2022 Porsche Panamera

The Porsche Panamera is a full-size luxury hatchback sedan or wagon aimed at well-heeled buyers who still like a dash of dynamism and handling in their large luxe cars. Now in its second generation, the Panamera’s styling has finally caught up with its luxury amenities and shock-and-awe handling prowess. Changes for 2022 are modest: a new Platinum Edition appearance package is now available and Porsche made some subtle tweaks to the infotainment system. There are already more than enough iterations of the Panamera to suit the needs of any buyer with pockets deep enough. 

The lineup starts with a base model with rear-wheel-drive and a turbo V6, adds all-wheel-drive in the 4, more power in the 4S version, hybrid versions of the 4 and 4S dubbed E-Hybrid that add the boost of an electric motor to the V6, the GTS, with its twin-turbo V8 and performance-oriented upgrades throughout, the more powerful Turbo S, and finally, a corresponding Turbo E-Hybrid model. In addition to that laundry list of variants, there are Sport Turismo (wagon) and Executive (longer wheelbase for more rear-seat space) iterations of nearly every model.

The Panamera competes against a heady mix of high-end rivals. These include the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7 Series, and Audi’s A8 and S8. In this cohort, there is significant parity when it comes to tech, safety, and luxury amenities but the Panamera stands out as the driver’s choice, and the most progressively stylish one as well. It’s not quite as posh as the S-Class or Audi models, and lacks some of the austere, Bauhaus-inspired ethos of the BMW. 

With the Panamera, you’re sacrificing a small degree of luxe and in return gaining a huge amount of thrills that none of the other competitors can touch. Whether it’s a base rear-wheel-drive model and its (relatively) simple turbo V6, or a gobsmacking Turbo S Sport Turismo (who wouldn’t love a 620-horsepower performance station wagon?), the Panamera is a rewarding thrill no matter how hard or soft you drive it. 

Regardless of how spendy one gets at the options buffet, any iteration of the Panamera nicely layers on top of its aforementioned driving chops plenty of luxe comfort too. While it can’t match the panache and sophistication of the S-Class, the Porsche certainly makes you feel like you’re in a $100,000 to $200,000 full-size car. There’s also a long-wheelbase “Executive” version, which offers something resembling the huge rear cabins of rival luxury limos, though it still feels more performance-oriented than something to be chauffeured in. 

There’s plenty of comfy passenger space to go around (though less than the S-Class) and the Panamera has the added ace up its sleeve in the form of fold-flat rear seats and a hatchback design. This opens up considerably more practicality than anything else it might compete against, save for Tesla’s Model S or maybe the Audi RS7 (both are also hatchbacks). Said interior may not be as warm or opulent as an S-Class, but its combination of screens and finely-stitched leather surfaces should make any captain of industry (or pro sports team) feel right at home.

Performance: 14/15

Any flavor of the Panamera succeeds in terms of handling in a way that none of its rivals can match, thus making performance this model’s calling car within the segment. It all comes down to the recipe you prefer: rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, turbo V6 or turbo V8, gas-only or plug-in hybrid (plus hatchback or wagon)? 

The vast number of iterations start with the relatively modest (but eminently capable) base model, which comes with a 2.9-liter V6 making 325 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque driving the rear wheels. Panamera 4 models add all-wheel drive (AWD) but use this same engine. Stepping up the ladder, the Panamera 4S tunes the V6 up to 443 hp and 405 lb-ft.

Then there are the 4.0-liter V8 versions. GTS models get 473 hp and 457 lb-ft, while the Turbo S amps things up to 620 hp and 604 lb-ft.

Panamera E-Hybrid models add an electric motor for even more punch. The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid adds 134 hp and 295 lb-ft of punch to the V6 for a combined system output of 455 hp and 516 lb-ft, and all the E-Hybrid models get similarly elevated outputs, ranging up to 690 hp and 641 lb-ft in the Turbo S E-Hybrids.

All Panameras use Porsche’s eight-speed PDK automatic transmission, so there’s no manual, but this is one of the best and most responsive automatics on the market, and it can shift faster than most humans. 

There’s no bad way to slice the Panamera pie; the aforementioned base engine gets things done without excess or drama but the same engine retuned in the Panamera S (there with 443 horsepower) might be the sweetest sweet spot in the lineup. 0-60 times range from a modest 5.3 seconds in the aforementioned base Panamera, to an eye-scalding 2.9 seconds in the Turbo S and Turbo S wagon–and remember that Porsche’s claimed times are often conservative and that this is a truly massive car, up to 205 inches long in Executive form. 

Fuel Economy: 12/15

The EPA rates the base rear-wheel-drive Panamera, its AWD Panamera 4 counterpart and the more powerful 4S version all at 18 mpg city, 24 highway and 20 mpg combined. The GTS and Turbo S iterations are rated at 15 city, 21 highway and 17 mpg combined, but the E-Hybrid models do better. The 4 E-Hybrid is rated at 22 mpg combined and 52 MPGe; the 4S E-Hybrid also earns 22 mpg combined, but only 50 MPGe. The Turbo S E-Hybrid is rated at 19 mpg combined and 48 MPGe overall. 

Regardless of which flavor you choose, the Panamera’s efficiency is generally close to its respective counterparts at Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. Only the Lexus LS hybrid can really beat all these models on fuel efficiency, but it isn’t nearly as exciting to drive as the Panamera.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 9/15

The Panamera has not yet been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This hurts its score in our evaluations, but most vehicles this expensive are also never tested by these agencies and Porsche’s safety systems are second to none.

