Overview & Reviews

The Porsche Panamera may slot between midsize and full-size luxury sedans in terms of overall dimensions, but it's hardly a middle-of-the-road product. As Porsche's first four-door car, it's controversial, since anything other than a sports car tends to put Porsche purists' undies in a twist. It's also polarizing, thanks to bold styling that includes a rather bulbous behind. Furthermore, it's unabashedly ambitious, having been pitted from the get-go against the best sedans in the world. Even its body style is a matter of some contention. Though it's technically classified as a sedan, the Panamera has a hatchback trunk that makes it more versatile than most rivals.

At the end of the day, though, it's hard to call the Panamera anything but a home run. Porsche swung for the fences with this one, and by just about every objective measure, it hit the sweet spot. The introduction of the long-wheelbase Executive model was the final piece of the puzzle, as Porsche is now fully competitive in this exclusive segment. New or used, the Panamera is a special luxury car that strikes a possibly unequaled balance between practicality and driving thrills.

Current Porsche Panamera
The current Panamera is offered in a number of different guises. The mainstream model lineup includes the rear-wheel-drive Panamera, S and GTS and the all-wheel-drive Panamera 4, 4S, Turbo and Turbo S. The Panamera and Panamera 4 are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 310 horsepower, while the S and 4S get a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that pumps out 420 hp. The GTS features a 4.8-liter V8 rated at 440 hp, and the Turbo ups the ante with a turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 cranking out 520 hp. Of course, the 570-hp Turbo S wins the race. All of these models utilize Porsche's seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual, known as PDK.

On the greener side, the plug-in Panamera S E-Hybrid features a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and an electric motor that team up to produce 416 hp and 435 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed traditional automatic transmission is employed. Despite its ample output, the S E-Hybrid returns better fuel economy than the base Panamera in hybrid mode, and it can travel an estimated 20 miles on electric power alone.

As you'd expect, all Panameras come well equipped. Even the base V6 model includes auto-leveling bi-xenon headlights, LED headlight and taillight accents, a sunroof, a power liftgate, a 7-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker audio system with Bluetooth and iPod/USB connectivity. As you step up to fancier models, the wheels generally get bigger and the features more extravagant. Then there's the matter of Porsche's infamous options list, which invites you to drop tens of thousands more on more stuff you don't really need. On the bright side, buyers willing to wait for their car to be built are able to specify exactly what they want, a rare and welcome privilege in today's market.

From the driver's perspective, the Panamera borrows the 911's classic five-gauge instrument panel, but it was the Panamera that introduced the elevated, button-rich center console now shared by the 911 and other Porsches. While those buttons can take some getting used to, the touchscreen above them is both intuitive and graphically rich. The front seats look and feel sporty, yet can adjust to accommodate just about any physique. The unusual twin rear seats resemble those in front and provide first-class comfort; spring for the long-wheelbase Executive (limited model availability) with its extra 5.9 inches of wheelbase length and the legroom gets downright limolike. Thanks to its handy hatchback and fold-flat rear seatbacks, the Panamera can haul up to 44.6 cubic feet of stuff.

On the road, the Panamera's broad range of talents make for an astonishing driving experience. Despite the fact that this beast is wider than a 7 Series, its handling is phenomenal, inspiring nearly as much confidence as one of Porsche's sports cars. Acceleration is thrilling with any engine but the base V6, and the Turbo and Turbo S models are supercar fast. Even the S E-Hybrid is a cool option with its all-electric capability and strong blend of excitement and efficiency. You can't go wrong in this segment, but if you choose the Panamera, you'll be especially right.

Used Porsche Panamera Models
The Porsche Panamera debuted for 2010, but only the short-wheelbase S, 4S and Turbo models were offered. The S and 4S featured a 4.8-liter V8 rated at 400 hp, while the Turbo's 4.8-liter V8 made 500 hp. The V6-powered base Panamera and Panamera 4 arrived a year later with a bit less power than at present (300 hp), as did an optional Turbo Kit that could bump the Turbo up to 540 hp. For 2012, the Turbo S made its first appearance, replacing the Turbo Kit with its standard 550-hp muscle. An S Hybrid model also debuted with a supercharged V6 and an electric motor that teamed up for 380 hp; however, it wasn't a plug-in hybrid like the current S E-Hybrid. The sporty GTS bowed for 2013 with a 430-hp version of the 4.8-liter V8 and other unique performance modifications.

Major changes were in store for 2014. Heading the list was the introduction of the long-wheelbase Executive (4S and Turbo only) and the replacement of the S and 4S models' V8 with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 making 20 extra hp. Meanwhile, the GTS kept its V8 and got 10 additional horses to maintain separation. The S E-Hybrid brought its plug-in design and 416-hp power system to the party, replacing the less sophisticated S Hybrid. Although the Turbo S took the year off, the regular Turbo leveled up to 520 hp, and the base V6 received a 10-hp injection of its own. For 2015, the Turbo S returned with 570 hp, and the Turbo S Executive was introduced.

User Reviews:

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  Mixed review...want to love it - 2011 Porsche Panamera
  By breynolds1957 - August 13 - 2:07 pm

  First Porsche. Overall this car is an exciting car to drive. The interior is reminicent of a jet cockpit. There are many "hard buttons" to access features which may seem daunting at first. However, everything is logically placed and easily learned, and makes feature selection much easier than drilling down through computer menus. I have a mixed review on performance. Once the car is rolling, it is superb. However, there is a big catch in my opinion. When pulling away from a standing stop there is a sort of stall/lunge sequence that almost throws you forward then back in the seat. My dealer tells me this is a known issue and likely not resolvable. If so, this is a deal killer.

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  Very nice interior - 2010 Porsche Panamera
  By Robert - May 18 - 9:10 pm

  This car has the nicest interior of any I have been in. You feel like you are wrapped in luxury. I would live in it if I could. I especially like the Yachting interior. It has alternating multicolored words in the console. Very nice is an understatement. Lots of buttons and a touch screen navigation. The power is also more than adequate on the “S” version.

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  2018 Panamera AWD Turbo Review - 2018 Porsche Panamera
  By M.S. - March 8 - 2:29 pm

  First, if you are wanting a high performance exhilarating drive, this is not the car for you. I recently moved from an Audi RS7 to this and the Audi was by far more of a hoot to drive. Thats not to say this is a slow car, but a very comfortable and overall sterile one. Raw numbers show this car besting the RS7 on paper but in real life there is no comparison. The Porsche is very comfortable and luxurious as was the RS7 but even moreso. The end effect is removing the driver from the experience. (I know, Porsche blasphemy). The lag of the throttle in comfort is slightly annoying as is the Start-Stop feature. It is extremely aggressive. Turning off as you park in the garage or before you even stop! To overcome this you switch to Sport or Sport Plus mode. But then EPA drops quickly. The car is much more fun in Sport Plus mode but in comfort it is grandpas ride. I really cant knock the overall car and hence the 4 stars, but I can say this with certainty...I miss my RS7.