Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs Porsche Panamera

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts from $278,900 before on-road costs, while the Porsche Panamera opens at $227,000. That makes the Porsche Panamera the more affordable entry point by $51,900.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $306,790 and $249,700 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mercedes-Benz S-Class by roughly $1,570 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Porsche Panamera gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.6-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, ventilated seats and Burmester audio that you will not find on the Porsche Panamera. The Porsche Panamera counters with power tailgate. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets nappa leather upholstery while the Porsche Panamera offers leather. Climate control is 4-zone in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 2-zone in the Porsche Panamera.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class uses a Petrol producing 280kW and 500Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.

The Porsche Panamera responds with a Petrol making 260kW and 500Nm, paired to a 8-speed pdk driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has the clear power advantage at 280kW vs 260kW. In the real-world sprint, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is 0.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class measures 5,179mm long on a 3,106mm wheelbase, 127mm longer than the Porsche Panamera at 5,052mm (2,950mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 510L in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 494L in the Porsche Panamera, giving the Mercedes-Benz S-Class a 16L advantage. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class seats 5 vs 4.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,394/year for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and $2,708/year for the Porsche Panamera. That is a $314 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,394 (Mercedes-Benz S-Class) vs $2,708 (Porsche Panamera). The Mercedes-Benz S-Class saves you roughly $314 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz S-Class) vs 3 years / 999,999km (Porsche Panamera). The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has longer coverage.