2021 Porsche Panamera Review

　　

2021 Porsche Panamera Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The Porsche 911 is easily one of the best sports cars in history, but like many coupes of its kind, it's not very practical. The cargo compartment is small and the rear seats aren't even suitable for most children. The good news is if you're seeking similar thrills with the convenience of a sedan, you're in luck. The 2021 Porsche Panamera masterfully fills that role.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Porsche Panamera 4dr Sedan (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$228/mo  for Panamera Base

　　Panamera Base

　　4 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) - $91,800 MSRP4dr Sedan (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) - $87,200 MSRP4 Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) - $98,000 MSRP4 Executive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) - $98,500 MSRP4 E-Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $103,800 MSRP4S 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) (Most Popular) - $105,000 MSRP4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $107,800 MSRP4 E-Hybrid Executive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $108,300 MSRP4S Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) - $111,200 MSRP4S E-Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $113,300 MSRP4S Executive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8AM) - $116,300 MSRP4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $117,300 MSRP4S E-Hybrid Executive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $124,600 MSRPGTS 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $129,300 MSRPGTS Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $135,500 MSRPTurbo S 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $177,700 MSRPTurbo S Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $181,700 MSRPTurbo S E-Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $187,700 MSRPTurbo S Executive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $188,100 MSRPTurbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $191,700 MSRPTurbo S E-Hybrid Executive 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $198,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Like the 911 lineup, the Panamera is offered in a dizzying array of choices. There are three available body styles plus eight trim levels that deliver varying degrees of performance. For 2021, some Panamera models receive power increases, hybrid models gain larger batteries, a new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid debuts, and last year's Panamera Turbo becomes the more powerful Turbo S.

　　Whichever Panamera you choose, you're guaranteed to get one of the best sport luxury sedans available. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth analysis of this year's Panamera.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Panamera drive? Porsche proves that a large luxury sedan doesn't have to be barge-like or clumsy. The Porsche Panamera offers a masterful blend for those who want to still enjoy the drive as much as they desire comfort. The entry-level Panamera's 2.9-liter V6, which is what we tested, provides enough oomph to get to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. The brakes are equally powerful and hauled down our Panamera to a dead stop in a ridiculously short 102 feet. We'd be shocked if this were anything else other than a Porsche.

　　And it's not just straight-line performance that the Panamera does well. Steering response and accuracy are among the best in class, as is the way it moves around corners. The Panamera is always composed, sure-footed and nimble. The base model won't bend the laws of physics like the higher-performance spec models do, but there's more than enough athleticism to uphold Porsche's performance reputation. And when you're not out for thrills, the car just works the way you'd expect any luxury sedan to.

　　The only small criticism we'd add is a heavier-than-usual accelerator pedal. It's something you may adjust to over time even if we weren't able to after a week of driving.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Panamera? Some luxury sedans do comfort better than the Panamera, but few can match its performance at the same time. Few concessions have been made in exchange for the impressive dynamic capability. The suspension impressively smooths out bumps in the road. Make sure to get the optional sport seats. The standard seats lack some adjustment and support during hard driving, even though they provide decent baseline comfort.

　　The climate control interface is fussier than it needs to be, with touchscreen-controlled vents that look cool but are less convenient than simple manually pointable vents. The system itself offers ample cooling capacity, and the heated seats and ventilation function effectively. As far as noise goes, there's an ever-present faint hum of road noise. However, wind and ambient noise on the highway is all but absent, and the engine is well muffled when you're just cruising.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? This-generation Panamera forgoes the glut of traditional buttons of its predecessor, but the touch-sensitive buttons that have replaced some of them aren't necessarily better. Some buttons take a few presses to work and can require you to take valuable attention away from the road. We like that there's still a touchscreen and appreciate the small dial control that provides some redundancy in how you control things.

　　There's plenty of space in the Panamera up front. There's less in back compared to the rest of the class unless you opt for the long-wheelbase model. The driver's seat and steering column have an excellent range of basic adjustments to accommodate drivers of almost all sizes. The view out of the back window is slightly obscured by the rear headrests, but surround-view camera coverage makes this a non-issue at parking lot speeds. Visibility out of the front is excellent.

　　Getting in and out of the Panamera is easy. The doors don't have traditional detents but will stay open in any position you want. They also close with ease. Our test car had the soft-close door option, which will even finish closing the door for you if it's not shut all the way.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The standard Bose sound system is good enough that you probably can save on the pricey audio upgrade. The sound is rich and clear, and we could crank the volume to our ears' content. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard, and the onboard nav system is one of the better systems if you're not using your phone.

　　The main screen is responsive and easy to control. We love the gauge cluster pod that can cue up a small navigation screen. But we're less impressed with the smartphone accommodations. Bluetooth took a little longer to connect in our testing than in other cars. We also found our test smartphone got hot in the wireless charger, which also failed to provide adequate charging power while our phone was in use. And there aren't many options for charging beyond that. Our test Panamera lacked standard USB ports for rear passengers, which is disappointing for a flagship luxury sedan.

　　Advanced driver aids are almost all optional in the Panamera, which is unusual for a luxury brand. When we've tested Porsche's aids, we found them to be mostly well tuned to avoid false alarms.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Panamera benefits from a hatchback trunk, but it doesn't reap as much of an advantage as that body style usually imparts. Cargo space is pretty generous on paper, with 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. But since the trunk is a bit shallow and has a higher liftover, it's not as convenient as it could be. The seatbacks can split and fold flat to allow for longer items, but since there's also no remote seatback releases to lower the seats from the hatch, you have to do so from the rear doors.

