) adds various wannabe M accoutrements, while the Interior Trim package ($1700) includes copious levels of carbon-fibre.

As standard, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe features LED lighting front and rear, keyless entry/start, eight-way adjustable heated electric front seats with memory function for the driver, a fixed glass sunroof and dual-zone climate control.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe’s options list stretches further, the most notable inclusions being 22-inch exclusive design sport wheels ($10,510) and two-tone, smooth-finish leather in black and crayon ($8170).

The M Brooklyn Grey metallic finish on the BMW X6 is a no-cost option, while the Montego Blue metallic on the Cayenne will set you back $2420.

The BMW is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and service intervals are 12 months or 16,000km. Over the first five years or 80,000km you’ll spend $2750 at the service department.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe falls short with its three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty but has a similar service schedule of 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Porsche has some of the most expensive servicing in the business with an annual $895 oil change and $1500 biennial inspection, while a number of other service items (spark plugs, gear oil, etc) are required within the first five years. All up, the bill is almost $10,000.

Both vehicles come with three years’ roadside assistance.

The 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe and BMW X6 xDrive40i are packed with intelligent safety equipment as standard.

Features common to both include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and parking assistants.

While neither vehicle has an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, maximum five-star Euro NCAP ratings for their wagon siblings – albeit dating back to 2017 for the Cayenne and 2018 for the X5 – suggest these two would have produced similar results under the assessment protocols of the time.

At the forefront of in-car technology are high-definition and highly customisable dual screens for infotainment and instrumentation display and neither the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe nor BMW X6 xDrive40i disappoint.

These rivals are home to similar technology, but the execution presents in quite different ways.

The usual suspects common to both include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AM/FM/DAB radio, 3D-style surround-view cameras, satellite navigation, a configurable head-up display, 12-volt outlets and multiple USB-C points as well as USB-A for the BMW.

The BMW X6 wins for its bigger, bolder design and in-depth functionality. Its 12.3-inch instrument display is highly configurable and presents the usual in-car info including augmented-reality satellite navigation directions.

The 14.9-inch infotainment screen is equally impressive, home to BMW’s Operating System 8 which comes to life through the familiar iDrive interface.

The latest Cayenne Coupe features a new cockpit design with its dual screens comprising a 12.6-inch curved instrumentation display from the Taycan EV with customisable views that pairs with a separate 12.3-inch infotainment touch-screen.

There’s less pomp and ceremony to the Porsche’s interior, opting for a low-key subtlety to its design. If you’re familiar with the Volkswagen/Audi group’s pared-back design aesthetic, the roots are obvious.

When it comes to accessing the vast amount of technology at hand, both vehicles allow a combination of touch-screen, dials, shortcut buttons, multifunction steering wheel controls and voice command.

All bases are covered and for the most part it’s intuitive. A relatively short time behind the wheel allowed us to only scratch the surface of the broad functionality and driver profile personalisation, things you should definitely dive into as an owner.

It’s the X6 that edges ahead in this area, with a little more kit and a lot more theatre.

A turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine sits beneath the bonnet of the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe and BMW X6 xDrive40i, but any assumptions based off the on-paper credentials will lead you astray.

The BMW X6 is powered by a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 280kW and 520Nm. It sends power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe also uses a 3.0-litre engine, but its turbo-petrol V6 produces 260kW and 500Nm. Like the X6, it sends power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

The X6’s extra power shows itself in straight-line speed, moving from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.4sec, compared to 5.7sec in the Cayenne Coupe.

On paper, it’s the inline six of the 2023 BMW X6 xDrive40i that reads slightly more fuel efficient than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe’s V6, with 9.3L/100km a tad better than 10.4L/100km – neither of which were achieved on a test day that was far from an economy run.

Hardly surprising.

The 2023 BMW X6 xDrive40i feels smooth and sophisticated from the get-go. It has a quiet confidence about the way it handles, and yet that inline turbocharged six-cylinder is bullish.

With a flex of your right foot you’re quickly rewarded. Throttle response is excellent and power and pace are immediate. Slip the X6 into Sport mode and it simply gets better – sharper and more responsive to input.

It’s a rather large footprint at hand and there’s a bit of body roll as you push through the bends, but perhaps the greatest criticism of the X6 is its steering. It needs to be crisper and offer more feedback.

Thankfully, it’s just as handy around in low-speed suburbs, where large SUVs spend a lot of their time. The X6 is an excellent all-rounder and comfort levels are great.

Conversely, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe feels sportier. From the moment you sit behind the wheel, you’re positioned low and deep in the cockpit compared to the high perch in the BMW.

The Cayenne has far more feel through the steering, too. You can push the Cayenne with great accuracy and confidence, particularly at higher speeds.

Its handling and dynamics are better – it sits flatter through the corners and offers a far more communicative drive experience. Enthusiast levels of input are required, which is a key differentiator between these two rivals.

Overall, however, the Cayenne’s V6 presents as less eager than the BMW X6. It feels slower and less punchy when you put your foot down and its suspension is not quite as forgiving as the X6 – it struggles to quell the road bumps and imperfections in the way the softly-sprung BMW X6 does.

We also expected the Cayenne to have the better soundtrack, but it doesn’t, it’s the X6 that also brings auditory delight on this test. The Cayenne feels more subdued and understated from its grille to its exhaust pipes.

A common curse with the coupe-SUV body style is poor rearward vision. Good camera technology is a welcome addition in this regard.

They’re as different inside as they are to drive. The 2023 BMW X6 xDrive40i is arguably the more over-the-top of the two.

The X6 looks and feels luxurious. Every surface and touchpoint are flanked by carbon-fibre (optional), high gloss plastics and supple tan leather.

The crystal-like glass gear-shift and iDrive controller are straight out of a ‘Real Housewives’ set and yet that curved screen remains the hero.

Considering their sizeable footprints, neither vehicle maximises front-of-cabin functionality or storage solutions, only catering to small-oddment storage, phone stowage and dual cup holders.

Conversely, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe delivers a far more subdued interior vibe. It’s a lesson in both design restraint and sensible functionality – in particular, its fast and easy access to climate control.

The X6 requires some digging and patience. The Cayenne’s two-tone leather is super-classy and its steering wheel outdoes the BMW’s in terms of look and feel.

The Cayenne Coupe’s form-fitting moulded seats are not quite as comfortable as the BMW’s, and with a little less adjustability (fixed head restraints).

The BMW also has the more spacious (slightly wider) and more comfortable second row of seating. Its flatter bench-like seat base is more suitable for three passengers, whereas the Cayenne’s individually moulded seats render the middle seat the least desirable by a long shot.

Headroom and legroom inside both coupe-style SUVs remain lineball.

Second-row amenity is similar, but not amazing given the price tags at play. The BMW has manual temperature control, a 12-volt socket and USB-C ports located in the tablet holder fittings on the seat backs.

Standard kit sees no climate control in the Cayenne, but ours is optioned with the quad-zone climate system.

Both vehicles have hands-free opening electric tailgates, but the BMW has better functionality – a folding cargo cover and gas strut to lift the boot floor.

Official cargo capacities favour the Porsche’s 592 litres to the BMW’s 580L. Added cargo capacity and flexibility is on offer with 40/20/40-split folding rear seats.

The 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe arguably brings the more coveted badge and a truly engaging sports car experience… for an SUV.

There’s a level of enthusiast-approved involvement to the Porsche Cayenne Coupe that differentiates it from the BMW X6 – the kind that Porsche drivers will welcome.

It’s the BMW X6, however, that brings a better balance and all-round suitability for this market.

Its inline six-cylinder is the better engine of the two and it takes the win for overall packaging and price, with or without the ostentatious options.

2023 BMW X6 xDrive40i M Sport at a glance:
Price: $144,900 (plus on-road costs); $155,600 (+ORCs) as tested
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 280kW/520Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 211g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe at a glance:
Price: $146,700 (plus on-road costs); $187,410 (+ORCs) as tested
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 260kW/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 214g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested