Quick Test
What Is It?
The S is the mid-grade Porsche sedan, bracketed by a V-6–powered car below and the mighty 500-hp Turbo above. The S packs a 400-hp, 4.8-liter V-8 and drives the rear or all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox Porsche calls PDK; our test example was a rear-driver. The humpbacked hatchback styling is having a hard time finding friends, but even genetic freaks unaccustomed to back-seat comfort won’t complain about the cavernous rear accommodations that result from the Panamera’s goofy roofline.
How Does It Drive?
At 195.6 inches long and 76.0 inches wide, the Panamera is enormous, but its character is not entirely unlike another uniquely shaped Porsche, the one with the engine mounted at the other end. This car could be considered stiff-legged if you’re looking for luxury-barge refinement, but it’s also supremely agile, digging into the pavement and yanking itself through turns with surprising alacrity. The 4.8-liter will stick your Skittles deep into the folds of the leather seats, turning in a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.7 seconds and tearing through the quarter-mile in 13.3 at 107 mph. The Panamera is about the same size as a Mercedes S-class, but the Panamera has a wholly different mission. This is a sports car first and foremost.
How Does It Stack Up?
On top. In a recent comparo, the Panamera bested a Maserati Quattroporte GTS and a BMW 750i. We got our mitts on this one to see what we’d think of a more reasonably priced example (the comparo car rang up at a near-Turbo $130,855). This car’s more modest options list brought the sticker down to $106,210. The verdict? Still incredible—well, except for the polarizing exterior styling. No option will improve the looks much, but paying $4610 for wheels painted in the body color can make it look worse, so there’s that. If you can’t stand the exterior, then just crawl inside, where the layout and the materials are beyond reproach. No matter how firmly the car’s dynamics proclaim it a sports car, the interior stands up against the best the luxury sector can offer. This S was outfitted with the $1900 Natural Olive wood trim, and its matte finish allows you to feel the graining. We couldn’t stop staring at and caressing it.
What’s the Cost?
The V-6 Panamera starts at about $75,000. The S starts at $90,775, and the Turbo, at $133,575. Be careful with the extras—it’s easy to end up with an S way, way in excess of $100,000. In fact, using Porsche’s online “build your own” tool, we managed to ring up an options total that surpassed the base price—yes, Porsche offers more than $90,000 worth of options for this car. But exercise discretion, and for the money, the Panamera S offers a better blend of performance and luxury than pretty much any other car at its price.
