Compare the2024 Porsche 911VS 2024 BMW Z4

The 911 has standard head airbag curtains which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and front passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. The Z4 doesn't offer side airbag protection for the head.

The 911 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Z4 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Z4 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 911 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Z4 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the 911 and Z4 offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the 911 with Rear Cross Traffic Alert also has Rear Cross Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Z4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the 911 and the Z4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 second among premium sporty cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Z4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The 911 has more powerful engines than the Z4:

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche 911 is faster than the BMW Z4 (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The Z4 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The 911’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Z4 (16.9 vs. 13.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The 911’s optional fuel tank has 10 gallons more fuel capacity than the Z4 (23.7 vs. 13.7 gallons).

The 911 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The Z4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 911 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Z4 doesn’t offer an SMG.

All wheel drive, available in the 911, 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 BMW Z4 is not available with all wheel drive.

For better stopping power the 911 Turbo S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Z4:

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Z4 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the Z4:

For better traction, the 911 has larger standard tires than the Z4 (F:235/40R19 & R:295/35R20 vs. F:225/45R18 & R:255/40R18). The 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Z4 (F:275/30R20 & R:335/30R21 vs. F:255/35R19 & R:275/35R19).

The 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Z4’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Z4. The 911’s optional 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Z4.

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers 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 Z4 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better maneuverability, the 911 GT3’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Z4’s (34.1 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Z4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 911 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Z4 can only carry 2.

The 911 has 21 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Z4 (73 vs. 52).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 13% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

The 911’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Z4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The 911’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Z4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the 911 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Z4 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Garage Pilot will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Z4’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The Porsche 911 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the BMW Z4 isn’t available as a coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 first among premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Z4 isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche 911 outsold the BMW Z4 by over six to one during 2023.