Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2012 Porsche Panamera VS 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Near Scottsdale, AZ

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

The Panamera has standard parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The CTS-V doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Panamera and the CTS-V 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 and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The Panamera’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the CTS-V’s (10 vs. 6 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Panamera have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the CTS-V.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Panamera third among large premium cars in their 2011 Initial Quality Study. The CTS-V isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 9th.

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 Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 9th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Panamera Turbo is faster than the Cadillac CTS-V (automatics tested):

For more instantaneous acceleration and better engine flexibility in any gear, the Panamera’s engines produce their peak torque at lower RPM’s than the CTS-V:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera S Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the CTS-V Auto (22 city/30 hwy vs. 12 city/18 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera gets better fuel mileage than the CTS-V:

Regenerative brakes improve the Panamera V8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CTS-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Panamera’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The CTS-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the CTS-V (21.1 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera S4/Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 8.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CTS-V (26.4 vs. 18 gallons).

For better stopping power the Panamera Turbo’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CTS-V:

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 CTS-V doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the CTS-V:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Panamera offers optional 20 inch wheels. The CTS-V’s largest wheels are only 19 inches.

The Panamera offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the CTS-V.

The Panamera has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Panamera’s 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 CTS-V doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the CTS-V (114.9 inches vs. 113.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the CTS-V.

The Panamera Turbo S 4 handles at .99 G’s, while the CTS-V Sedan pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Road & Track skidpad test.

The Panamera goes through Road & Track’s slalom 1.5 MPH faster than the CTS-V Sedan (71.2 vs. 69.7 MPH).

The Panamera S performs Car and Driver’s emergency lane change maneuver 2.4 MPH faster than the CTS-V Sedan (69.1 vs. 66.7 MPH).

The Panamera Turbo 4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CTS-V Sedan (24.4 seconds @ .81 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

The Porsche Panamera may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 350 pounds less than the Cadillac CTS-V.

As tested by Road & Track while at idle, the interior of the Panamera Turbo 4 is quieter than the CTS-V Sedan (51 vs. 55 dB).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The CTS-V’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Panamera has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the CTS-V Sedan (15.7 vs. 13.6 cubic feet).

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CTS-V, the Panamera offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

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

The Panamera has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The CTS-V doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Panamera to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CTS-V doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the Panamera to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CTS-V doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Panamera offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The CTS-V has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Panamera and the CTS-V offer available heated front seats. The Panamera also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CTS-V.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Panamera offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The CTS-V doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To help keep rear passengers entertained, the Panamera offers optional rear seat controls for the radio which can play a separate audio source. The CTS-V doesn’t offer rear seat audio controls.