Compare the2022 Porsche PanameraVS 2021 Lexus LS Series

Both the Panamera and LS Series have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Panamera has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The LS Series’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Panamera offers available whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The LS Series doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Panamera helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The LS Series doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Panamera and the LS Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The Panamera’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the LS Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

The Panamera has more powerful engines than the LS Series:

As tested in Motor Trend the Panamera 4S 2.9 turbo V6 is faster than the LS 500 3.4 turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the LS Series:

The Panamera 4S’ maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 19 miles, about 32 times as far as the LS 500h’s .6 mile range.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Panamera Turbo/GTS’ fuel efficiency. The LS Series doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Panamera’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the LS Series Hybrid.

Regardless of its engine, the Panamera’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the LS Series Hybrid.

The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the LS Series Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (23.7 vs. 22.2 gallons).

The Panamera offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The LS Series doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Panamera’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The LS Series doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Panamera Turbo S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the LS Series:

The Panamera offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The LS Series doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the LS Series:

For better traction, the Panamera has larger standard tires than the LS Series (F:265/45R19 & R:295/40R19 vs. 245/50R19). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the LS Series (F:275/35R21 & R:325/30R21 vs. F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20).

The Panamera’s standard 265/45R19 front and 295/40R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the LS Series’ standard 50 series tires. The Panamera’s optional 275/35R21 front and 315/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the LS Series 500 F Sport’s 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Panamera offers optional 21-inch wheels. The LS Series’ largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Panamera offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lexus doesn’t offer an active suspension on the LS Series.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the LS Series.

The Panamera 4S handles at 1.01 G’s, while the LS 500h AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Panamera Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.1 seconds quicker than the LS 500h AWD (23.9 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The Porsche Panamera may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 450 pounds less than the Lexus LS Series.

The Panamera is 7.3 inches shorter than the LS Series, making the Panamera easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Panamera Executive is 1.4 inches shorter than the LS Series.

The front grille of the Panamera uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The LS Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Panamera Sedan a Large car, while the LS Series is rated a Mid-size.

The Panamera Sport Turismo has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the LS Series (108 vs. 99.4).

The Panamera has .7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom and .7 inches more rear headroom than the LS Series.

The Panamera has a larger trunk with its rear seat up than the LS Series (17.6 vs. 17 cubic feet).

The Panamera Sport Turismo has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the LS Series (18.3 vs. 17 cubic feet).

The Panamera’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The LS Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Lexus. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in service department satisfaction. With a 4% lower rating, Lexus is ranked second.

The Panamera’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 LS Series does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear wiper. The LS Series doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Porsche Panamera has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The LS Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Porsche Panamera comes in four door hatchback and station wagon bodystyles; the Lexus LS Series isn’t available as a station wagon.

The Porsche Panamera outsold the Lexus LS Series by 7% during 2020.