Compare the2025 Jeep WranglerVS 2025 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler 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.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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

Both the Wrangler 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, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Wrangler is safer than the BMW X5:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Wrangler 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 7 times as many Jeep dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the X5 xDrive’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Jeep higher than BMW.

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The X5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Wrangler higher (6 out of 10) than the BMW X5 (4 to 6). This means the Wrangler produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 every 15,000 miles.

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

For better traction, the Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X5 (315/70R17 vs. 275/40R21).

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the X5 (118.4 inches vs. 117.1 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 4-door’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the X5 M60i xDrive’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (9.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler Rubicon 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 4.6 inches higher than on the X5 (12.9 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Jeep Wrangler may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 900 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The Wrangler 4-door is 5.8 inches shorter than the X5, making the Wrangler easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Wrangler easier. The Wrangler’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the X5’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The Wrangler 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 Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The X5 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Wrangler, using the Electronic Stability Control 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 Wrangler has a higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1218 vs. 1054 lbs.).

The Wrangler’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.

The Wrangler Rubicon/Willys/Sahara/High Altitude/Rubicon has a 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 Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the BMW X5 isn’t available as a soft top.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The X5 has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the BMW X5 by over two to one during 2024.