Safety features include the standard kit on most vehicles today: lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, all the airbags (driver and passenger front and knee airbags; side airbags for front and rear; and curtain airbags for all passengers), and front and rear parking sensors. 

Unfortunately, items like lane-change assist or Porsche’s traffic and road-monitoring iteration of its adaptive cruise control system must be added as (yes, expensive) options. 

Comfort & Room: 13/15

Porsche doesn’t provide specifications for its interior space so it’s difficult to compare the car specifically to rivals from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. That said, all four seats (yes, the Panamera is a four-seater, not a five-seater), offer plenty of space for tall adults. 

People looking for a Panamera that maximizes rear seats accommodations should consider the Executive version (available on all versions except the base and the GTS). This upgrade stretches the car’s wheelbase by just under half a foot, with all of the added room dumped in the now-commodius rear seats. 

What’s more, the Panamera is a hatchback with folding rear seats, offering cargo space and flexibility that most rivals other than the Audi RS7 cannot. Still, if it’s passenger space and comfort one is prioritizing over other factors, the Panamera’s performance-first ethos may not be the best match for you in light of what its competition can offer.   

Infotainment: 11/15

The Panamera’s cabin is highlighted by a 12-inch infotainment screen mounted in the center of the dashboard. It offers wireless Apple CarPlay, plus navigation, audio and ancillary functions for the car. Below this screen, flanking the shifter, is a center console festooned with touch-sensitive controls and several physical switches to control the climate system but numerous performance-oriented functions of the car. 

In an age where many luxury automakers are relying exclusively on touchscreens to control nearly every facet of a car’s functions, it’s nice to have the more reliable setup of the Panamera’s. The simulated click from the haptic feedback on the touch-sensitive buttons is also much-appreciated. 

The Panamera’s instrument panel is another nice blend of tech and tradition. Flanking the center-mounted analog tachometer (where Porsche has put it from time immemorial) are two digital clusters on either side that can be programmed to display a wide variety of info, from a real-time map linked to the navigation system, to audio displays, to driving or trip data, to performance data like a G-force meter or lap times. 

Under the center armrest are hidden a wireless charging pad for smartphones, plus USB ports to charge and connect phones.

Cargo Space & Storage: 14/15

The regular (non-hybrid) Panamera hatchback models offer 17.6 cubic feet of trunk space with the rear seats in place. But this car’s trick up its cargo sleeve is its ability to fold flat the rear seats (which are split 40/20/40). Doing so means a whopping 47.3 cubic feet of space, dwarfing nearly anything else in the Panamera’s segment apart from the Audi RS7, and nearly matching that car. Only the Tesla Model S (also a hatch) offers more cargo volume.

Those figures increase less than you’d think on the Sport Turismo wagon iterations, which offer 18.3 cubic feet with the seats up and 49 cubic feet with them folded. 

Hybrid non-wagon models have 14.2 cubic feet and 43.8 cubic feet of space with the seats upright and folded, respectively, and wagon versions have 14.7 cubic feet and 45.4 cubic feet of space respectively. 

Style & Design: 8/10

The exterior design on this second-generation of Panamera finally found out what the first generation was so desperately seeking: how to mimic the profile of Porsche’s iconic 911 sports car, with an extra set of doors and some wheelbase grafted on. The look is sleek and refined from any angle, with broad shoulders and large wheels and tires filling up the entirety of the wheelwells, all of which hint at the Panamera’s performance chops. 

The lighting all around is unmistakably Porsche, particularly at the rear, where the horizontal light bar spans the width of the car and connects a pair of sculpted taillights mounted flush with the body. 

In terms of the quality of interior construction, Porsche could write a book for the rest of the industry on how to assemble a rock-solid interior with the tolerances of a brain surgeon. The Panamera’s interior may not have the supple lushness of Mercedes’ S-Class but it’s a case study on precision and exacting fit and finish while offering all of the comfort and security one expects when piloting a car this large at triple-digit speeds. 

Is the 2022 Porsche Panamera Worth It? Which Panamera is the Best Value?

Pricing on the Panamera covers a wide delta: things start at about $94,000 for the base rear-wheel drive model and shoot up to $208,000 for the Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive. And that’s before you add any of Porsche’s countless options that are often thought of as standard fare on vehicles across the industry. 

This means there’s likely a Panamera version to suit most full-size luxury sedan shoppers who are looking to put performance and handling a little higher on the list of priorities than opulent and soft comfort. 

For buyers looking for true handling and the Panamera distilled into its purist form, aim for the GTS model. Not only is it the cheapest way to get a V8 under the Panamera’s hood (starting at $137,000), but it’s got the proper chassis bits to help the car carve up canyons like few cars this size can. 

If that’s too spendy or speed-focused, a straightforward 4S (443 horsepower from a twin-turbo V6) starts at a reasonable $111,000 and will offer everything that makes the Panamera (and any car in this segment) great: unabashed luxury, exclusivity, comfort, and style. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Porsche Panamera?

The Panamera is not a cheap car to buy or insure, though the insurance costs vary by model. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $4,483 for a base Panamera and up to $5,838 for a Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo E-Hybrid, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $5,285 for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, $5,220 for the Audi A8, $5,028 for the BMW 750i xDrive and $3,820 for the Genesis G90. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.