The availability of various global thermospheric models allows intercomparisons to be made for identical geophysical conditions. Solar activity effect, geomagnetic effect, diurnal variation, annual variation and latitudinal-seasonal dependence are analyzed in four semi-empirical models, viz. DTM, MSIS, ESRO 4 and J77. Emphasis is given to the discrepancies between the models, and some direct comparisons are made with satellite drag data and micro-accelerometer results. None of the semiempirical models can represent correctly all geophysical aspects of the terrestrial thermosphere.