　　The Sport Turismo's cargo space is only marginally bigger, but its lower liftover height and upright hatch allow easier loading of bulky items. The door pockets, bins and glovebox are all on the small side, leaving you limited options for your personal items.

　　Car seat anchors are a little hard to locate — they're very deep within the slits in the seat. The top tethers for front-facing seats are fairly accessible, but the cargo cover in back has to be removed in order to route them through. The limited rear legroom will also limit the size of the seat that this car will accommodate unless you get the Executive long-wheelbase model.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates fuel economy for the rear-wheel-drive Panamera with the V6 at 20 mpg combined. This isn't all that great as the Panamera 4S, which makes much more power and has all-wheel drive, achieves the exact same rating.

　　On our evaluation route, which includes a fair amount of highway roads, we achieved a promising 24.6 mpg. At least this indicates to us that the Panamera should have no issue achieving its EPA estimates.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Panamera a good value? Porsche build quality is often top-notch, and the Panamera is fundamentally solid. However, some of the interior materials in our car fell a little short of what we'd expect in a $100,000-plus luxury performance sedan. For example, we thought the door materials and even the drive mode knob on the steering wheel felt a little cheap. You'll also end up paying more than the Panamera's base price since many desirable features are extra. This does not make the Panamera a bad choice, but it's not exactly a great value for the money either.

　　Porsche's warranty coverage is standard for the class with four years/50,000 miles of basic and powertrain coverage. Roadside assistance runs for the same duration.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The Porsche Panamera is much better than the average luxury sedan in terms of driving fun. Few cars can match the way the Panamera engages its driver. It also does the luxury thing pretty well. And with the latest redesign, the Panamera has more pleasing styling than earlier iterations. Sleek, sporty, modern, refined — the Panamera is a complete package.

　　

Which Panamera does zzdcar recommend?

With models that start between $90,000 and $190,000, there is a Panamera to suit your particular desires and budget. For us, the Panamera 4S hits the sweet spot between performance and price. The added power output justifies the step up over supporting models, and most features from higher-trimmed models are available as options.

　　

2021 Porsche Panamera models

The 2021 Porsche Panamera comes in three body styles: the regular Panamera sedan, which actually has a hatchback-style trunk; a longer-wheelbase Executive model with additional rear seat legroom; and the Sport Turismo, which has a wagon-like profile and additional cargo space. There are also many trim levels available that are distinguished by different drivetrains and features, but not in every body style. These include the base Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera 4S, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera 4S E-Hybrid, Panamera GTS, Panamera Turbo S and Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

　　Panamera

　　Besides the typical items expected of any luxury sedan, the base Panamera standard feature highlights include:

　　Turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (325 horsepower, 331 lb-ft of torque) Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the rear wheels Adaptive suspension (adjusts to help improve ride comfort and handling) Panoramic sunroof Heated front seats 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen Navigation system Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration Wireless charging pad 10-speaker audio system Driver aids include: Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Panamera 4

　　The Panamera 4 includes all of the above and adds all-wheel drive.

　　Panamera 4S

　　The Panamera 4S is identical to the Panamera 4 but increases power output to 443 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It also has:

　　Air suspension (adjusts to lower or raise the vehicle's ride height) Panamera 4 E-Hybrid

　　The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid that is both greener and meaner (thanks to more power). Added enhancements include:

　　V6 engine, electric motor and rechargeable battery pack produce a total of 462 hp and 516 lb-ft EPA-estimated 19 miles of all-electric driving range on a full charge Panamera 4S E-Hybrid

　　The new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid upgrades the 4 E-Hybrid with a power increase to 552 hp and 553 lb-ft. You also get:

　　Upgraded brakes Sport Chrono package (analog clock/stopwatch atop the dashboard, drive mode switch on the steering wheel, and launch control)Panamera GTS

　　The Panamera GTS is the first step into the higher-performing eight-cylinder models and brings:

　　Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (473 hp, 457 lb-ft) All-wheel drive Sport exhaust system Lower ride height Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Unique sporty styling touches Upgraded front seats Panamera Turbo S

　　The Turbo S trim replaces the previous Panamera Turbo model. Standard upgrades include:

　　Upgraded turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (620 hp, 604 lb-ft) All-wheel drive Ceramic-composite brake rotors Rear-wheel steering (enhance steering response and handling agility) Torque-vectoring for the AWD system (enhances handling agility) Heated rear seats Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

　　Finally, at the top of the lineup, the Turbo S E-Hybrid combines the Turbo V8 and E-Hybrid and adds:

　　Power increase to 690 hp and 641 lb-ft Second air-conditioning system to cool the car while it's parked 14-speaker Bose audio systemThe Panamera is also available with a wide range of additional technology, safety and customization-oriented features. These include but are not limited to:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Four-zone automatic climate control Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Soft-close doors Night vision camera system Middle rear seat Ventilated seats Massaging seats Premium audio

　　

2021 Panamera Highlights

Type: SedanWagonPlug-in HybridSedan

　　Trim: Base44 Executive4 E-Hybrid4S4 E-Hybrid Executive4S E-Hybrid4S Executive4S E-Hybrid ExecutiveGTSTurbo STurbo S E-HybridTurbo S ExecutiveTurbo S E-Hybrid ExecutiveBase

　　

Base MSRP	$87,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$228/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles