The Panamera remains, in my books, the perfect sedan.
Review and photos by Tom Sedens. There are always more photos at the end of my reviews.
I’ve always loved the Panamera, even though the first generation had a few ungainly styling elements. It did so much right that I didn’t care that the rear end looked weird, or that parts of it didn’t make sense. The latest generation addressed basically all of the styling elements that were questionable to me, bumped up performance capabilities and modernized the cabin. So for me, the perfect came became more perfect.
Exterior
Should a sports sedan really look like a sedan? The Panamera answers this question with an unequivocal “no”.
It has always set itself apart from the masses, its silhouette and proportions unmistakably Porsche. Athletic, streamlined and with a contoured, muscular stance, the Panamera will never be mistaken for anything else.
Its long wheelbase, shorter overhang at the front and longer rear overhang lend some visual excitement and I love how long the hood is. The car is long and low and gets a lot of looks. LED lighting is found everywhere on the exterior – the LED headlights include Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) with dynamic range control and cornering lights and speed-sensitive headlight range control.
The GTS models are easily recognizable thanks to use of the contrasting black trim. The side window trims, the side air outlets, the badging and the tailpipes are all finished in high-gloss black. The lower section of both front and rear fascias are finished in satin black while the taillights and the Panamera’s characteristic rear light strip are tinted. The GTS is lowered by 10mm compared to other trims.
The 20-inch wheels are shod with massive tires – 275/40 in the front and a steamroller-like 315/35 in the rear.
Interior/Tech/Convenience
Inside, Porsche has fused sports car ergonomics with a super-cool and sophisticated ascending center console (with integrated haptic feedback buttons) and its flat dashboard. Of course the analog tachometer in the center is a nod to tradition. Flanked by two 7-inch high-resolution screens, customizable to display a wealth of different information, it can even be made to look like Porsche’s traditional 5-gauge layout.
Materials are of the highest quality, as is the fit and finish. Stitched panels, real carbon fibre and Alcantara all make for a beautiful cabin.
The new steering wheel generation, offers quick access to the most important functions, and feels terrific in hand.
In the driver’s seat, everything is focused on you and your next destination. The seats are sculpted for comfort, heated and ventilated and are infinitely adjustable to find the perfect position for comfort and support.
From these supremely crafted seats to an intuitive touchscreen system to the staggering 1,455 watt, 21 loudspeakers Burmester sound system to a dual panoramic roof, every detail makes for an extraordinary journey.
When it comes to safety, there are a variety of driver assistance systems to make driving safer and more relaxing without being intrusive, including adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display and surround-view cameras.
Rear Seats
My review car had the optional 4+1 seating system, or more specifically 2+1, which is comprised of two full-size individual seats left and right and one centre seat in place of the storage compartment. It’s small and the middle passenger needs to splay their legs over the massive centre tunnel, but it works.
The outboard seats definitely hold their passengers in place, and while highly comfortable, may feel quite snug for bigger passengers. There is excellent headroom (at 5’10”, I had 2-3 inches to spare) and outstanding leg and foot room.
Rear passengers get a dual-zone (making for four total temperature zones in the car) touchscreen climate control panel with upper and lower adjustable air vents, a small rubberized drop-in tray and two USB-C plugs. The middle seatback folds down to become an armrest with cupholders.
Storage
The car has decent door pockets, a small storage area under the armrest lid (including a wireless charger and 12V and USB-C plugs) and a substantial glove compartment.
Everyday practicality is not lost on the Panamera. A large, long 495L trunk lives under the powered wide tailgate. Folding rear seat backrests down (they split 40/20/40) increases the size to a very useful 1334L.
You’ll find a 12V plug for accessories and cargo nets on the sides. A hard tonneau/security cover flips up with the hatch.
Under the Hood
As with any Porsche, it’s what is underneath that counts. The space under the long hood is home to a twin-turbo 4L V8 putting out 473 HP and 457 lb.ft of torque, the latter available from 1,800 RPM. All that power is sent through Porsche’s incredible PDK 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and on to an active all-wheel drive system.
Fuel economy is not the Panamera’s strong suit, but you’re not buying a big V8-powered sport sedan to act as a fuel miser.
Porsche rates this car at 15.7/11.2 L/100 km (city/highway). I do not want to discuss my personal fuel economy after my time with this car. I didn’t end up saving any trees, let’s put it that way.
The Drive
When the Panamera debuted, the world asked: Is it possible to create a true sports car with four doors? And to retain the dynamism of the Porsche brand? The car quickly answered: It absolutely is.
The Sport exhaust system emits a vicious bark when the car is fired up and settles to a menacing rumble. Under acceleration, the frenetic roar and power of the V8 is like a drug, where dipping into its prodigious reserves becomes addictive. Any time you ask it to, the Panamera GTS slingshots its occupants from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. And it will continue on to a top speed of 300 km/h. And letting off the gas emits a series of cackling pops from the exhaust, which is a ton of fun too!
Drivers choose between four driving modes – Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual – using a rotary selector on the steering wheel. Each mode impacts engine and throttle responsiveness, steering, suspension settings and even the exhaust note. And if you need even more, there’s a Sport Response button that dials everything up to maximum levels for up to 20 seconds, offering up whiplash-inducing levels of acceleration.
But it’s never been just about effortless jaw-dropping straight-line performance. The Panamera’s newly tuned chassis and steering and the nearly-clairvoyant adaptive air suspension allow it to effortlessly master the delicate balancing act between sport and comfort.
The ride is almost shockingly good, soaking up all but the worst of what Edmonton roads throw at it. And yet the handling does not compromise in the least – turn-in is sharp and controlled, traction is massive and the car stays flat even while cornering at track-like speeds. I will say this though – the Panamera is no lightweight, and you can absolutely feel the size and mass while driving it, including around corners. It feels very substantial on the road, which makes it planted when just driving normally, but it isn’t as athletic as a smaller Porsche can be.
The massive six-piston brake calipers at the front and four-piston brake calipers at the rear make quick work of bring the Panamera back down to earth – even from ludicrous speeds. Using minimal pedal travel, the braking is precise and ridiculously powerful and braking distances are as short as you want them to be.
The Verdict
WAF (Wife Approval Factor) was very, very high. She thought the car looks sexy and loved the interior. She loved the drive too, but said it’s a bigger car than she thought.
The Panamera combines supercar performance with world-class comfort. Whether you are behind the wheel or occupying one of the passenger seats, every drive feels like sport, not transport.
I found the Panamera incredibly easy to live with – all that performance does not come at the price of comfort or utility.
Porsche has consistently went their own way with the Panamera. By staying true to their roots and injecting Porsche DNA into the luxury sedan segment, they have created a masterpiece of driving performance and comfort.
Pricing: 2023 Porsche Panamera
Base price (GTS trim): $152,300
Options: $950 Jet Black Metallic paint; $1,150 Rear 2+1 seats; $5,820 Premium Package; $700 LED-Matrix headlights; $6,780 Burmester sound system; $4,250 Assistance package; $190 Exclusive Design fuel cap; $1,880 real axle steering; $2,050 21-inch SportDesign wheels; $540 all-season tires; $70 anti-theft bolts; $480 central tach in red; $480 Sport Chrono stopwatch in red; $110 smoking package; $960 front ventilated seats; $660 Porsche crest on front and rear headrests; $380 model designation on centre console armrest; $1,140 carbon fibre interior trim; $1,580 carbon fibre in illuminated carbon fibre; $5,310 deviated stitching package for interior; $420 rear wiper
Freight: $1,750
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $190,050
Disclosure: Vehicle was provided by Porsche Centre Edmonton.
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