I am mixed on the Cayenne interior. It is more fancy or high tech looking but not as clean and functional. Way too many buttons on the console. Plus you can't get the nice color combos as in the X5. Maybe I am just used to the BMW style but I definitely prefer it.

I want to drive the S model but it would end up being a lot more pricey than the X5 50i. $5k-$10k more to start (nicely equipped) plus the lease rate plus the maintenance costs plus the shocking turn in fee.

I drive my x5 and my parent's cayenne S titanium edition. Talking about handling I would go with the x5 no doubt. The Cayenne S is an awesome car to drive, both SUVs are awesome, if you are looking to save up more gas go with the bimmer. The X5 is more comfortable than the porsche and I have the sport package with sport suspension package. Otherwise, Porsche is a Porsche if you know what I mean...

You can feel the power on the Porsche a bit more than the x5 even though both automatic drive, there is more kick on the Porsche and stiffness on the road. On the other hand, the x5 holds the road better.

Service will be more expensive to you on the porsche, especially when the bimmer have extended warranty which covers for you almost everything except w&t.

My opinion in total is the BMW it wins it by couple more points :D

I have to agree with you. Porsche has never really done anything for me interior wise, with a few exceptions. The 911's in particular have always looked about 5 years older on the interior than they have on the exterior.

That's not really saying much given the evolutionary style of the 911.:D

Yeah, although I like the 911, none of those designers have been very busy over the years.

I agree that there are a lot of buttons in the Cayenne, but they are actually quite logical and easy to use. Having said that, I do prefer the simplicity of iDrive, but I do think the lines of the Porsche interior are more pleasing than the X5s. As I look at the pictures you posted, I think it may be how the center console extends then blends with the dash that I find most pleasing. I feel the interior is more welcoming than the BMW interior. Obviously a personal preference.

The Porsche looks like an airplane cockpit! Seems like it makes you feel like your in control of the vehicle, ready for take off.

Just eyeballing it--seems to me the X5 is wider on the inside.

I was near the local dealer the other day and saw one parked outside. It was outside of regular hours, but went over and took at look at it. Is it just me, but for those who have seen the new Cayenne in person, is the cargo area as small as it looks? In the X5, I can get a German Shepher in their in a pinch, but I wouldn't try it in the Cayenne.

I tried to build one on their website, and Porsche's is way out to lunch on their prices. If they could be less myopic in their sales approach, they may realize that they could probably have even more sales if they offered packages a la BMW which gave you your popular options.

Ridiculous.

X5 35d on order, Azurite Black on Oyster Leather/Bamboo with the sports package/20's.

Like the clean look of the X5. More of this time and age. No need for all those buttons. And what's with the hand grip on the mid console? Same as the Benz. Never got that concept. Putting cup holders that far back does not really work (as it was on my Touareg).

If I would spend more than $120000 on a car I would not like to buy something something you see at every corner with a different badge (VW / Audi).