Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2012 Porsche Panamera VS 2012 BMW 7 Near Scottsdale, AZ

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Porsche Panamera are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 7 Series doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Panamera and the 7 Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Panamera third among large premium cars in their 2011 Initial Quality Study. The 7 Series isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 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 fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 13th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 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 fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 21st.

The Panamera Turbo S’ 4.8 turbo V8 produces 15 more horsepower (550 vs. 535) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 550) than the 760Li’s optional 6.0 turbo V12.

As tested in Road & Track the Panamera Turbo S is faster than the 750i:

As tested in Road & Track the Panamera Turbo is faster than the 750i:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera S Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Active Hybrid 750i (22 city/30 hwy vs. 17 city/26 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera gets better fuel mileage than the 7 Series:

Regardless of its engine, the Panamera’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) BMW only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the 7 Series ActiveHybrid.

The Panamera S4/Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 7 Series (26.4 vs. 21.7 gallons).

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

The Panamera 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 7 Series doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the 7 Series:

For better traction, the Panamera’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 7 Series (F:255/40R20 & R:295/35R20 vs. F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19).

The Panamera S’ standard 275/45R18 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 7 Series’ standard 50 series tires. The Panamera’s optional 255/40R20 front and 295/35R20 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the 7 Series’ optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 1.9 inches wider in the front and .1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 7 Series.

The Panamera Turbo 4 handles at .97 G’s, while the 750Li pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Panamera goes through Road & Track’s slalom 4.8 MPH faster than the 750Li (71.2 vs. 66.4 MPH).

The Panamera S performs Car and Driver’s emergency lane change maneuver 9.3 MPH faster than the 750Li (69.1 vs. 59.8 MPH).

The Panamera Turbo 4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the 750Li (24.4 seconds @ .81 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Panamera’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 7 Series SWB’s (39.3 feet vs. 40 feet). The Panamera’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the ActiveHybrid 750Li’s (39.3 feet vs. 42.7 feet).

The Porsche Panamera may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 700 pounds less than the BMW 7 Series.

The Panamera is 4.2 inches shorter than the 750i, making the Panamera easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Panamera’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The 7 Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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

The Panamera’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge – which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The 7 Series has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear wiper. The 7 Series doesn’t offer a rear wiper.