Used 2015 Porsche Panamera

While many Porsche purists decried a 4-door Porsche signaled the end of days, the Panamera performance sedan for 2015 has clearly proven them wrong. From its stunning and sometimes polarizing silhouette to its impressive variations including a 570-horsepower Turbo S model and a plug-in hybrid variant, the Panamera 4-door sedan doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. There’s even a plug-in hybrid model that can bolt to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds and achieve a top speed of 167 mph. Sure, you’ll find more room in the back of a Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and a more reasonable price on a BMW 640i Gran Coupe, but the Panamera’s distinctive shape and razor-sharp driving experience are something no competitor can match.

Words cannot do the 2015 Porsche Panamera driving experience justice. From the 310-horsepower base model right up to the 570-horsepower Turbo S, every trim offers its own variation of handling and performance that is a delight in its own unique way. Sure, the nearly 2-ton Panamera isn’t as fleet-of-foot as a 911 or Cayman, but this big sedan’s ability to round corners and deliver direct and constant feedback to the driver is simply better than in any other high-output performance sedan of its size. Porsche’s sophisticated suspension dampening and steering setup are capable of dispatching road imperfections and irregularities that would jostle and bounce lesser sedans. Such praise is lavished on all but one model, that being the S E-Hybrid whose systems somewhat numb the Panamera’s steering and brake feel. Then again, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as when the hybrid is accelerating under full electric power.

Because the seats in the 2015 Porsche Panamera 4-door sit low, getting in or out can take patience. The interior is a statement to Porsche luxury and technology, and fit/finish is impeccable. Seating is terrific for those in front, with plenty of space even for taller folks, but less so for those in the rear – the exception being the long-wheelbase trims that offer good legroom but still somewhat claustrophobic accommodations. Expectedly, the sound system is magnificent and there is enough technology to suit the most committed early-adopter, but we counted about 75 control functions that are reachable from the driver’s seat.

While Porsche’s reputation was built on the racetracks of the world and that competition heritage is certainly the single-most significant aspect of the marketing message, the unmistakable “Porsche-ness” of the exterior shapes of all the company’s products ties them together like pictures on a family greeting card. Even with four doors, there is no confusing that the 2015 Panamera is a Porsche. Last year’s styling tweaks included a tightening of the body’s lines, available LED headlights (standard on Turbo S), an expanded rear trunklid with a wider glass window and an electrically deploying spoiler.

EXTERIOR STYLING
One of the perks of dropping six figures on an automobile is that you’ll get noticed wherever it goes. That is certainly true of Porsche’s Panamera sports sedan for 2015. Nothing remotely resembles it, except maybe two 911s parked bumper-to-bumper.

S E-HYBRID PLUG-IN HYBRID
The Panamera S E-Hybrid’s plug-in system is better than just a standard hybrid setup because you can charge the vehicle overnight and then run exclusively on electric power until the batteries are exhausted (at speeds up to 85 mph for about 22 miles). Charging time when hooked to a 240-volt outlet takes about two hours.

Standard equipment on the 2015 Porsche Panamera base version, besides all the usual luxury items appropriate for the price range, includes a slide/tilt moonroof, electronically controlled shock absorbers, Porsche Stability Management, hard-drive-based navigation, an automatic liftgate, ParkAssist, Bluetooth, 8-way power front seats, and a host of additional luxury, convenience and safety features. Long-wheelbase executive models feature Adaptive air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management to improve both ride and handling.

With a vehicle that offers paint and leather upholstery to match provided samples, you would be correct in guessing the list of available options is lengthy. Those options include sound systems from Burmester and Bose, Porsche Rear-Seat Entertainment with swiveling 7-inch screens, Lane Change Assist, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, thermally- and noise-insulated glass, and 4-zone automatic climate control with separate air-temperature, blower-intensity and air-distribution adjustments for each seat.

For 2015, the base rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Porsche Panamera and Panamera 4 – "4" is Porsche shorthand for all-wheel drive (AWD) – are powered by a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter all-aluminum V6. The S trims employ a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 good for 420 horsepower. All other models (except the S E-Hybrid) have various versions of a 4.8-liter all-aluminum V8, which varies from 440 horsepower in the Panamera GTS all the way up to 570 horsepower in the Turbo S Executive GT. All Panamera models, except the S E-Hybrid, have a 7-speed PDK automatic transmission with manual control. The Panamera S E-Hybrid has a 3.0-liter V6 paired with an electric motor and teamed to an 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic. The total output for the S E-Hybrid is a combined 416 horsepower.

3.6-liter V6 (Panamera, Panamera 4)
310 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/28 mpg (RWD), 18/27 mpg (AWD)

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Panamera S, Panamera 4S)
420 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
384 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/27 mpg, 17/26 mpg (AWD, long-wheelbase Executive edition)

4.8-liter V8 (Panamera GTS)
440 horsepower @ 6,700 rpm
384 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg

4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Panamera Turbo)
520 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/24 mpg

4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Panamera Turbo S)
570 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
553 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250-5,000 rpm (590 lb-ft @ 2,500-4,500 rpm with overboost)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/24 mpg

3.0-liter V6 with hybrid electric motor (Panamera S E-Hybrid)
416 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm (total system)
435 lb-ft of torque @ 1,250-4,000 rpm (total system)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25 mpg combined/50 mpge in pure electric mode