2012 Mercedes-Benz S Class vs 2012 Porsche Panamera

2012 Mercedes-Benz S Class

2012 Porsche Panamera

Select style

4-Door Sedan S 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC	21	31	$86,072	$92,550
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 400 Hybrid RWD	19	25	$85,421	$91,850
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 550 4MATIC	15	24	$90,675	$97,500
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 550 RWD	15	25	$87,885	$94,500
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 600 RWD	12	19	$148,335	$159,500
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 63 AMG RWD	15	23	$129,549	$139,300
S-Class 4-Door Sedan S 65 AMG RWD	12	19	$196,137	$210,900

Select style

4-Door HB

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Panamera 4-Door HB	18	27	$67,500	$75,200
Panamera 4-Door HB 4	18	26	$71,640	$79,800
Panamera 4-Door HB 4S	16	24	$85,500	$95,200
Panamera 4-Door HB S	16	24	$81,120	$90,300
Panamera 4-Door HB S Hybrid	22	30	$85,320	$95,000
Panamera 4-Door HB Turbo	15	23	$122,850	$136,700
Panamera 4-Door HB Turbo S	15	23	$155,700	$173,200

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$86,072

$67,500

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$92,550

$75,200

Monthly Payment Estimate

$1543 / month

$1253 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

9.2

Read Our Full Review

8.2

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a wide range of personalities--all of them superbly comfortably, some of them outrageously powerful.

Bucking tradition and the ordinary, the 2012 Porsche Panamera mostly succeeds in being an excellent large fastback sedan.

TCC Likes

High-speed poise
Fantastic multicontour seats
Vast backseat space

Supercar power (Turbo and Turbo S)
Excellent PDK gearbox
Confident handling and high-speed stability

TCC Dislikes

Very, very pricey
COMAND controller
Too conservative for some

Styling misses the mark from some angles
Button-busy center console
Driving feels almost synthetic due to numerous aids

Fuel Economy

City

21 mpg

18 mpg

Highway

31 mpg

27 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Large

Large Car

Interior Dimensions

Second Head Room (in)

38.5

38.2

Second Shoulder Room (in)

58.7

51.7

Front Leg Room (in)

41.9

Passenger Capacity

Front Hip Room (in)

60.8

- TBD -

Second Leg Room (in)

42.3

33.3

Front Head Room (in)

37.8

38.0

Second Hip Room (in)

60.9

- TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)

59.1

51.9

Passenger Volume (ft³)

109.0

98.0

Exterior Dimensions

Min Ground Clearance (in)

5.75

5.6

Length, Overall (in)

206.5

195.7

Height, Overall (in)

58.0

55.8

Track Width, Rear (in)

63.2

65.4

Wheelbase (in)

124.6

115.0

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

73.7

83.2

Track Width, Front (in)

63.1

65.3

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

16.4

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

15.7

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

44.6

Brakes

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.8 x 0.9

13.0 x 1.1

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

13.2 x 1.25

14.2 x 1.4

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

23.8

21.1

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

40.0

39.3

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.8

2.6

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

N/A

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

17.83

17.1-13.8

Tires

Front Tire Size

P255/45R18

245/50R18

Spare Tire Size

- TBD -

Front Tire Order Code

N/A

Spare Tire Order Code

N/A

Rear Tire Size

P255/45R18

275/45R18

Rear Tire Order Code

N/A

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

4784

3880

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)

- TBD -

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.5

18 x 9.0

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

- TBD -

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.5

18 x 8.0

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

Engine

Displacement

3.0L/182

3.6L/220

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

240 @ 3600

300 @ 6200

Engine Type

Turbocharged Diesel V6

Gas V6

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

455 @ 2400

295 @ 3750

Engine Order Code

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Trans Type

Drivetrain

All Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.42

4.57

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.86

3.31

Trans Order Code

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.07

3.54

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.37

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.82

0.81

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.38

5.97

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.92

2.01

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.59

Summary

Body Style

4 Door Sedan

Hatchback

Vehicle Name

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Porsche Panamera

Suspension

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Independent

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

Independent

Double Wishbone

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

8.5

8.7

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