2022 Porsche Panamera Review: Expensive Family Express
The second-generation Porsche Panamera sedan has been on sale for a full six years, but it's showing no signs of slowing down. Last year, it received the obligatory midlife facelift, keeping it competitive in this highly contested luxury rocketship category. Porsche's design remains contentious, though less so than before. Crucially, it feels and drives like a Porsche should, even more so after last year's active suspension management upgrade. The Panamera soldiers on into 2022 with more power than ever before and without the outdated 3.0-liter single-turbo V6 dragging the entry-level models down. There's a wide variety of models to choose from in both standard and long-wheelbase format, with gas and hybrid power outputs ranging from 325 horsepower to 552 hp. Still, its main German competitors are now putting out 600 hp +, so is the Panamera still relevant compared to the Audi A7 Sportback and the Mercedes-AMG GT?
2022 Panamera Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
198.8 in | 116.1 in | 56.0 in | 78.2 in | 65.8 in | 65.0 in | 4,222.0 lbs |
2022 Panamera Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
As part of the 2021 facelift, Porsche tweaked the underpinnings slightly to improve both comfort and handling. They hit the nail on the head because the Porsche performs exceptionally well in both categories. You need the adaptive air suspension to get the most out of the Panamera. Thankfully, it's standard fitment from the Panamera 4S and upwards. The Panamera and Panamera 4 get a standard steel suspension.
The available drive modes depend on whether you opt for a hybrid or an ICE car. ICE models get Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual. Hybrid models get Hybrid Auto, Sport, Sport Plus, E-Charge, and E-Hold. You also get the added benefit of regenerative braking, but the system feels clunky. Perhaps Porsche should incorporate some of the lessons it learned from Taycan's development. Essentially, you get a wide range of settings, perfect for any occasion.
When it comes to the hybrid, we like that it can go from a rapid canyon carver to a traffic jam sensory deprivation tank at the touch of a button. On the ICE cars, we love the Individual setting. We like having the engine in Sport and the suspension in Comfort with the exhaust fully opened because, why not? Thanks to AWD being standard, the Panamera always feels solid and stable. You might be tempted by the entry-level RWD Panamera, but it just doesn't have adequate power to be considered a wild ride. The Panamera is not a 911, but it is an exceptionally well-sorted large sedan. Even with its power deficit, the GTS need not back down from a fight with a BMW M5.
As mentioned earlier, adaptive air suspension is a must-have. With it, the Panamera offers you the best of both worlds. Most of the time, a car like this will spend its time in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or on the highway. Thanks to excellent sound insulation and soft damping, the Porsche does an admirable job in both settings. In the sportier settings, it feels like a well-sorted performance sedan. The front end grips eagerly, the engine is primed and ready to provide maximum shunt, and the air suspension keeps the car remarkably flat in the twisties.
2022 Panamera Interior
2022 Panamera Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Maintenance |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 12 Years / Unlimited Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 1 Years / 10,000 Miles |
Verdict: Is the 2022 Porsche Panamera A Good car?
When you look at the price of the base models, the Panamera seems to represent decent value for money. And in a way, it does. You get many features as standard, and it is a comfortable, well-built large luxury barge with a sporty side. You also get one of the most sought-after badges in the industry, worth at least $10,000 on its own.
If you look at the performance figures attached to the various models, you can't help but notice that you can get more for your money elsewhere though. Move above the $100,000 mark in the USA, and you have to deal with competitors like the Audi RS7, BMW M8 Gran Coupe, and the Mercedes-AMG E63. There are so many faster alternatives, and Porsche no longer has the market cornered for ride and handling. These cars also come with more standard safety features than the Porsche.
We look at the huge price difference between the various Panamera models and equivalent cars from rivals and can't help but feel a bit cheated. It also doesn't help that Porsche charges some serious cash for each little bit you want to add to the car. The Panamera is perfect for the 911 fan who wants something a bit more practical during the week, but if you aren't a Porsche fanboy, there are better go-faster sedans out there.
2022 Porsche Panamera Comparisons
2022 Porsche Panamera vs Porsche Taycan
The Panamera used to be the only Porsche sedan, but things have changed since the arrival of the Taycan. The Taycan is smaller, and overall the Panamera is more practical. Interior space is more or less the same. In 2+2 configuration, all four passengers get adequate space, but it's worth stating that if space is a major consideration, you'd be better off in any other German performance sedan.
The best thing about the Taycan is that the entry-level model is the best out of the bunch. Even if you opt for the 4S, the Taycan is still cheaper. The base Taycan produces 321 hp, while the 4S produces up to 522 hp. The base Panamera delivers 325 hp. These figures are irrelevant to how the car feels, however. The Taycan's instant power delivery makes it feel much faster than it is. The Taycan also has a beautiful interior with a curved 16.8-inch digital instrument cluster.
The big question here is whether you're an early adopter. The base Taycan can do around 200 miles on a full charge, which isn't that great. But the Porsche charges quite quickly, and you get three years of 30-minute charges for free via Electrify America. We can see why some people would still go the Panamera route, but we'd have a Taycan.
2022 Porsche Panamera vs Audi RS7
The Audi RS7 perfectly demonstrates just how overpriced the Panamera is. Audi charges you $114,000 (2021 pricing) for the same twin-turbocharged V8, but the outputs are ramped up all the way to 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the GTS can only muster 473 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to Audi's quattro AWD system, the RS7 can get to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Then again, the Porsche can do it in 3.7, proving that it's much better at putting power down. The Audi is not as good on a twisty road, but it is a much better GT. Thanks to more space in the rear and a larger trunk, it's also easier to live with. The 24.9 cubes it offers are way more than the Porker's 17.6 cubes. Audi is also more generous when it comes to standard fare. It has LED ambient lighting, four-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, quilted leather, and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system as standard. All of these things cost extra on the Panamera. We'd much rather save a significant chunk of cash and get the superior Audi.