Insurance Group: N/A
MPG: 41.5
CO2: 159
0-62 Mph: 6.0 secs
BHP: 333 BHP
Range: 730 miles
PROS: The Porsche Panamera has the benefit of sports car styling and performance with the advantage of fuel efficiency, and comes with the high level of equipment you’d expect in a Porsche.
CONS: The high purchase price coupled with the fact that it isn’t as efficient as the diesel will be a problem for many people, and the balance of the engine throws off the handling of the car.
The driving experience has always been one of the greatest attractions of owning a Porsche, but with this front-mounted hybrid engine it does mean that understeer can be a problem. The slow-speed ride is also a problem, but this becomes much better when you start to drive at speed where the suspension is suppler and offers a better ride. The driving position in the Panamera is excellent, offering plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat and good visibility, but the sheer number of buttons and switches can get very confusing.
Although this is a hybrid engine the performance isn’t much below what you would expect from the other cars in the Panamera range. The acceleration from 0-62mph is still a brisk 6.0 seconds, and the top speed of 167mph means that it is more than comfortable on the motorway. Unfortunately, the issue of understeer does mean that you probably wouldn’t want to test this version on a racetrack, but the refinement in the cabin is generally good.
From the outside the hybrid version of the Panamera shares its brother’s good looks, with the bulging headlights flanking the contoured bonnet sliding gracefully towards the cabin. The lines of the car are curved and aerodynamic, and the back end is tidy and is only a little bit more rounded than the 911 in order to incorporate the rear hatchback door. The inside of the cabin is classy and stylish, with the bright white dials on the dashboard being easy to read, but the centre console is absolutely crammed with buttons and switches.
Many of these switches are there to operate the CD stereo system which also incorporates a DVD player, while the car can also boast an integrated satellite navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity. The power heated seats have a sumptuous leather trim, and the level of luxury in this car really is very good indeed.
The Panamera has a good range of safety equipment, and the driving aids that help to keep the car on the road certainly include some features not normally found in the average hatchback. The airbags are also present to help look after the passengers in the front and rear of the car should there be an accident. Porsche are well known for making reliable cars, and while the hybrid technology is new, it should still be a very reliable car to drive.
The Panamera is the Porsche for those who find the 911 or the Boxster a little too impractical, and while the space inside doesn’t match the Cayenne, it can still accommodate four adults in comfort. The boot space is also very good, with the front mounted engine giving the car full use of the hatchback, although the boot door is a little small.
One of the biggest problems for people who are thinking of buying the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is that the purchase price of £86,396 is a large amount of money, especially when you look at the prices for the petrol and diesel versions.
The running costs aren’t too bad, with the hybrid engine delivering 41.5mpg, although this isn’t as much as the diesel version. Insurance premiums are likely to be very high, but one positive note is that the Porsche brand generally holds its value very well. This Panamera is supplied with a three year warranty and roadside breakdown assistance.
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