The BMW M4 and Porsche 911 aren’t exactly cut from the same cloth. The former is a performance model based on a midsize luxury sedan, while the latter is a purebred sports coupe with several decades of heritage. However, as of today, both models present themselves as high-performance, city-going alternatives to high-end supercars.
With competitors such as the Mercedes-AMG C-Class, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, and the Chevrolet Corvette C8, both the 2023 BMW M4 and Porsche 911 emerge with their own unique set of skills.
Among their differences, one of the most considerable has to do with pricing, and the 2023 BMW M4 starts at around $75,000 while the Porsche 911 asks for more than $107,000. Here’s why we’d rather spend our hard-earned bucks on the cheaper BMW M4.
The BMW M4 Is Faster Than The Porsche 911
Comparing the 2023 BMW M4 to the Porsche 911 is more complex than one might imagine, especially since both models offer an array of trims to choose from, including different setups and power outputs. To simplify things a bit, we’ll look at the mid-range BMW M4 Competition xDrive trim - which starts at about $82,700, and put it up against the $124,000 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
The 2023 BMW M4 Competition xDrive comes with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that produces 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all wheels. BMW says conservatively says that the M4 Competition xDrive can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, but real-life tests suggest that it’s actually capable of making the run in as little as 2.8 seconds, which places it among far more expensive rivals.
On the other side of the spectrum, the 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera S sports a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder boxer engine that produces 444 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the rear axle, and the combination allows the Porsche 911 Carrera S to blast from 0-60 mph in around 3 seconds when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package. In comparison, the BMW M4 Competition xDrive is quicker in a straight line than the Porsche 911 Carrera S despite being more than $40k cheaper.
The BMW M4 Handles Just As Well As The Porsche 911
Straight-line speed is definitely important, but what about all-around handling and track performance? Well, both the 2023 BMW M4 Competition and the Porsche 911 Carrera S have got you covered in that regard. Both sports cars offer incredibly precise and well-weighted steering, along with adaptive dampers that stiffen up when necessary and also loosen up when set into comfort mode. Balance is supreme while body roll is virtually non-existent in both cases, and the same goes for braking power, which is ample and tied between both.
The BMW M4 Is A Better Daily Driver Than The Porsche 911
There’s no way around it - the 2023 BMW M4 is simply more practical than the Porsche 911, and its roots prove it. The sedan-based M4 provides a total of 91 cubic feet of passenger space, which includes a back row that’s good enough to fit all but the largest of adults. In terms of cargo area, the M4 Competition manages to allocate 12 cubic feet of trunk space with all seats in place, and it gets incrementally larger after lowering the split-folding rear seats. The 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera S is far less cavernous, and it only offers a 4.6 cubic-foot trunk that gets slightly larger after folding down its rear seats. We’d definitely recommend doing so, because they're essentially unusable for adults, and even children will begin to feel cramped over longer stints.
Moving on to cabin quality and features, both vehicles are healthily equipped, but the BMW M4 takes the cake once more. It comes standard with multi-adjustable heated front seats, a 12.3-inch center touchscreen, a fully-digital driver’s display, three-zone climate control, and a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The more expensive 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera S also provides multi-adjustable heated front seats, as well as a digital gauge cluster and a central infotainment touchscreen. However, it falls short with dual-zone climate control and an 8-speaker stock sound system.
All in all, when comparing both performance cars, we find it hard to justify picking the 2023 Porsche 911 over the BMW M4. The Competition xDrive trim is still significantly cheaper than the entry level 911, yet it delivers better performance, more practicality, and better equipment. This one really is a no-brainer.
Sources: BMW, Porsche