Compare the2025 BMW M5VS 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 M5 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the M5. But it costs extra on the Panamera.

Both the M5 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 and driver alert monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 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 76 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’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 369 more horsepower (717 vs. 348) and 370 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 368) than the Panamera’s standard 2.9 turbo V6. The M5’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 254 more horsepower (717 vs. 463) and 259 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 479) than the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid. The M5’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 224 more horsepower (717 vs. 493) and 252 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 486) than the Panamera GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8. The M5’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 737) than the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M5 is faster than the Porsche Panamera turbo V6:

The M5 can travel with zero emissions for 25 miles. The Panamera can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

For better traction, the M5 has larger standard tires than the Panamera (285/40R20 vs. 265/45R19). The M5’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Panamera (285/40R20 vs. 275/35R21).

The M5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Panamera’s standard 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 has standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Panamera.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Panamera (118.3 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The front grille of the M5 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.

The M5 has a larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Panamera with its rear seat up (17.7 vs. 17.4 cubic feet). The M5 has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Panamera with its rear seat folded (57.6 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The M5 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 M5 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 M5’s 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.

The BMW M5 comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Porsche Panamera isn’t available as a station wagon.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Porsche Panamera by over four to one during 2024.