The all-new Porsche Panamera marks a massive step on compared to its predecessor. It’s based on an all-new platform and features all-new engines, while the interior takes Porsche’s luxury cars to the next level. It even looks a lot more attractive than before, with sleeker lines and some interesting, eye-catching design details.
It now rides like a proper luxury car but the chassis still delivers the capability you expect from a Porsche when it comes to driving enjoyment.
Combined with a big hatchback, a sizeable luggage bay and with so much tech crammed into the cabin, it all makes the Panamera an incredibly easy car to live with. As well as one that’s comfortable and rewarding enough to drive to suit any mood.
While it offered plenty of comfort, the previous Panamera’s centre console was festooned with buttons, meaning it wasn’t so easy to spot the one you wanted on the move.
Porsche’s designers have tidied up the high transmission tunnel for this new version, so there are fewer buttons while they’re now touch-sensitive and covered by a slick glass panel.
Above the centre console there’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen showcasing the next evolution of Porsche Communication Management. Everything is controllable from this display, with even the central air vents opened and closed by sliding your finger up and down the screen.
Apple CarPlay is included, while features such as Google Earth, Street View, in-car internet and info on fuel prices are all offered as part of Porsche’s Connect Plus system.
The digital theme is carried over for the instruments, too. Although the car retains Porsche’s trademark central analogue rev counter, either side of this is a seven-inch screen that’s customisable to show
Porsche is known for its sports cars, and even with its more refined models like the Panamera, it’ll outperform many rival brands.
The car’s chassis is all-new, so the Panamera is more practical, but also more agile. There’s more aluminium used in the Panamera’s construction, so for its size it’s a relatively light car at 1,870kg. It sits on the VW Group’s new MSB platform for front-engined cars, which Porsche has been responsible for developing.
The German manufacturer says this gives it “great versatility” as it means two different wheelbases (standard and long) can be produced, while “further body derivatives are also relatively easy to realise”. One result is that there is a Panamera Sports Turismo shooting brake estate in the pipeline.
A new design of air suspension for this second-generation Panamera gives excellent ride quality and even on the largest 21-inch wheels of the Turbo, the car floats over rolling surfaces. Potholes do cause the wheels to thump, but in the most part the car offers plenty of composure with good body control. In fact, it’s probably the best riding Porsche yet.
This doesn’t come at the expense of agility, though. The steering is a beautiful weight and geared just right, while even in the chassis’ default setting it changes direction sweetly.
As part of Porsche’s standard Active Suspension Management system, Sport and Sport+ modes stiffen up the dampers and add an extra element of focus. It does sacrifice ride quality a little, but the extra dynamic benefit in such a big car is impressive.
Go for the rear-wheel steering option carried over from hotter version in the 911 range and the Panamera changes direction like a smaller, lighter car. This is partly due to the system allowing quicker, more direct direction changes – but it also adds stability at higher speeds.
It’s part of Porsche’s new 4D-Chassis Control tech that integrates the PASM adaptive dampers, rear-wheel steering, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (the brand’s active anti roll system to stop the car leaning as much in corners). All the systems now work together to maximise cornering performance.
Engines
There’s crushing straight-line acceleration on offer in the Turbo, which uses an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 542bhp and 770Nm of torque spread all the way from 1,960rpm to 4,500rpm.
Four-wheel drive and launch control from the new eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic means the Turbo can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds, or 3.6 seconds if you go for the optional Sport Chrono Package. Top speed stands at 190mph.
The entry-level 4S is more than sufficient, though. The new 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 features turbos inside the engine’s V, just like the V8 Turbo, while 434bhp and 550Nm of torque mean the 0-62mph sprint can be dispatched in 4.4 seconds, or 4.2 with Sport Chrono.
The only diesel option from launch is the 4S Diesel, which uses another new engine – this time it’s a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 which kicks out 416bhp and a colossal 850Nm of torque, all of which is available from just 1,000rpm.
It makes the Panamera the world’s fastest diesel saloon, according to Porsche, with a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds (which drops to 4.3 with Sport Chrono) and a top speed of 177mph.
The way it delivers its power is addictive, with a low-down swell of torque that effortlessly whisks you along in total refinement. Rev the Turbo and its obviously a lot faster, but no more frenetic, while the V6 4S emits a musical growl and more than enough performance for most situations.
