Porsche Panamera

The Porsche 911 is easily one of the best sports cars in history, but like many coupes of its kind, it's not very practical. The cargo compartment is small and the rear seats aren't even suitable for most children. The good news is if you're seeking similar thrills with the convenience of a sedan, you're in luck. The 2021 Porsche Panamera masterfully fills that role.

Like the 911 lineup, the Panamera is offered in a dizzying array of choices. There are three available body styles plus eight trim levels that deliver varying degrees of performance. For 2021, some Panamera models receive power increases, hybrid models gain larger batteries, a new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid debuts, and last year's Panamera Turbo becomes the more powerful Turbo S.

Whichever Panamera you choose, you're guaranteed to get one of the best sport luxury sedans available. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth analysis of this year's Panamera.

Which Panamera does MatoCar recommend?

With models that start between $90,000 and $190,000, there is a Panamera to suit your particular desires and budget. For us, the Panamera 4S hits the sweet spot between performance and price. The added power output justifies the step up over supporting models, and most features from higher-trimmed models are available as options.

The 2021 Porsche Panamera comes in three body styles: the regular Panamera sedan, which actually has a hatchback-style trunk; a longer-wheelbase Executive model with additional rear seat legroom; and the Sport Turismo, which has a wagon-like profile and additional cargo space. There are also many trim levels available that are distinguished by different drivetrains and features, but not in every body style. These include the base Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera 4S, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera 4S E-Hybrid, Panamera GTS, Panamera Turbo S and Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Panamera Besides the typical items expected of any luxury sedan, the base Panamera standard feature highlights include:

Turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (325 horsepower, 331 lb-ft of torque)
Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the rear wheels
Adaptive suspension (adjusts to help improve ride comfort and handling)
Panoramic sunroof
Heated front seats
12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
Navigation system
Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration
Wireless charging pad
10-speaker audio system
Driver aids include:

Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Lane keeping assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Panamera 4 The Panamera 4 includes all of the above and adds all-wheel drive.

Panamera 4S The Panamera 4S is identical to the Panamera 4 but increases power output to 443 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It also has:

Air suspension (adjusts to lower or raise the vehicle's ride height)

Panamera 4 E-Hybrid The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid that is both greener and meaner (thanks to more power). Added enhancements include:

V6 engine, electric motor and rechargeable battery pack produce a total of 462 hp and 516 lb-ft
EPA-estimated 19 miles of all-electric driving range on a full charge

Panamera 4S E-Hybrid The new Panamera 4S E-Hybrid upgrades the 4 E-Hybrid with a power increase to 552 hp and 553 lb-ft. You also get:

Upgraded brakes
Sport Chrono package (analog clock/stopwatch atop the dashboard, drive mode switch on the steering wheel, and launch control)

Panamera GTS The Panamera GTS is the first step into the higher-performing eight-cylinder models and brings:

Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (473 hp, 457 lb-ft)
All-wheel drive
Sport exhaust system
Lower ride height
Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
Unique sporty styling touches
Upgraded front seats

Panamera Turbo S The Turbo S trim replaces the previous Panamera Turbo model. Standard upgrades include:

Upgraded turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (620 hp, 604 lb-ft)
All-wheel drive
Ceramic-composite brake rotors
Rear-wheel steering (enhance steering response and handling agility)
Torque-vectoring for the AWD system (enhances handling agility)
Heated rear seats
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)

Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Finally, at the top of the lineup, the Turbo S E-Hybrid combines the Turbo V8 and E-Hybrid and adds:

Power increase to 690 hp and 641 lb-ft
Second air-conditioning system to cool the car while it's parked
14-speaker Bose audio system

The Panamera is also available with a wide range of additional technology, safety and customization-oriented features. These include but are not limited to:

Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Four-zone automatic climate control
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Soft-close doors
Night vision camera system
Middle rear seat
Ventilated seats
Massaging seats
Premium audio