
The differences between the Panamera 4 and Panamera 4S are in the brake caliper color and dimensions. Brake caliper color difference: The Panamera 4 has black brake calipers, while the Panamera 4S has silver brake calipers. Body dimension differences: The Panamera 4 measures 5015mm in length, 1931mm in width, and 1418mm in height. The Panamera 4 is equipped with a 3.0T engine producing a maximum horsepower of 320ps. The Panamera 4S measures 4491mm in length, 1852mm in width, and 1296mm in height. The Panamera 4S also uses a 3.0T engine but produces a maximum horsepower of 420ps.

I previously tested these two cars on the track. Let's start with the Panamera—it's Porsche's four-door coupe, with a body length exceeding 5 meters. The rear seats can comfortably accommodate three adults, and the trunk space is also generous. The '4' I assume refers to the 911 Carrera 4, a classic two-door sports car with a short wheelbase and exceptionally agile handling. The driving experience is entirely different: the Panamera, despite its powerful performance, shows noticeable body roll during cornering, like a marathon runner in a suit and tie; the 911 Carrera 4, with its all-wheel-drive system gripping the road tightly during turns, requires just half a turn of the steering wheel to cleanly and sharply navigate corners—its chassis tuning is purely track-focused. In terms of practicality, the Panamera wins hands down, but the 911 undoubtedly offers more driving fun, and its entry-level model is even slightly cheaper in price.

From a daily driving perspective, the difference between the Panamera and 911 Carrera 4 is massive. I often use the Panamera as a family car - it can handle picking up kids from school while still fitting strollers and backpacks, and the air suspension makes rough roads feel smooth. The 911's two-seat design struggles even with shopping bags, but its razor-sharp steering feedback on weekend mountain runs is absolutely thrilling. Structurally, the Panamera has a front-engine layout while the 911 uses a mid-rear engine configuration, making weight transfer during cornering particularly noticeable. Fuel consumption is similar - both average over 15L/100km in city driving, though the 911's exhaust note is far more exhilarating. Maintenance costs differ significantly: a spark plug replacement for the Panamera costs as much as half a set of brake pads for the 911.

These two cars are positioned completely differently: the Panamera is an executive-class coupe with features like rear-seat independent air conditioning, while the 911 Carrera 4 is a pure driving machine. The Panamera comes standard with all-wheel drive but is heavier, feeling like it's being dragged during acceleration. The 911 Carrera 4, also all-wheel drive, weighs over 500 kg less, delivering a more immediate push-back sensation when flooring the pedal. Interior-wise, the Panamera offers an optional five-seat layout, whereas the 911 only has a compact 2+2 seating arrangement. Both are well-equipped with active safety features, though the Panamera's night vision system proves more practical in rainy or foggy conditions.


