Compare the2023 Porsche PanameraVS 2023 BMW M5

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 M5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Panamera and M5 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 M5’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 M5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Panamera and the M5 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 Turbo S E-Hybrid’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 73 more horsepower (690 vs. 617) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (641 vs. 553) than the M5 Competition’s optional 4.4 turbo V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the M5:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the M5:

The Panamera can travel with zero emissions for 17 to 19 miles (dependent on model). The M5 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 M5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the M5 (21.1 vs. 20.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the M5 (23.7 vs. 20.1 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 M5 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 M5:

The Panamera stops shorter than the M5:

For better traction and acceleration, the Panamera has larger standard rear tires than the M5 (295/40R19 vs. 285/40R19). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the M5 (325/30R21 vs. 285/40R19).

The Panamera’s optional 315/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M5’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Panamera offers optional 21-inch wheels. The M5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

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 M5 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. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the M5.

The Panamera has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The M5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the M5.

The Panamera’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the M5’s (54.4% to 45.6%). This gives the Panamera more stable handling and braking.

The Panamera GTS handles at 1.02 G’s, while the M5 Competition pulls only .97 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 3.9 feet tighter than the M5’s (37.4 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Panamera Executive’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the M5’s (40.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

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 M5 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 M5 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 M5 is rated a Mid-size.

The Panamera Sport Turismo has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the M5 (108 vs. 103).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The M5’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Panamera has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the M5 (17.6 vs. 14 cubic feet).

The Panamera Sport Turismo has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the M5 (18.3 vs. 14 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Panamera’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The M5 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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 M5 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 M5 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 M5 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Panamera and the M5 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 M5.

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 M5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Porsche Panamera comes in four door hatchback and station wagon bodystyles; the BMW M5 isn’t available as a station wagon.

The Panamera is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The M5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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 M5 only retains 45.21% to 46.37%.