Review of the Porsche Panamera

The Porsche Panamera Hatchback is the perfect balance between a sports car and a saloon. A family-friendly version of the 911, the Panamera Hatchback comes with excellent performance while having a spacious and luxurious interior. 

Rivals to the Panamera Hatchback include the Audi A7 Sportback, Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe, BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, and the electric Tesla Model S. 

Our Porsche Panamera Hatchback review covers:

Smart exterior with sloping rear roofline 

Spacious and comfortable interior 

495 litre boot, decreases to 303 litres in PHEV 

A range of V6 and V8 petrol engines, which are available in PHEV versions 

Six trim levels 

Pros:

• Powerful range of engines 
• Plug-in hybrid tech available 
• Good amount of interior space 

Cons:

• Very expensive, especially for the range-topping trims 
• No diesel option 
• Feels wide when driving around town 

The Panamera Hatchback is a smart looking car. At the front it’s very Porsche, with raised headlamps and small air intakes, but make your way down the side and it follows an executive design. There’s four doors that have flowing creases from front to back, and the rear end has a sloping roofline that transitions into a light strip just above the boot. 

Climb inside the cabin of the Panamera Hatchback and you’ll find premium materials and loads of space. Front passengers won’t have any complaints about space, while two adults can easily fit in the rear. There’s also plenty of storage options including large door bins and a central divide in the rear.

Boot space comes in at 495-litres in petrol form and 403 litres for the plug-in hybrids. The petrol version exceeds the Mercedes CLS but falls short of the Audi A7 Sportback for rear space, however, you can also fold the rear seats down to increase luggage space to 1,334 litres. 

The interior of the Panamera Hatchback is on par with the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. The dashboard is driver-oriented and is neatly laid out, and there’s various high-quality materials like leather seats, soft-touch plastics, and there's even a time-piece on top of the dash. 

All models of the Panamera Hatchback come with a 12.3-inch infotainment system that has a DAB radio, sat-nav, and smartphone mirroring. It’s easy to use and shows clear graphics, but isn’t as responsive as the ones found in the Mercedes CLS or BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe. 

Behind the steering wheel is a central rev counter that’s flanked by two digital screens that can show different information depending on driver preferences. 

Six trim levels are available for the Panamera Hatchback: Panamera, 4, Platinum Edition, 4S, GTS, and Turbo S. 

Panamera has 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a two-way adaptive rear spoiler, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, a digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, adaptive air suspension, front and rear parking sensors, and cruise control. 

4 is the same as the entry-level trim albeit with all-wheel drive. 

4 Platinum Edition has 21-inch alloy wheels, a high-gloss black and satin gloss platinum exterior trim, 14-way front seats with memory, heated rear seats, and a 14-speaker Bose surround-sound system. 

4S has a more powerful engine and unique alloy wheels. 

GTS gets 20-inch black alloy wheels, black exterior styling, an Alcantara-leather heated steering wheel, 18-way adjustable front sports seats, a Sport Chrono pack, a sports exhaust system, lower suspension, larger brakes. 

Turbo S gets 21-inch alloy wheels, ceramic brakes, yellow brake callipers, a head-up display, keyless entry, and  leather roof lining. 

There’s a good amount of choice when it comes to the engines available for the Panamera Hatchback. There’s three V6s and two V8s available, both in either traditional form or plug-in hybrid form. 

The entry-level unit, a 2.9-litre V6, is available on the first three trims. It has 325bhp and goes from 0-62mph in around 5.3 seconds, while returning a fuel economy in the mid twenties. 

It’s also available as a plug-in hybrid, which is our pick of the engines. It pairs the 2.9-litre engine with a 100kW electric motor to return 455bhp and  achieve 0-62mph in just 4.4 seconds.  You can also drive in pure-electric mode for up to 33 miles (or up to 87mph) and get a fuel economy from 113 - 141mpg. 

The 4S sits in the middle of the engine range. It’s the same V6 engine as the entry-level unit, but comes with more power at 44bhp and will shoot from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds. Like the others, it’s available as a plug-in hybrid which has 552bhp and gets to 62mph in 3.7 seconds. 

The range-toppers are the pair of V8s, the GTS and Turbo S. The GTS comes with 473bhp and bolts from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, while the Turbo S has a whopping 621bp and does 0-62mph in just over 3 seconds. The latter is also available as a plug-in hybrid and has 690bhp! 

Around town, the Panamera's large size and low driving position make it challenging to manoeuvre and judge its extremities. Even with adaptive suspension, the ride remains firm, and it struggles with sharp bumps. The automatic transmission is smooth in stop-and-go traffic, and hybrid models offer quiet electric driving. However, it's not an ideal fit for city driving and suits open spaces better.

On the motorway, the Panamera excels in performance, effortlessly reaching high speeds with a light touch on the pedal. Ride comfort improves, reflecting its development for high-speed stability, like on the German autobahn. Keep in mind that there's no diesel option for long-distance economy, and hybrid efficiency may drop on extended journeys once the battery depletes.

On country roads, the Panamera's width can be intimidating on narrow routes but shines on open, sweeping roads. Regardless of suspension type, it offers grip and composure, though it doesn't match the Porsche 911's fun factor. Most models feature four-wheel drive, maximising their power in various weather conditions.

Prices for the new Porsche Panamera Hatchback start from £82,500.00 OTR* or to lease from £812.02 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Porsche Panamera Hatchback? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.