Compare the2024 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2023 Porsche Taycan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 7 Series are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taycan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The 7 Series has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Taycan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 7 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 Taycan 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 7 Series has a standard 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 Taycan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 7 Series xDrive’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Taycan doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The 7 Series 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 Taycan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 7 Series’ standard Cross Traffic Warning with braking function uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engage the brakes. The Taycan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The 7 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 Taycan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 7 Series and the Taycan 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Taycan (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

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 7 Series’ 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 7 Series’ reliability 20 points higher than the Taycan.

The 7 Series has more powerful engines than the Taycan:

As tested in Motor Trend the 740i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Taycan Performance Plus electric motor:

For more complete vehicle control the 7 Series has Steptronic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. Steptronic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Taycan doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 7 Series, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a 2-speed automatic is available for the Taycan.

For better stopping power the 7 Series’ standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Taycan:

The 7 Series stops shorter than the Taycan:

For better traction, the 7 Series has larger tires than the Taycan (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. F:225/55R19 & R:275/45R19).

The 7 Series’ standard 255/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Taycan’s standard 55 series front and 45 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 7 Series has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Taycan.

The front and rear suspension of the 7 Series uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Taycan, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The 7 Series has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The 7 Series’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Taycan doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 12.4 inches longer than on the Taycan (126.6 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For excellent aerodynamics, the 7 Series has standard flush composite headlights. The Taycan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The 7 Series has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 11.1 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Taycan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 7 Series’ available rear seats recline. The Taycan’s rear seats don’t recline.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release in the glovebox, the 7 Series offers cargo security. The Taycan’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The 7 Series’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Taycan.

If the windows are left open on the 7 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 Taycan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 7 Series’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Taycan’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 7 Series has standard extendable sun visors. The Taycan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the 7 Series to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Taycan doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the 7 Series’ passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Taycan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The 7 Series 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 Taycan.

Both the 7 Series and the Taycan offer optional massaging front seats. The 7 Series 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 Taycan.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Porsche Taycan by 202 units during 2022.