BMW Z4 vs Porsche 911

The short version

The BMW Z4 is more fuel-efficient: 28 vs 21 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $950 a year less in fuel for the BMW Z4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Porsche 911 is the bigger car, about 7 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the BMW Z4 has had fewer recall campaigns (23 vs 35).

The two cars

The 2026 BMW Z4 is a two seaters offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and rear-wheel drive. It measures about 171 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 97-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,464 lb (M40i 2dr Convertible).

The 2026 Porsche 911 is a minicompact car offered with 3 engines (3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo and 4.0L 6-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 178 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 97-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,472 lb (Carrera 2dr Cabriolet).

Buying used? The 2024 Z4 and the 2018 911 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2019 Z4 and the 2021 911.