Porsche hasn’t forgotten about the Panamera, and it’s now back with a fresh set of upgrades.
The Panamera doesn’t usually pop up when we play the “name a Porsche” game. The 911? Sure. The Boxster? Of course. And with the world buzzing about the all-electric Taycan, the Panamera often gets lost in the shuffle, wedged somewhere between the popular Cayenne and Macan SUVs.
But here’s the thing: Porsche hasn’t forgotten the Panamera. It’s back, sharper and more comfortable than ever.
A car with very few true rivals (maybe the Mercedes-AMG GT four-door comes close), the Panamera straddles the line between agile sports car and high-performance grand tourer.
Balance is everything
This is the entry-level Panamera, and you’re looking at a V6 that’s been tweaked to deliver 349bhp and 500Nm. Not bad, but don’t expect a roar when you hit the gas. The V6 hums along, occasionally needing more of a nudge than you’d expect to gather pace on the highway.
But give the paddles a flick, click it into Sport mode, and things start to wake up. It’s satisfying because you actually get to feel like you’re using the engine to its limit, and not just tapping into some beastly reserve power that’s overkill for daily driving.
How’s the ride quality?
Rock solid. The brakes are confidence-inspiring, and the steering feels natural, responsive, and composed. Even though this model sports a simpler air suspension with adaptive dampers compared to the active suspension found on the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, it’s still a joy in the corners.
And for those keeping track, the old PDDC active anti-roll system has been replaced by this new tech. So, we’re moving into a new era of road-hugging brilliance.
And you look good driving fast
The Panamera’s redesign is like a band switching to an acoustic set; familiar, yet stripped back.
The front is sharper, the headlamps a bit squarer, and the rear lights now sweep across the entire back like a clean line drawn with a ruler. That third window now sports a little kink.
To the untrained eye, it honestly looks the same as its predecessor. But, these subtle changes help it maintain relevancy in today’s competitive market.
Inside is where it counts
Step into the cockpit, and you’re immediately reminded this is a proper low-slung coupe. It wraps around you, almost like it’s drawing you into its world.
The interface is mostly glass; there’s a 12.6-inch instrument screen, and a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen stacked with menus and icons, controlling the car’s treasure trove of settings.
Below that, there’s another black panel for climate control. It lights up when the car’s on, giving you a slight haptic feedback when you touch it. It works, but we’d still prefer old-school buttons. Thankfully, some physical toggles survived the touch takeover.
The cabin is impeccably put together, no doubt. Everything feels solid, except the lid above the phone charging mat. It’s a bit flimsy, which is unfortunate because it’s probably the one thing you’ll be opening all the time.
Oh, and if you’re into screens (or just spoiling your passenger princesses), you can opt for a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen or throw in two 10.1-inch rear-seat screens. But let’s be real, your passengers will use them once, then either get bored or car sick.
As for the back seats, they’re snug. With vents and sockets, the rear passengers won’t be too unhappy, though. And the middle tunnel on the four-seater option keeps siblings from waging territorial wars.
The optional 4+1 seat is, well, barely a seat. But the backrest splits 40:20:40, so you can chuck your skis or whatever in there with ease.
The boot is functional, but we’re not in estate territory anymore (RIP, Sport Turismo). The rear seats fold down, so you can fit more than a couple of weekend bags if needed.
And, because this is a Porsche, you could burn a fortune customising everything from the seats to the leather colour, stitching, seatbelts… the list goes on and on.
A winner
Porsche might label this Panamera as ‘all-new,’ but let’s call a spade a spade; it’s a seriously deep update of the previous model. And that’s absolutely fine.
The Panamera remains a unique beast, being a sports car from the front doors onwards, and a grand tourer from the rest of the body back. It feels as solidly built as you’d expect from Porsche, and every single control has that satisfying precision you just can’t fake. It’s comfortable, refined, and packed with luxury, even without splurging on those fancy options.
It is still very much in the game, and it’s playing to win.
Technical Specifications
Porsche Panamera
Engine: 2,894cc V6, Twin-Turbocharged
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 349bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Gearbox: 8-Speed PDK (A)
0-100km/h: 5.3 seconds
Top Speed: 272 km/h
Fuel Economy: 10.5 km/litre
Price: $498,468 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Porsche Singapore
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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