A perennial favorite on the luxury sedan list for a long time, BMW is turning heads in the luxury SUV market as well. A top performer on BMW’s 2021 SUV lineup, which has gained considerable attention among auto critics is its midsize offering, the BMW X5. While working to top the midsize luxury SUV list in an era of green consciousness, BMW still offers a V8 in the X5 to satisfy those who value performance. This along with other features has allowed the 2021 X5 to outrank its German rivals.

The 2021 BMW X5 tops the midsize luxury SUV list

The BMW X5 scored a near-perfect 98 out of 100 on the Consumer Reports road test and scored 4.0 out of 5.0 on predicted owner satisfaction to set the tone of the 2021 review of this midsize luxury SUV. CR’s overall rating of 84 was enough to push it to the top of the midsize luxury SUV class, which includes 29 rivals. Its closest competitor in the class was the 2021 Lexus RX L with a score of 82.

Highlights noted by CR critics were the X5’s ride, quietness, acceleration, transmission, braking, and seating comfort, which earned it an overall customer driving satisfaction score of 93 and a 92 customer comfort score. The 2021 X5 received an improved reliability rating over its 2020 model counterpart. The only weak spot in the overall rating of the X5 was the 34 out of 100 it received for value satisfaction.

The 2021 BMW X5 beat out all of its German rivals, which included the 2021 Porsche Cayenne, its closest competitor as well as the midsize SUV offerings from Audi and Mercedes.

How the 2021 BMW X5 beat out stiff German competition

Just like in the luxury sedan and luxury sports car markets, BMW has to beat out three fierce German rivals in the midsize luxury SUV market, including the Porsche Cayenne, the Audi Q7, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE. Comparing their Consumer Reports scores demonstrates dominance by BMW’s X5. CR’s overall scores showed the 2021 X5 with a score of 84 in order to nudge out the 2021 Porsche Cayenne with 81 while the 2021 Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE lagged well behind at 65 and 43, respectively.

The Audi Q7 was second in line with 92 points on its road test behind the X5’s score of 98, while the Cayenne lagged behind with 87 and the GLE came up well short with 80 points. These driving performance scores reflect the acceleration, transmission, routing/emergency handling, and braking. The BMW X5 stood out in acceleration, transmission, and braking with perfect scores while each of the other rivals had perfect scores in only one of these categories.

German rivals to the BMW X5 in the midsize luxury SUV class made up some ground in various elements of the comfort category but were unable to significantly overtake the class leader. The same story repeats itself in the economy and emissions, and safety categories included in the Consumer Reports ratings.

The only chink in the armor of the 2021 BMW X5 CR rating was its 34 out of 100 score for value satisfaction. In this category, the Porsche Cayenne beat the X5 by one point while the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE came up short with 32 and 31 points. Consequently, there was not enough of a surge from BMW’s German rivals to make up the difference in this category either.

The German midsize luxury SUV competition falls short of the X5

Topping the midsize luxury SUV market represents a considerable accomplishment for the 2021 BMW X5. Perhaps more satisfying is the fact that the X5 overcame the class favorite Porsche Cayenne, and left the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GLE eating dust. Shoppers in the midsize luxury SUV market can look past all other offerings of German automakers to the 2021 BMW X5.