BMW vs Porsche

Nothing quite beats the thrill of cruising around Stratham, Portsmouth, or Exeter, NH, in a luxury vehicle, especially when it comes to BMW vehicles or Porsche vehicles. With both, you’ll find premium features and powerful performance capabilities, but which one is right for you?

To help you decide, we at BMW of Stratham have created this BMW vs. Porsche comparison. After reading, you’ll know which brand offers everything you need in a luxury car. Let’s get started!

A Brief History

When you’re deciding between two different vehicle brands, a good place to start is by looking to the past. Both brands have German heritage, but BMW has been around for nearly 20 years longer than Porsche.

BMW first became involved in transportation in 1916 when they created aircraft, but at the conclusion of World War I, the company was forbidden from producing aircraft as part of the Treaty of Versailles. Between 1918 and 1923, BMW switched gears from air to ground transportation, making their first motorcycle in 1923, following five years later with their first automobile.

It wasn’t until 1931 that Porsche was introduced to the world.

Those extra years in engineering helped pave the way for BMW to make a name for itself in the luxury world.

BMW vs Porsche: Model Versatility

When you’re looking at purchasing a new car, you’ll want to have a variety of vehicle features and body styles available. That way, you’ll have a luxury car that perfectly reflects your personality. So, which of these two brands offers more versatility?

With BMW, you’ll have far more vehicles to choose from, making it possible to find the one that’s perfect for you and your specific needs.

While BMW already has more models, this doesn’t factor in the 12 additional BMW M Performance vehicles, BMW’s version of luxury sports cars. In all, BMW offers three times the number of vehicle models that Porsche does.

BMW vs Porsche: Reliability

You also need a brand you can trust. You do a lot of commuting between work, errands, and whatever else comes your way, so you need a brand that can ensure your vehicle will be by your side for the long haul.

A good way to determine brand reliability is by comparing the warranties for BMW vs. Porsche.

In addition to this warranty coverage, both brands come with an additional maintenance service plan.

BMW comes with BMW Ultimate Care, a 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance program. This program covers services like factory-recommended maintenance, such as oil changes, wiper blade replacements, and other routine service.

Porsche comes with a 2-year warranty. Not only does this maintenance plan fall short in terms of length, but it also falls short in terms of coverage since this 2-year plan only covers genuine Porsche parts and accessories. Basic maintenance isn’t covered.

When looking for a brand you can rely on, BMW is the better choice thanks to its extensive warranty and maintenance options.

BMW vs Porsche: Brand Loyalty

Finally, before choosing a luxury brand, studying the brand loyalty of BMW vs. Porsche is recommended. By doing so, you can see how likely a driver is to purchase another model.

J.D. Power is an organization that studies the retention rate of each brand, then ranks models based on this loyalty rating. According to the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty Study, both BMW and Porsche rank high. In fact, both rank in the top five brands for luxury models:

• BMW Brand Loyalty: 45.1%
• Porsche Brand Loyalty: 44.9%

The two models rank extremely close, making both luxury brands highly desirable. However, when you’re weighing your options, even though the difference may seem small, BMW receives a higher brand loyalty rating than Porsche.

BMW vs Porsche: Luxury Safety Features

Another important aspect you must consider when deciding between BMW vs. Porsche is safety. From advanced features that work to help prevent the unexpected to features that work to reduce the severity of passenger injury in the event of an unavoidable collision, having a brand that goes above and beyond in terms of safety is essential.

In terms of safety features, many BMW models come standard with Active Driving Assistant, a suite of features that uses cameras and sensors to monitor your surroundings. When a potential hazard is detected, you’ll receive an alert so you can make any necessary adjustments to prevent a collision.

Features of BMW Active Driving Assistant, based on the 2021 BMW X5, include:

• Frontal Collision Warning
• Active Blind Spot Detection
• Lane Departure Warning
• Speed Limit Info

Porsche models, like the Porsche Cayenne, don’t come with a safety suite. However, several similar features—like frontal collision, lane keeping, and speed systems—are offered.

While these models offer plenty of pre-collision safety features, only with BMW do you also get the Active Protection System, which automatically pretensions safety belts, closes all windows, and activates post-crash braking in the event an unavoidable collision is detected.

Thanks to this feature, you can feel extra confident behind the wheel of a BMW

BMW vs Porsche Safety Rating

There are several organizations, like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), that rate models based on a variety of tests. Those models that meet their stringent criteria are either awarded a TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating.

Two BMW models were given these prestigious safety awards:

• 2021 BMW 2 Series: 2021 TOP SAFETY PICK
• 2021 BMW 3 Series: 2021 TOP SAFETY PICK

No Porsche models were given any safety awards through the IIHS.

BMW vs Porsche: Performance Capabilities

While many drivers flock to BMW and Porsche vehicles for their luxurious features, others turn to them for their adrenaline-pumping capabilities. When climbing behind the wheel, in a matter of seconds you’ll feel racetrack-level agility no matter where you go.

Take the BMW M5 CS and the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, for example. While both models share similar statures, their performance capabilities are anything but comparable.

What does this higher power from BMW mean for you? Well, with the BMW M5 CS, you can go from 0 to 60 MPH in a mere 2.9 seconds. With the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, it takes 4.1 seconds to make that happen.

BMW vs Porsche: Which Will You Choose?

When you’re looking for a luxury vehicle that offers versatility and performance as well as a long history, you’ll likely find yourself torn between BMW and Porsche. After reading through our BMW vs. Porsche comparison, though, it’s clear that BMW is the better option for your Stratham, Portsmouth, and Exeter, New Hampshire, travels.

To see which specific BMW model is right for you, don’t wait any longer to visit us at BMW of Stratham.