Poised, comfortable, agile, and fast, the Porsche Panamera earns a 9 for performance.
The base Panamera has rear-wheel drive, but all other versions get standard all-wheel drive.
How fast is the Porsche Panamera?
It’s quick out of the box and Porsche offers versions that are seemingly intended to tear your face off. The base Panamera and Panamera 4 get a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 that makes 348 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. With at least 4,295 pounds of car to motivate, it’s capable of delivering a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds when buyers choose the optional Sport Chrono Package, which adds launch control.
The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and 4S E-Hybrid team the V-6 with a single motor that adds 187 hp for totals of 463 hp and 536 hp, respectively; their 0-60 mph times fall to 3.9 and 3.5 seconds, again with the Sport Chrono Package.
Next in the pecking order is the Panamera GTS, which draws its power from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that spits out 493 hp and 486 lb-ft, good for a 3.6-second 0-60 mph time.
Two more hybrids make up the top of the lineup. They are the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid and Turbo S E-Hybrid, which team the V-8 with the same 187-hp motor, for totals of 670 and 771 hp. Their 0-60 mph times are just 3.0 and 2.8 seconds. Wowza!
Top speeds range from 168 mph for the Panamera 4 to 202 mph for the Turbo S E-Hybrid. All are exceptional and the Turbo models’ top speeds are in supercar territory.
So far, we’ve only driven the base model and the GTS, and both are plenty powerful and both engines work well with the Panamera’s standard quick-acting and slick-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The powertrains are docile and restrained unless you switch to Sport+ mode or dig deep into the throttle. Then the power erupts, the car scoots forward with purpose, and the engines sing a guttural tune, especially the V-8.
The Panamera sits low and wide on its standard air suspension with adaptive dampers. It has a lot of traction as it’s set on wide and wider tires, measuring a minimum of 265/45R19 up front and 295/40R19 in the rear and stretching to 275/35R21 up front and 325/30R21 in the rear. Every Panamera is a natural athlete, with agile moves that make it feel smaller than its rather large size. The GTS sits 0.4 inch lower and has stiffer suspension settings, and with the available rear-axle steering it becomes especially maneuverable at lower speeds and stable at higher speeds. Even with the GTS’s stiffer settings, the ride quality is never harsh, though it’s not as pillow-soft as a Mercedes S-Class—but who would want that?
Handling is impressively neutral: the front end just tucks in and rotates and the rear end follows suit. Go into a corner especially hard and the available Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 summer performance tires will grip relentlessly until they let go with a snap, causing the car to bobble before regaining composure. The standard limited-slip rear differential optimizes power on corner exit, and the brakes are strong and progressive. The car is engaging, too, thanks to the plentiful road feel afforded through the small-diameter, thin-rimmed steering wheel that can be trimmed in synthetic suede.
The Panamera can even tow up to 4,850 pounds, which makes for one fun tow vehicle for small-to-moderately sized trailers.
