Luxury Meets Perfection

Porsche Macan vs. BMW X4

Drivers looking for a roomy SUV with sports car handling should look no further than the 2021 Porsche Macan and 2021 BMW X4. Both compact luxury SUVs offer similar performance and power with attractive exteriors and comfortable interiors. However, they have subtle differences that make one vehicle better than the other.

German-engineered Power and Performance

When looking at the performance features between the 2021 Porsche Macan vs. BMW X4, the most notable difference is the torque. Both vehicles have 258 horsepower, but the Macan has more torque at 273 lb-ft compared to the 258 lb-ft in the BMW.

Both vehicles have standard 2.0L inline four-cylinder engines with turbocharging. The Porsche has a seven-speed transmission, and the BMW has an eight-speed transmission. Both vehicles have all-wheel drive. Despite both vehicles having all-wheel drive, they still get decent fuel economy. The BMW has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 23/29 MPG while the Porsche has an EPA-estimate economy of 19/23. The difference is due to the eighth gear on the BMW.

Sporty Exterior with Luxuriously-Appointed Interior

The Porsche Macan has an aggressive and attractive low profile, making it look more like a sports car than an SUV. But, the roomy interior shows that it truly is a compact SUV. The BMW X4 also has a low profile with a sloping rear roofline. The X4 is quite similar in size and style to the BMW X3, except for the rear design, and with the unique rear angles, BMW refers to the X4 as a sports-activity coupe, rather than the commonly accepted moniker of sports-utility vehicle.

Porsche puts 18-inch wheels on the Macan, while BMW puts beefier 19-inch wheels on the X4. The base Macan comes with front and rear seats trimmed in leather, while the BMW comes standard with SensaTec upholstery with leather as an option. The Macan has rear seats that have a 40/20/40 folding configuration, and so does the BMW. Porsche has an optional sunroof for the Macan, while BMW puts a panoramic sunroof in all of the X4 models.

Standard and Available Safety Features

Porsche offers several safety packages with driver-assist technology for the Macan. Key safety features that come standard on the base Macan includes Lane Departure Warning, Park Assist, Cruise Control, and Hill Control. Available safety features include Adaptive Cruise and Automated Emergency Braking.

BMW includes several standard safety features, like Forward Collision Warning with Automated Emergency Braking, Lane Departure with Lane-Keep Assist, and Active Blind Spot Detection. Adaptive Cruise Control is available. Neither vehicle has been tested by the IIHS, so no ratings are available.

Both vehicles are loaded with airbags and other standard safety features like alarm systems, LATCH for child safety seats, and seatbelt pretensioners. They also both come with LED headlights, taillights, and accessory lights for added safety on the road during the day and night.

Infotainment Technology

As cabin technology is important to today’s drivers, both German automakers loaded up their compact SUVs with infotainment tech. The Porsche has four USB-C ports in the cabin, while the BMW comes standard with two.

BMW loads their X4 models with the Live Cockpit Professional features. They include a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch center infotainment display, which both work via voice, touchscreen, and touchpad. The features also include a Head-Up Display, Navigation, Bluetooth, and Cloud-based navigation updates.

Porsche includes their Porsche Communication Management system with navigation, audio interfaces, and voice control with an online navigation module and wireless internet access. The Macan comes with the Sound Package Plus with 10 speakers and a 10.9-inch infotainment display that is MP3 compatible. The Macan technology includes wireless Apple CarPlay with Siri.

Sports-car Handling on the Well-Equipped Macan

At Capital Porsche, we are proud to feature the full lineup of Porsche vehicles. From the iconic 911 to the sporty and practical Macan and Cayenne, the Porsche lineup is designed for performance and versatility. When it comes to the argument between the 2021 Porsche Macan vs. BMW X4, we strongly believe that the Macan is at the top of the list. The aggressive styling, sports-car handling, and well-equipped cabin put the Macan ahead of any competitor.

We invite you to visit our experienced sales staff at Capital Porsche so you can see the Macan for yourself and take one for a test drive. We’re confident you’ll find the Macan exceeds your expectations for a luxury sports SUV with Porsche engineering.