2022 Porsche Panamera

By New Car Test Drive June 17, 2022

The 2022 Porsche Panamera blends performance, style, and luxury like no other sedan, wagon, or hatchback on the market. This stunning, tasteful lineup channels the automaker’s 911 sports car and Cayenne SUV, but it makes a solid mark on its own.

Minor tweaks for 2022 include new wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus updates to the infotainment system that give it Spotify integration and improved voice recognition.

The Panamera remains available as either a conventional (well, by Porsche standards) hatchback or a taller wagon-like version called Sport Turismo. A dizzying array of models awaits just about any luxury-level budget.

Every Panamera is a quick Panamera, ranging from the 325-hp V-6-powered base model through twin-turbo V-6 and V-8 versions with and without electric-motor assistance that turns them into unlikely eco-friendly choices.

To that end, the Panamera E-Hybrid offers a plug-in drivetrain with up to 19 miles of electric range, and overall ratings of 52 MPGe and 22 mpg combined. The base Panamera’s EPA ratings of 18 mpg city, 24 highway, 20 combined won’t win it any efficiency awards, though other versions are as low as 17 mpg combined.

Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA have crash tested the Panamera. Every Panamera comes with automatic emergency braking, while options include adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and night vision.

Model Lineup

Porsche offers an astounding 24 different versions of the Panamera, each of which is available with a wide range of individual options extending from packages to line-item tweaks.

The range starts at about $90,000 in base V-6 form, or about $4,500 more with all-wheel drive. The more practical Sport Turismo adds another $6,000 to that.

Standard fare includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated power-adjustable front seats, two-passenger rear seating, leather upholstery, 10-speaker audio, and wireless smartphone charging.

The Platinum Edition that’s new this year piles on an air suspension, matrix LED headlights, a panoramic roof, and 21-inch wheels for about $103,000 to start.

The range escalates quickly from there. Worth special mention is the GTS – which might as well be German for “Goldilocks spec” – thanks to its special suspension tuning, 20-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, and 18-way power front seats. Oh, and of course its 473-hp twin-turbo V-8.

Work your way through the model lineup and Porsche will charge you as much as $250,000 for a Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive with bespoke paint and every option in the book.

Exterior

Three basic Panamera iterations are available: the base hatchback, a long-wheelbase Executive version with more rear-seat room, and the stubby hatchback called Sport Turismo.

All pair a low roofline with voluptuous fenders, big wheels, and fine detailing throughout. Porsche-classic details abound: the slatted front air intakes, the shape of the headlights, and the deep strakes carved into the body sides. There’s as much 911 here as there is Cayenne.

Interior

Inside, the latest Panamera trades an old Vertu phone-inspired dash for a sparse affair, which reminds us of the old adage that there’s luxury in space.

A wide touchscreen dominates infotainment and climate displays, plus digital gauges lend a high-tech look. The cabin is streamlined, modern, and simple – and with the right combination of color and trim it can be sporty, classic, or decadent.

The front seats offer power adjustment as standard, but they hardly stop there. Porsche offers several seat variants with more adjustment and bolstering, plus upgraded upholstery.

Tall passengers will feel at home in row two, or even better in the Executive with its extra six inches of leg room. Base models have a small console between the rear seats, though Sport Turismos can seat three abreast.

Cargo space ranges from around 18 cubic feet to over 50 cubes with the rear seat folded down in the Executive model.

Driving Impressions

Even though there are so many different variations on the basic Panamera theme, we can wrap up our driving impressions with a single word: brilliant.

OK, maybe we should expand on that. These cars are heavy – upward of 4,500 pounds – and yet they go down the road with an almost unreal level of unflappable grip and poise. Ride quality is spectacular, even with the biggest wheels on offer, and steering heft and feel sets the benchmark for luxury cars – or, really, for just about any car.

Porsche’s rear-wheel-steering system helps it feel more maneuverable at low speeds and even better planted at high speeds.

Underhood, thrust is substantial regardless of powertrain. The base V-6 is quick at just 5.2 seconds in the 0-60 mph sprint, but dial up the Turbo S with the Sport Chrono package and that number can be under three seconds. That’s electric-car quick, and power pours on all the way to upward of 180 mph should you find a legal place to do so.

The 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission delivers shifts with ridiculous speed, either on its own or when flipped through gears via standard paddle shifters.

Final Word

Polished, poised and downright fun, the Porsche Panamera is a dream come true when it comes to full-size luxury cars.

 

–by Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection