Compare the2023 Porsche PanameraVS 2023 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Porsche Panamera are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Panamera and 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 8 Series Gran Coupe’s 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.

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 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Panamera and the 8 Series Gran Coupe 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

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 BMW 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, BMW is rated lower.

The Panamera has more powerful engines than the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

As tested in Motor Trend the Panamera 4S 2.9 turbo V6 is faster than the 840i Gran Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder:

As tested in Motor Trend the Panamera GTS 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the 840i Gran Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

The Panamera can travel with zero emissions for 17 to 19 miles (dependent on model). The 8 Series Gran Coupe can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Panamera Turbo/GTS’ fuel efficiency. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (21.1 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 5.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (23.7 vs. 18 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 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Panamera Turbo S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

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 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the 8 Series Gran Coupe:

For better traction, the Panamera has larger standard tires than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (F:265/45R19 & R:295/40R19 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 8 Series Gran Coupe (F:275/35R21 & R:325/30R21 vs. F:245/35R21 & R:285/30R21).

The Panamera has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 1.4 inches wider in the front than the average track on the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

The Panamera GTS handles at 1.05 G’s, while the 840i Gran Coupe xDrive pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Panamera GTS executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the 840i Gran Coupe xDrive (23.7 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 25.1 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Panamera’s turning circle is tighter than the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s:

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 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 8 Series Gran Coupe is rated a Mid-size.

The Panamera Sport Turismo has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (108 vs. 100).

The Panamera has .9 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear headroom than the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Panamera has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (17.6 vs. 15.5 cubic feet).

The Panamera Sport Turismo has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the 8 Series Gran Coupe (18.3 vs. 15.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 13% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

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 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Panamera’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Panamera has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Panamera offers optional massaging front and rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 8 Series Gran Coupe.

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 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 8 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Panamera will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Panamera will retain 45.4% to 94.99% of its original price after five years, while the 8 Series Gran Coupe only retains 41.33% to 47.39%.