2024 Porsche Panamera 4 Review: The Specs Don’t Tell the Story

There are things in life that second-hand tales can’t explain properly. These are the things that need to be experienced first-hand to understand fully. Traveling overseas, riding a rollercoaster, and scuba diving are just a few such examples. After a week behind the wheel, I feel the 2024 Porsche Panamera 4 fits in this category as well. 

All-new and in its third generation, the 2024 Porsche Panamera doesn’t stray far from the formula of its predecessors. It’s instantly recognizable, continuing with the usual Porsche design cues, but more on that later. 

Available in five configurations, the top thee Panamera’s are all plug-in hybrids with varying levels of power and performance. At the entry-level is the rear-wheel drive Panamera and its all-wheel drive counterpart, the Panamera 4. I spent a week in the latter to see if the new ‘entry-level’ Panamera was still worth it, and more importantly, had that special Porsche feeling. 

What’s New for 2024: Lots, But Still Familiar 

As mentioned above, the Panamera is all-new for the 2024 model year. It features a new, yet familiar exterior, and the new corporate interior first seen on the new Cayenne SUV. The various E-Hybrids have big enhancements, but we’ll cover those details in future reviews.

Exterior Style: Easy to Spot

The exterior of the 2024 Porsche Panamera retains the usual Porsche design cues, but the brand has worked to emphasize width and not height, especially at the rear. The rear has a very 911-inspired look, while the quarter panels on the new car look less bubbly than before, with the roofline better integrated. Overall, it gives the car a more hunkered appearance.

At 198.9-inch (5,052 mm) in length, the Panamera is a bit bigger than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but smaller than the BMW 5 Series. My tester came equipped with a few optional exterior enhancements, including the sport tailpipes in silver, 21-inch exclusive design wheels with meaty rubber, LED-Matrix HD headlights, black high gloss window trim, and a fancier fuel cap. 

Powertrain: More Than the Sum on Paper

The Panamera and Panamera 4 use a 2.9-liter turbocharged V6 that makes 348 hp and 368 lb-ft. of torque. That may not sound like a lot for a car weighing 4,374 pound (1,984 kg), but numbers can be deceiving. It only takes a few minutes behind the wheel to realize the Panamera 4 is quicker than it has any right to be. 

Officially, Porsche claims the 2024 Panamera 4 can go from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds), with a top speed listed at 168 mph (270 km/h). The car is even quicker with the optional Sport Chrono package, and Porsche has a reputation for being conservative with 0-60 mph times, so the car might be even more swift. 

Part of this physics-defying acceleration comes courtesy of the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It delivers incredibly quick upshifts and well-timed, rev-matched downshifts. The small V6 turbo makes excellent snarling noises, and I’d recommend springing for the sport exhaust. Although I have the silver sport exhaust tips, I do not have the sport exhaust on my car, so I only get to hear the full engine bellow under hard acceleration. 

Handling and Drivability: Big Tires Give Big Rewards

It’s not just acceleration where the Panamera behaves like a much more svelte vehicle. Featuring a double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link set-up in the rear, the car corners harder, and grips longer than I expected. In fairness, a lot of this has to do with the optional tire upgrade. Check the box for the 21-inch wheels, and the 265/45R19 front tires and 295/40R19 rear tires are replaced by 275/35R21 units up front and mammoth 325/30R21 tires in the rear.

Even without the optional rear axle steering, my tester grips onramps tighter than a dog with a stolen sock. The tires feature an adhesion limit that gives plenty of warning before they start to slide. The car’s adjustable air suspension also keeps the Panamera relatively flat in its most aggressive setting, furthering the Panamera 4’s surprising agility. 

Ride Quality and Comfort: Serenity When Needed

The best part of the Panamera’s suspension is how flexible it is. Kidney jarring, yet flat in the aggressive Sport+ setting, the car completely transforms in Comfort mode. It swallows up broken roads with ease, delivering a ride experience that rivals other German luxury sedans. 

The four main seating positions are comfortable, especially with the optional rear seat 2+1 configuration. It adds nicer, wider outboard seats at the expense of the middle seat, but no one wants to sit in the middle anyway. Larger adult passengers can fit in the rear seats, but they’ll have to duck under the low roofline when getting in and out of the car. Once inside, they’ll will be looking more at the roof liner than out the window.

The Panamera 4 has standard heated front seats, but ventilated and massage functionality are extra costs options, both of which my tester lacks. Another comfort upgrade, one that I do have, are the power sunblinds for the rear window and rear side windows.

With the liftback body style, the 2024 Porsche Panamera 4 can carry 17.4 cubic foot (494 L) of cargo, which expands to 46.9 cubic feet (1,328 L) with rear seats folded down. 

Interior Style and Quality: New Look, Less Buttons

The 2024 Panamera 4 has the new look interior that debuted on the Cayenne. It’s a cleaner look with less buttons and larger screens. There still are some physical switches for the climate control which is appreciated. 

My tester features the Black and Kalahari upgraded leather interior with Neodyme accents, as well as the upgraded multifunction heated GT steering wheel. The satin gold-ish lines running across the doors that lead to the door handle are quite striking. The steering wheel feels great, and I like the contrasting look of the white seats with the black dash. Those seats could be a chore to keep clean though, if small children and/or dogs are involved. 

Tech and Safety: What’s Expected of the Class

The 2024 Porsche Panamera 4 includes a lot of features right out of the gate. But Porsche allows customers to order nearly any option on any trim of the Panamera. This means even a more entry level model, like mine, can receive upgrades usually not found in this class like those super wide tires.

Other features added to my tester include Night View Assist, a BOSE surround sound system, and head-up display. I also have the passenger display, which is a second infotainment system that only the front passenger can see and is operated independently from the rest of the car. 

On the safety front, standard and optional equipment includes surround view and active parking support, Porsche InnoDrive active lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, lane keeping assist, traffic jam assist, and more.

Value Dollars and Sense: The Elephant in the Room

Everything about the 2024 Porsche Panamera 4 so far sounds quite positive, and it is. But pricing is another story. The Panamera 4 starts at a price of $111,795 ($123,450) including destination charges. Compared to the similarly sized, slightly more powerful BMW 540i xDrive, Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic, and Genesis G80 3.5T AWD that all start below $70,000, that’s a hefty price gap. 

In fairness, to come close to the Panamera 4’s level of performance and luxury, those competitors need a lot of options added on which seriously closes the price gap. But my tester also has a bunch of options and comes as tested at $142,755 (CAD $159,630).

Final Thoughts: Overachiever in Multiple Ways

The 2024 Porsche Panamera 4 is an overachiever. The car’s acceleration and handling far exceeds the numbers on the specification sheet. The suspension has a dual personality which makes the car a fun canyon carver as well as a great weekday family hauler. The interior and exterior designs have improved yet remain true to the Panamera family. 

It has that Porsche feeling but comes at a Porsche price premium. Whether the extra cost is worth it is a matter of personal opinion and/or priorities. For me, at this price point, I’d skip the Panamera 4, spend a bit more money, and go straight to the 4 E-Hybrid or 4S E-Hybrid. Then I get all the greatness of the car I tested, plus more power, better fuel economy, and all-electric driving capabilities.

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