Compare the2023 BMW 4 Series CoupeVS 2023 Porsche 911

The 4 Series Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 911 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 4 Series Coupe has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 911 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 4 Series Coupe has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 911 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 4 Series Coupe 440i offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 911 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 4 Series Coupe’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 911.

The 4 Series Coupe has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the 911’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 4 Series Coupe’s standard Cross Traffic Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The 911 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The 4 Series Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 911 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 4 Series Coupe and the 911 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Coupe for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the 911 (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 80 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 4 Series Coupe’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 4 Series Coupe’s reliability 28 points higher than the 911.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Coupe third among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The 911 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the 4 Series Coupe gets better mileage than the 911 Coupe:

Regenerative brakes improve the 4 Series Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 911 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 4 Series Coupe higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Porsche 911 (3 to 5). This means the 4 Series Coupe produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 911 every 15,000 miles.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 Series Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 911 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 4 Series Coupe’s wheelbase is 15.7 inches longer than on the 911 (112.2 inches vs. 96.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 4 Series Coupe is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 911.

The 4 Series Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the 911’s (39.5% to 60.5%). This gives the 4 Series Coupe more stable handling and braking.

The design of the BMW 4 Series Coupe amounts to more than styling. The 4 Series Coupe offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .25 to .3 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the 911 (.31 to .33). A more efficient exterior helps the 4 Series Coupe go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the 4 Series Coupe get better fuel mileage.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 4 Series Coupe a Subcompact car, while the 911 Coupe is rated a Minicompact.

The 4 Series Coupe has 13 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 911 (86 vs. 73).

The 4 Series Coupe has .1 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 7.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the 911.

The 4 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the 911 Coupe with its rear seat up (12 vs. 4.6 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 4 Series Coupe’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 911 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 4 Series offers cargo security. The 911’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 4 Series Coupe offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just waving your foot, completely leaving your hands free. The 911 doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The 4 Series Coupe offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 911 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 4 Series Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 911 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the 4 Series Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 911 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 4 Series Coupe has standard extendable sun visors. The 911 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 4 Series offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 911 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Porsche 911 isn’t available as a four door.

Insurance will cost less for the 4 Series Coupe owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 4 Series Coupe will cost $3285 to $12810 less than the 911 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW 4 Series Coupe will be $37912 to $104166 less than for the Porsche 911.

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Porsche 911 by almost five to one during 2022.