Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2012 Porsche Panamera VS 2012 Mercedes C63 Near Scottsdale, AZ

The Panamera has standard child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The C63 doesn’t offer child safety locks.

The Panamera offers all wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The C63 doesn’t offer all wheel drive.

Both the Panamera and the C63 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The Panamera’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the C63’s (10/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Panamera third among large premium cars in their 2011 Initial Quality Study. The C63 isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 8th.

The Panamera Turbo’s 4.8 turbo V8 produces 49 more horsepower (500 vs. 451) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 443) than the C63’s standard 6.2 DOHC V8. The Panamera Turbo S’ 4.8 turbo V8 produces 99 more horsepower (550 vs. 451) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 443) than the C63’s standard 6.2 DOHC V8. The Panamera Turbo S’ 4.8 turbo V8 produces 69 more horsepower (550 vs. 481) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 443) than the C63’s optional 6.2 DOHC V8.

As tested in Road & Track the Panamera Turbo is faster than the Mercedes C63 (base engine):

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 C63:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera S Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the C63 (22 city/30 hwy vs. 12 city/19 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera gets better fuel mileage than the C63:

Regenerative brakes improve the Panamera V8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The C63 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 C63 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the C63 (21.1 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera S4/Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 9 gallons more fuel capacity than the C63 (26.4 vs. 17.4 gallons).

For better stopping power the Panamera Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C63:

The Panamera’s brakes have 33% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the C63 (836 vs. 629 square inches), so the Panamera has more braking power available.

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 C63 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Panamera stops shorter than the C63:

For better traction, the Panamera has larger standard tires than the C63 (F:245/50R18 & R:275/45R18 vs. F:235/40R18 & R:255/35R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Panamera offers optional 20 inch wheels. The C63’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. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the C63.

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 C63 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the C63 Sedan (114.9 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 5.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the C63.

The Panamera Turbo 4 handles at .97 G’s, while the C63 Sedan pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Panamera goes through Road & Track’s slalom 1.9 MPH faster than the C63 Sedan (71.2 vs. 69.3 MPH).

The Panamera S performs Car and Driver’s emergency lane change maneuver 5.1 MPH faster than the C63 Sedan (69.1 vs. 64 MPH).

The Panamera Turbo 4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the C63 Sedan (24.4 seconds @ .81 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .78 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Panamera S is quieter than the C63 Sedan:

The Panamera has .9 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom and 1.3 inches more rear headroom than the C63 Sedan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The C63’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Panamera has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the C63 Sedan (15.7 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

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 C63 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Panamera’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the C63.

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 C63 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Panamera’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The C63’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 C63 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear wiper. The C63 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Both the Panamera and the C63 offer optional 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 C63.

The Panamera’s optional air conditioned front seats cool the driver and front passenger and help take the sting out of hot leather in Summer. The C63 doesn’t offer air conditioned front seats.

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 C63 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 C63 doesn’t offer rear seat audio controls.