Compare the2024 BMW M8VS 2023 Porsche 911

The M8’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 M8 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 M8 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 M8 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the M8. But it costs extra on the 911.

The M8’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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M8’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 911 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The M8’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 M8 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 blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The BMW M8 weighs 505 to 1434 pounds more than the Porsche 911. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M8 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 M8’s warranty.

The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 238 more horsepower (617 vs. 379) and 222 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 331) than the 911’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 174 more horsepower (617 vs. 443) and 163 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 390) than the 911 S’ standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 144 more horsepower (617 vs. 473) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 420) than the 911 GTS/Dakar’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M8 is faster than the Porsche 911 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the M8 gets better mileage than the 911 Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the M8 gets better mileage than the 911 Cabriolet:

Regenerative brakes improve the M8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 911 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The M8 has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the 911’s standard fuel tank (20.1 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the M8’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 911:

For better traction, the M8 has larger front tires than the 911 (275/35R20 vs. 235/40R19). The M8’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 911 (275/35R20 vs. 255/35R20).

The M8’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 911 Dakar’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M8 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch front wheels are standard on the 911.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M8 Coupe/Convertible’s wheelbase is 14.8 inches longer than on the 911 (111.3 inches vs. 96.5 inches). The M8 Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 22.5 inches longer than on the 911 GT3 (119.2 inches vs. 96.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the M8 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 911.

The M8’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the 911’s (39.5% to 60.5%). This gives the M8 more stable handling and braking.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M8 Coupe a Subcompact car, while the 911 Coupe is rated a Minicompact.

The M8 Gran Coupe has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 911 can only carry 4.

The M8 Coupe has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 911 (81 vs. 73).

The M8 Coupe has 1 inch more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the 911 Coupe.

The M8 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the 911 Coupe with its rear seat up (14.8 vs. 4.6 cubic feet). The M8 has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the 911 Coupe with its rear seat folded (14.8 vs. 13.8 cubic feet).

The M8 Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the 911 Cabriolet with its top down (12.4 vs. 4.6 cubic feet). The M8 Convertible has a much larger trunk than the 911 Cabriolet with its top up (12.4 vs. 10.4 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M8’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 911 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its coupe, convertible or sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release in the glovebox, the M8 offers cargo security. The 911’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M8’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 911 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The M8 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 911 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The M8’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 911.

The M8 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 911 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The M8’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Porsche does not offer a locking feature on the 911’s standard power windows.

If the windows are left open on the M8 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 911 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Laser headlights, standard on the M8, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the 911’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the M8 Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 911 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Both the M8 and the 911 have standard heated front seats. The M8 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the 911.

The M8 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 911.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW M8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 911 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The BMW M8 comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Porsche 911 isn’t available as a sedan.