The　cracking　moment　and　deflection　of　prefabricated　bridge　deck　panels　(PBDPs)　with　connections　are　the　critical　indexes　to　assess　their　crack　resistance　and　reliability.　This　paper　presented　improved　prediction　models　for　estimating　the　flexural　performance,　especially　cracking　moment　and　deflection,　of　PBDPs　connected　with　CFRP　tendons　and　UHPC　grout.　Afterwards,　comparisons　between　experimental　data　and　predicted　cracking　moment,　moment　capacity,　and　moment-deflection　curves　showed　desired　agreement.　In　addition,　a　finite　element　(FE)　model　was　established　and　its　reliability　was　verified　by　the　comparison　of　moment-deflection　curves　between　the　FE　model,　predicted　results,　and　tests.　A　parametric　study　was　conducted　to　evaluate　the　influence　of　design　parameters　on　flexural　performance.　The　results　show　that　the　existing　equations　in　the　literature　for　calculating　the　effective　moment　of　inertia　cannot　accurately　predict　that　of　PBDPs　with　novel　connections.　The　improved　performance　prediction　models　have　reasonable　accuracy　for　flexural　performance,　including　cracking　moments,　flexural　capacity,　and　moment-deflection　responses.　The　diameter　and　initial　stress　of　CFRP,　as　well　as　concrete　strength,　have　a　positive　influence　on　the　performance　of　PBDPs　connected　with　the　proposed　connections　under　bending　moment.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd