Compare the2025 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2025 Porsche Panamera

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 Panamera 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the 7 Series 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, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series 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 73 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 7 Series’ warranty.

As tested in Car and Driver the 760i 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Porsche Panamera turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Panamera running its gasoline engine:

The 750e can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The Panamera can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The 7 Series stops shorter than the Panamera:

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

The 7 Series 750e/760i 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 Panamera doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 10.5 inches longer than on the Panamera (126.6 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The front grille of the 7 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 Panamera doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

The 7 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Panamera 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 Panamera’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 Panamera doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the BMW 7 Series and the Porsche Panamera have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the rear seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the 7 Series also offers an optional wireless charging system in the rear seat. The Panamera does not.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Porsche Panamera by 78% during 2024.