Within the Porsche line-up, the Panamera combines Porsche’s low-slung dynamics with the practicality and spaciousness of the Cayenne. It rides like a legitimate luxury car, but the chassis still delivers the capability you expect from a Porsche when it comes to driving enjoyment.
Drive and Performance
The Porsche Panamera’s engine line-up consists of a pair of V6s and a pair of V8s. All of them are petrol-powered, and some have plug-in hybrid electrical assistance. The Panamera is built on the MSB platform developed by Porsche, which is used by the VW Group’s front engined cars.
Starting with the 2.9-litre V6 in the Panamera and the Panamera 4S. The Panamera has 325bhp going from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds whilst the 4S having 444bhp and doing it in 4.1 seconds. More models enter such as the V8-engine GTS and the V8 Turbo S. The GTS having 437bhp hitting 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. The Turbo S is a little more potent with 621bhp hitting 0-62mph in a staggering 3.1 seconds.
Porsche also introduced the 4S E-Hybrid and Turbo S E-Hybrid. In combination with a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, the former delivers 552bhp and 750Nm in total. Tops speeds go to 186mph with a 0-62mph speed in 3.7 seconds.
Practicality of the Panamera
In the Panamera, cabin space is very spacious and is adequate for people that are over six feet tall. The Panamera is more than 5m long and nearly 2m wide, so it’s a vast car. Although there isn’t too much glass area, visibility is acceptable, even in tight spots it isn’t too difficult to manoeuvre.
Despite its sloping roofline the regular Panamera offers 500 litres of luggage room up to the edge of the rear seats. Fold the rear seats down and you get a staggering 1,340 litres of boot space. In the plug-in hybrid boot capacity is reduced to 405 litres due to the battery location raising the boot floor.