The new eight-speed box mated to all engines is great in auto mode, swapping ratios slickly, and is snappy in manual mode, too.
Porsche has built a strong reputation for reliability thanks to its success in endurance racing, and many of the innovations its developed in motorsport filter through to its road cars. You might not always be able to see them, but they should help reliability.
The German brand performed well in our most recent Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, finishing seventh out of 32 brands.
There’s lots of safety tech, too, so while there’s no Euro NCAP rating for the Panamera, with big brakes (upgradable to ceramic composite items), an active bonnet system and plenty of airbags, it should provide a decent level of protection.
You can also add more airbags in the rear, adaptive LED headlights, night vision assist, lane change and lane keep assist, adaptive cruise and Porsche’s InnoDrive package that includes traffic jam assist for extra safety.
Warranty
As with all Porsche models, a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty comes as standard.
Servicing
As a premium brand Porsche servicing pricing is steeper than some mainstream rivals, but the cost of keeping your car on the road is still reasonable.
However, bear in mind tyres and brake pads will be expensive if these wear items need replacing.
There are now two body styles in the Panamera range, with the Panamera Sport Turismo added to the line-up alongside this four-door coupe.
While the estate offers more space, despite the sloping roofline that regular Panamera offers plenty of room in the rear, with a low seating position meaning headroom isn’t too much of an issue.
The 4S Diesel is only available in standard wheelbase form, but there’s still ample legroom on offer in the rear, with a good level of storage for you electronic gadgets, too.
The Executive long wheelbase is 15cm longer and available on other engine variants, so you’ll definitely not struggle for legroom.
In the front the rising centre console and high dash cocoon the driver, with plenty of adjustment available for the steering wheel and seats. It gives a sporty atmosphere but with plenty of luxurious touches. Storage is also acceptable in the front, with a pair of cupholders, a bin between the front seats and long door bins that allow you to stow plenty of stuff.
However, while the Panamera offers lots of space in the rear, it’s only because it seats only four people. How it does this though is exquisite, with lots of opulent extras including business style seats featuring a massaging function.
Size
The Panamera is more than 5m long and nearly 2m wide, so it’s a vast car. The sleek styling means there’s not too much glass area, either, but visibility is actually alright, and even when parking in tight spots it’s not too difficult to manoeuvre.
It’s also low to the ground, but not that difficult to get into the front. Long rear doors open wide and help access to the back – although you’ll have to watch out for that flowing roof.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
As mentioned, legroom inside the Panamera is great; even more so if you go for the Executive model. There’s a good degree of flexibility thanks to the seating, too, while the cabin is at least as roomy as rivals such as high spec versions of the Mercedes-Benz CLS or Audi A7.
Boot
Despite its sloping roofline the regular Panamera offers 500 litres of luggage room up to the edge of the rear seats. Fold these down and boot space increases to 1,340 litres.
The power tailgate means loading bags is easy, although there is a little lip to lift them over and into the boot. There are tie down points to secure loads, while the boot floor is flat and uniform in shape, so you can easily carry bulky items.
As part of the Panamera’s new engine line-up, all variants get cylinder deactivation technology that will shut down some of the unit’s injectors on the move when maximum power isn’t needed, helping save fuel.
Unsurprisingly, the 4 E-Hybrid is the most efficient Panamera on sale, returning 113mpg and emitting only 56g/km CO, according to Porsche’s claims. The 4S Diesel is currently the most efficient combustion engine model, however, returning claimed best economy of 42.2mpg with 176g/km CO2 emissions.
The pair of petrols are still usefully frugal given the performance on offer, with the 4S offering a best of 34.9mph with 184g/km CO2. Fuel economy drops to 30.4 in the Turbo, while CO2 rises to 212g/km. Just don’t expect to see these figures if you exploit the Panamera’s performance.
Insurance groups
Premium cars like Porsches generally aren’t cheap to insure, and the new Panamera is no different. Given its predecessor ranged from group 46 to group 50, expect high premiums despite some sophisticated safety technology.
Depreciation
Porsche’s latest four-door is still very new so predicted residual values are hard to come by. However, our experts predict that the Panamera will retain between 48 and 53 per cent depending on model, which is strong resistance to depreciation for a car priced around or above the £100,000 mark.
Porsche is known for its reliability, too, so despite the tech-laden interior, we’d expect everything to be working just as well as it did when new with 100,000 miles on the clock.