Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 BMW M5 VS 2016 Porsche Panamera Near Scottsdale, AZ

The M5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Panamera doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the M5 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The M5 has standard BMW Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Panamera doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the M5 and the Panamera have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 for 4 years and 50,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Porsche doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Panamera.

There are over 74 percent more BMW dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the M5’s warranty.

The M5 has more powerful engines than the Panamera:

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW M5 (base engine) is faster than the Porsche Panamera GTS (automatics tested):

For better stopping power the M5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Panamera:

The M5 stops shorter than the Panamera:

For better traction, the M5 has larger tires than the Panamera (F:265/40R19 & R:295/35R19 vs. F:245/50R18 & R:275/45R18). The M5’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Panamera (F:265/40R19 & R:295/35R19 vs. F:255/40R20 & R:295/35R20).

The M5’s standard 265/40R19 front and 295/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Panamera’s standard 50 series front and 45 series rear tires. The M5’s optional 265/35R20 front and 295/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Panamera’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Panamera.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Panamera (116.7 inches vs. 115 inches).

The M5 handles at .93 G’s, while the Panamera Turbo 4 pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M5 goes through Road & Track’s slalom 1.9 MPH faster than the Panamera Turbo 4 (71 vs. 69.1 MPH).

The M5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Panamera (24.3 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 25 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The M5 is 3.9 inches shorter than the Panamera, making the M5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Road & Track, the interior of the M5 is quieter than the Panamera Turbo 4:

The M5 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Panamera can only carry 4.

The M5 has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 6.4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Panamera.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the M5 easier. The M5’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Panamera’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M5 offers cargo security. The Panamera’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M5’s trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Panamera doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The M5 offers an optional heads-up display which projects speed and tachometer readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Panamera doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left down on the M5 the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Panamera can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

When the M5 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Panamera’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Insurance will cost less for the M5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the M5 will cost $290 to $9235 less than the Panamera over a five-year period.

Road & Track performed a comparison test in its April 2014 issue and they ranked the BMW M5 first. They ranked the Porsche Panamera Turbo 4 fifth.