Insurance Group: 49
MPG: 22.6
CO2: 293
0-62 Mph: 5.6 secs
BHP: 400 BHP
Range: 398 miles
PROS: The V8 engine offers some excellent performance figures, and the Panamera delivers a good level of equipment and an excellent driving experience.
CONS: The Panamera is designed to offer both speed and practicality, but comes with a hefty purchase price and high running costs.
The Panamera's suspension offers three settings which range from Comfort to Sport Plus, but the ride remains firm regardless of the setting. However, once you get the car out on the open road the ride becomes suppler and it handles beautifully and has steering which is responsive and accurate, hitting the corners with precision and offering plenty of grip. Those who will be expecting a typical 'Porsche' driving experience will be disappointed, but that is not to say that the Panamera is a good car.
The driving position is good with electric seat adjustment to help the driver get comfortable, and visibility is also good, but the centre console is a little cluttered.
The 4.8 litre V8 engine offers some good performance figures, and while it may not quite match the fastest Porsches, it is still very good. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes only 5.6 seconds, and the top speed is 177mph. The refinement in the cabin is also very impressive, with minimal road and engine noise intrusion.
The Panamera's looks are a little challenging; the Panamera looks like a swollen 911. However, once you get past the strangeness of the design, you begin to appreciate that it is a good-looking car. The Panamera's lines are handsome and the design is well balanced. Inside the plush cabin, the seats are classy and the dials are easy to read, but the sheer number of buttons and switches on the centre console is enough to baffle most people.
Although this version isn’t the highest specification available, it does come with a high standard of equipment, with the leather seats and alloy wheels both fitted as standard. It also comes with satellite navigation and a CD stereo with a built in DVD player. Cruise control and climate control make this a practical and comfortable car for long journeys, and the power folding mirrors are one of the classy touches typical of such a high quality car.
Practicality is one of the main reasons that most people will be considering the Panamera over the 911 or another Porsche, and the space in the car means that four people can be comfortably accommodated. The boot space is also quite good, but the small boot door means that this space isn't quite as accessible as it might be. Porsche has an excellent reputation for producing reliable cars, and the Panamera shows no signs of being any different in this respect.
Although the Panamera hasn’t been submitted to the Euro NCAP safety test, it is supplied with a high level of safety equipment. There is a wide range of airbags to look after passengers in the front and the rear of the car, and the driver aids help to keep the car stable and responsive on the road.
The price tag for this version of the Panamera is £77,453 - around £4k more than a BMW M5 but several thousand less than a Maserati Quattroporte. For a Porsche, the Panamera 4.8 V8 S is very reasonably priced, costing around the same as a fairly basic 911 Carrera S.
Keeping the Panamera on the road will be expensive, with the car returning 22.6mpg on the combined cycle. Insurance premiums will also be very high, but one plus point is that the resale values are very good. The Panamera has a three year warranty and roadside breakdown assistance.
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