Compare the2023 Porsche PanameraVS 2023 Audi RS 7

Both the Panamera and the RS 7 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, night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 99 more horsepower (690 vs. 591) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (641 vs. 590) than the RS 7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the RS 7:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RS 7:

The Panamera can travel with zero emissions for 17 to 19 miles (dependent on model). The RS 7 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 7 (21.1 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 7 (23.7 vs. 19.3 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 RS 7 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the RS 7:

For better traction and acceleration, the Panamera has larger standard rear tires than the RS 7 (295/40R19 vs. 275/35R21). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the RS 7 (325/30R21 vs. 285/30R22).

The Panamera 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 RS 7 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Panamera offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the RS 7.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is .8 inches longer than on the RS 7 (116.1 inches vs. 115.3 inches). The Panamera Executive’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the RS 7 (122 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

The Panamera’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the RS 7’s (56.1% to 43.9%). This gives the Panamera more stable handling and braking.

The Panamera GTS handles at 1.02 G’s, while the RS 7 pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Panamera w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the RS 7’s (37.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Porsche Panamera may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 650 pounds less than the Audi RS 7.

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 RS 7 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Panamera offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RS 7 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Panamera Sedan a Large car, while the RS 7 is rated a Mid-size.

The Panamera has 1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 7 (96 vs. 95).

The Panamera has 1 inch more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room and .9 inches more rear headroom than the RS 7.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Panamera’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RS 7 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

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 RS 7 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 RS 7 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The RS 7’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Panamera’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the Panamera (except Sport Turismo) and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the Panamera to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RS 7 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Panamera’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The RS 7 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Panamera and the RS 7 offer optional massaging front seats. The Panamera also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the RS 7.

The Panamera Sport Turismo offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The RS 7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Porsche Panamera comes in four door hatchback and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi RS 7 isn’t available as a station wagon.

The Panamera is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The RS 7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Porsche Panamera outsold the Audi A7/S7/RS 7 by 32% during 2022.