Compare the2024 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2023 Ferrari Portofino

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The 8 Series’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Portofino doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 8 Series 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 Portofino doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 8 Series 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 Portofino 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 8 Series 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 Portofino doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 8 Series offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Portofino doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 8 Series’ 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 Portofino.

The 8 Series’ 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 Portofino doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series and the Portofino 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, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The 8 Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Portofino’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The 8 Series’ corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Portofino’s (12 vs. 3 years).

There are almost 8 times as many BMW dealers as there are Ferrari dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 8 Series’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series first among large premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Portofino isn’t in the top three in its category.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Convertible gets better mileage than the Portofino:

			MPG
8 Series Convertible
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		4.4 turbo V8	17 city/24 hwy
Portofino
	RWD	3.9 turbo V8	16 city/23 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Portofino doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Drivetrain

All wheel drive, available in the 8 Series, 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 Ferrari Portofino is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 8 Series’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Portofino:

	8 Series	Portofino
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	15.4 inches
Rear Rotors	15.7 inches	14.2 inches

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The 8 Series has a standard Brake Assistant to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Portofino doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Tires and Wheels

The 8 Series’ optional 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Portofino’s 35 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 8 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Portofino doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 8 Series M850i has 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 Portofino doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Ferrari doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Portofino.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 8 Series’ wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the Portofino (111.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the 8 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Portofino doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 8 Series Convertible a Subcompact car, while the Portofino is rated a Minicompact.

The 8 Series has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Portofino (81 vs. 75).

Cargo Capacity

The 8 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Portofino with its top down (12.4 vs. 5 cubic feet). The 8 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk than the Portofino with its top up (12.4 vs. 10.3 cubic feet).

The 8 Series’ standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Portofino’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 8 Series’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Portofino doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

The 8 Series has a standard 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 Portofino doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Portofino, the 8 Series has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 8 Series has a standard 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 Portofino doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 8 Series’ standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Portofino’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

If the windows are left open on the 8 Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Portofino can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Comfort Access standard on the 8 Series allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Ferrari Portofino’s Keyless Entry and Ignition doesn’t unlock the trunk.

On extremely cold winter days, the 8 Series’ standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Portofino doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the 8 Series has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Portofino doesn’t offer rear vents.

The 8 Series’ standard steering wheel mounted cruise control on/off switch is conveniently located with the rest of the cruise controls. The Portofino’s standard cruise control must be turned on with a hard to find switch on the dashboard.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 8 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Portofino doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 8 Series’ optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Portofino doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Ferrari Portofino isn’t available as a coupe or sedan.

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