Compare the2022 BMW 4 Series CoupeVS 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman

The 4 Series Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 4 Series Coupe’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 4 Series Coupe has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 4 Series Coupe offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 4 Series Coupe offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 4 Series Coupe’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The 4 Series Coupe has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the 718 Cayman’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 4 Series Coupe’s standard cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The 4 Series Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 4 Series Coupe and the 718 Cayman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Coupe for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the 718 Cayman (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 81 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 4 Series Coupe’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is ranked 24th.

The 4 Series Coupe has more powerful engines than the 718 Cayman:

As tested in Car and Driver the M440i Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Porsche 718 Cayman turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the 4 Series Coupe gets better mileage than the 718 Cayman:

Both the 4 Series Coupe and the 718 Cayman have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All 4 Series Coupes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The 4 Series Coupe has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the 718 Cayman’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 4 Series Coupe higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Porsche 718 Cayman (1). This means the 4 Series Coupe produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 718 Cayman every 15,000 miles.

The BMW 4 Series Coupe comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the 718 Cayman.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 4 Series Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the 718 Cayman.

All wheel drive, available in the 4 Series Coupe, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Porsche 718 Cayman is not available with all wheel drive.

The 4 Series Coupe stops shorter than the 718 Cayman:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 Series Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 4 Series Coupe’s wheelbase is 14.8 inches longer than on the 718 Cayman (112.2 inches vs. 97.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 4 Series Coupe is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 718 Cayman.

The 4 Series Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the 718 Cayman’s (44.7% to 55.3%). This gives the 4 Series Coupe more stable handling and braking.

The design of the BMW 4 Series Coupe amounts to more than styling. The 4 Series Coupe offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .25 to .3 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the 718 Cayman (.3 to .34). A more efficient exterior helps the 4 Series Coupe go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the 4 Series Coupe get better fuel mileage.

The 4 Series Coupe has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 718 Cayman can only carry 2.

The 4 Series Coupe has 38 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 718 Cayman (86 vs. 48).

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 4 Series offers cargo security. The 718 Cayman’s hatchback body style and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 4 Series Coupe offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just waving your foot, completely leaving your hands free. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The 4 Series Coupe offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 4 Series Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the 4 Series Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 718 Cayman can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 4 Series Coupe’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 718 Cayman’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 4 Series Coupe has standard extendable sun visors. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Porsche 718 isn’t available as a four door.