Compare the2024 BMW 8 Series Gran CoupeVS 2023 Porsche Panamera

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

The 8 Series Gran 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 Panamera 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Cross Traffic Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Panamera doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

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

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the Panamera 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 all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series Gran Coupe for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Panamera (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 8 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

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

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

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

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

For better stopping power the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Panamera:

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 Gran Coupe 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The 840i Gran Coupe’s standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Panamera’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Panamera (119 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 8 Series Gran Coupe is 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the Panamera.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Panamera (100 vs. 96).

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Panamera.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The Panamera’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Panamera.

If the windows are left open on the 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 Panamera can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Panamera.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Panamera doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The BMW 8 Series outsold the Porsche Panamera by over two to one during 2022.