2021 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

If you hear the words 2021 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, you might be fooled into thinking that these are milder versions of the Porsche Panamera sedan. This couldn't be further from the truth, as Porsche uses electrification for evil instead of good. Okay, so there are some environmental upsides, but for the most part, Porsche uses electric assistance to increase power output and fill those annoying power gaps. Furthermore, the 2021 Sport Turismo hybrid is a 5-door station wagon.

Out of the six Panamera E-Hybrid wagons, four use a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 gas engine as a starting point. The Turbo S models are equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Power output ranges from 455 horsepower in the base 4 to 690 hp in the Turbo S E-Hybrid. That's more than enough power to take the fight to the mighty M5 and Tesla Model S.

There are three powertrain options available. The base 4 and the more powerful 4S both use a 2.9 liter twin-turbo V6 engine as a starting point. Porsche then mates a 134 hp electric motor to the 6-cylinder engine. The 4 produces 455 hp and 516 lb-ft, while the 4S produces 552 hp and 553 lb-ft, effectively rendering the previous Turbo model irrelevant.

The Turbo S uses a twin-turbo V8 with the same electric motor to produce 690 hp and 641 lb-ft of torque. All models are all-wheel drive and use the same 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. As a PHEV, the E-Hybrid can be charged to 80% in less than half an hour on a fast charger, and has a maximum all-electric range of 19 miles.

The Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is an exciting car, both to look at and to drive. It's Porsche demonstrating that hybrids don't have to be boring. The fact that the 4S model replaced the old Turbo is proof. It's both faster and more economical.

We also prefer the E-Hybrid Sport Turismo station wagon body. Not only is it more practical, but easier on the eye as well. The proportions are just better, and it retains the stunning build quality and handling characteristics of a sedan. Porsche's cars have a stellar reputation for reliability, and any fears related to the battery are taken care of by the 10-year battery warranty.

The biggest problem with the 2021 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is price. Add a few things to the Turbo S model's base price of $193,800, and you're talking Bentley money.

And it's not like you can leave some of these features out. Comparatively speaking, the Panamera is light on safety features, and it has no official safety rating. So you have to fork out extra money for the driver-assistance package. For the 2021 model year, Porsche added lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition. We appreciate the additions, but where's the adaptive cruise control?

These E-Hybrid models are quick, but there are better and faster rivals, even in this relatively small segment in the USA.

The 4S may not have the famous "Turbo" badge, but the combination of the high-output V6 and electric motor results in a power output of 552 hp and 553 lb-ft. It may not have the badge, but it certainly has the power.

You might be tempted by the 690 hp Turbo S but it costs a lot more. One also has to wonder whether that much power is strictly necessary. Just think about the application. If you buy a vehicle like the Sport Turismo, there's a good chance you have a family. During the week, you'll be ferrying the kids to school or going to the office, in which case the 18 miles of electric range is useful. Over the weekends, you'll be spending time with the family. This means you'll never really have the opportunity to fully exploit the performance unless you actively go out for a drive. The Sport Turismo just doesn't feel like that kind of car, which is why we'd go mid-spec if you can afford it, but even the base 4 would be fine.