Luxury Cars Guide
đź“‹ In This Guide

Porsche Panamera Turbo vs Audi RS7: Same Heart, Different Soul

Porsche Panamera Turbo vs Audi RS7: Same Heart, Different Soul

Reliability Score

82/100

Based on owner reports and frequency of repairs.

Published on: Sun Feb 15 2026

Porsche Panamera Turbo vs Audi RS7: Same Heart, Different Soul

They are cousins. The Porsche Panamera Turbo (971) and the Audi RS7 (C8) share the same VW Group MSB/MLB-Evo component bin, including the mighty 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 (EA825).

So, is the Porsche just an expensive Audi? Or is the Audi a bargain Porsche?

1. The Engine: EA825 V8

Since they share the engine, reliability is identical here.

  • Pros: Massive power (600hp+), robust internals, Hot-V responsiveness.
  • Cons: Water pump leaks, potential for oil consumption (rare).

Winner: Tie.

2. The Electrical Gremlin: Audi’s BSG

The Audi RS7 (C8) uses a 48-Volt Mild Hybrid system.

  • The Component: Belt Starter Generator (BSG).
  • The Failure: The BSG fails catastrophically. The car dies instantly. “Electrical System Fault.”
  • The Scope: Massive recall/warranty extension. Parts overlap.
  • The Porsche: The standard Panamera Turbo (non-Hybrid) does not rely on this 48V BSG system in the same way (or at all in early years). It is simpler.

Winner: Porsche (Less hybrid complexity in base Turbo trim).

3. Suspension and Chassis

  • Porsche: 3-Chamber Air Suspension. It flows more air, reacts faster, and costs more. $3,000/corner.
  • Audi: Air Suspension (standard). Tuned for comfort. Cheaper to replace. $2,000/corner.

Winner: Audi (Cheaper repairs).

4. Interior Tech

  • Audi: MMI Touch Response (Dual screens). Very intuitive. Looks modern.
  • Porsche: PCM with haptic buttons on the console. A fingerprint magnet. Harder to use while driving.

Winner: Audi.

5. Depreciation

  • Audi RS7: Depreciates like a stone, but usually holds slightly better than the regular S7 because of the “RS” badge.
  • Panamera Turbo: Depreciates heavily. It is a luxury sedan.

Both of these cars will lose 50% of their value in 4 years.

6. The Verdict

Buy the Audi RS7 if:

  • You want the “Darth Vader” look.
  • You want better interior tech.
  • You accept the risk of the BSG failure (it’s covered by warranty mostly).

Buy the Porsche Panamera Turbo if:

  • You care about steering feel.
  • You want the badge.
  • You want to avoid the 48V mild-hybrid complexity (Pre-2021).

Reliability Winner: Porsche Panamera Turbo (By a hair, due to less 48V complexity).