Compare the2022 Porsche 911VS 2021 Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet

The 911 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the 911 and the S-Class Cabriolet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, night vision systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the S-Class Cabriolet’s (12 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche 15th in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 11 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The 911 GTS’ standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (473 vs. 463) than the S-Class Cabriolet’s 4.0 turbo V8. The 911 GT3’s standard 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder produces 39 more horsepower (502 vs. 463) than the S-Class Cabriolet’s 4.0 turbo V8. The 911 Turbo S’ standard 3.7 turbo 6-cylinder produces 177 more horsepower (640 vs. 463) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 516) than the S-Class Cabriolet’s 4.0 turbo V8.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The 911’s optional fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the S-Class Cabriolet (23.7 vs. 21.1 gallons).

The 911 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 911 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 S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer an SMG.

All wheel drive, available in the 911, 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 Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet is not available with all wheel drive.

The 911’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 S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 911 Turbo S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the S-Class Cabriolet:

The 911 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 S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the S-Class Cabriolet:

For better traction, the 911 Turbo S/GT3’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S-Class Cabriolet (F:255/35R20 & R:315/30R21 vs. F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19).

The 911’s standard 235/40R19 front and 295/35R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S 560 Cabriolet’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The 911’s optional 245/35R20 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the S-Class Cabriolet’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the S 560 Cabriolet. The 911’s optional 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the S-Class Cabriolet.

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better maneuverability, the 911 GT3’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the S 560 Cabriolet’s (34.1 feet vs. 38 feet). The 911’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the S 560 Cabriolet’s (36.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1650 pounds less than the Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet.

The 911 is 1 foot, 8.2 inches shorter than the S-Class Cabriolet, making the 911 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 911 has .2 inches more front headroom and .5 inches more front legroom than the S-Class Cabriolet.

The 911’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The S-Class Cabriolet doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 6th.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S-Class Cabriolet’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Porsche 911 outsold the Mercedes S-Class by 251 units during 2020.