Compare the2024 Ford BroncoVS 2024 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Bronco have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Bronco. But it costs extra on the X5.

Both the Bronco and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Bronco 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco’s warranty.

The Bronco has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The X5 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

On the EPA test cycle the Bronco 4-Door gets better mileage than the X5 running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Bronco uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X5 M60i xDrive requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Bronco has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Bronco offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The X5 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Bronco, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X5.

For better traction, the Bronco Raptor’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X5 (37 x 12.5R17 vs. 275/40R21).

The Ford Bronco’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Bronco has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Bronco’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The X5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X5.

For better maneuverability, the Bronco 2-Door’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the X5 M60i xDrive’s (35.5 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The Bronco 4-Door Sasquatch’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the X5’s (39.9 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Ford Bronco may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 600 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The Bronco 4-Door is 4.8 inches shorter than the X5, making the Bronco easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X5 with its rear seat up (38.3 vs. 33.9 cubic feet). The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X5 with its rear seat folded (83 vs. 72.3 cubic feet).

The Bronco 4-Door’s optional sliding cargo floor makes loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The X5 doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

The Bronco can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Bronco can be unhitched and driven around locally. The X5 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Bronco, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the X5.

The Bronco has a higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1100 vs. 1054 lbs.).

The Bronco has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 (1452 vs. 1193 lbs.).

The Bronco’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Bronco’s available exterior PIN entry system. The X5 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Bronco offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Ford Bronco comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the BMW X5 isn’t available as a soft top.

The Bronco was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The X5 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Bronco as the 2022 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The X5 has never been chosen.

The Ford Bronco outsold the BMW X5 by 42% during 2022.