Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo 2020 review

Опубликованно 26.09.2020 12:30

What is it?

The competition that has materialized at the expensive end of the market for fast four-door GT cars of late has evidently come as something of a surprise to Porsche. When the company introduced the second-generation Panamera in 2016, 542bhp was considered to be plenty for the Turbo version. Then along came the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S, Audi RS7 Sportback and BMW M8 Competition four-doors, all offering enough grunt to put the ‘big’ Porsche well and truly in the shade – which, needless to say, is not somewhere Porsche is used to being.

That’s not counting the fast-but-heavy, 671bhp, petrol-electric Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, of course, which by Weissach’s own admission serves slightly different purposes and tastes than more typical and traditional performance GTs; and, as part of the wider refreshed 2021-model-year Panamera model range, there will be a new top-of-the-range Panamera ‘PHEV’ along in a little while, by the way. For those who like their big, fast executive cars more old school in flavour, however, there is now this: the Panamera Turbo S. What's it like?

Like every Panamera, the Turbo S comes in standard fastback and‘Sport Turismo’ shooting brake bodystyles, and in some markets in an extended-wheelbase ‘executive’ version as well. Four years ago, when Porsche introduced the wagon version, it gave the Panamera a clearer visual identity of its own than it had previously – and today, it’s still the ‘ST’ version that looks the best, I reckon.

The extra rear-seat passenger space and cargo volume would be deal-sweeteners, too; at 6ft 3in, I can sit in the back of a Panamera ST with enough legroom and headroom to be comfy over long distance, and can’t quite do so in a regular Panamera. Interior updates to the car are likewise few in number; there’s a revised steering wheel design, some new trim materials, and some updates to the car’s infotainment system so that it both charge your smartphone and connect to Apple Carplay wirelessly. Should I buy one?

The Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo is one of those cars from this current breed of extra-desirable, extra-rapid, luxury-minded, family-friendly GTs that promises to do it all, but certainly only for a price. To call it expensive would be undoubtedly true, if a bit unfair in light of the fact that it only costs as much as several other cars of its ilk.  

But if you’re ready to pay super sports car money for something a shade more special than an ‘ordinary’ super saloon, to use pretty much every day and for any purpose, this car does seem to represent a bit of a sweet spot. In ‘ST’ bodystyle it has saloon-trumping space and practicality, packaged with those extra-special looks. Though it’s big, you wouldn’t know it from the flat, agile, incisive way it handles; and yet it retains impressive ride comfort and long-distance touring manners.

Moreover, in Turbo S form, the Panamera is now as powerful and rapid as any direct rival, and is better to drive than most. And while it isn’t quite as naughty or exuberant of character as some V8 GTs, there’s just a hint of   buttoned-down maturity and ungarnished purposefulness about it which is somehow quite typical of Weissach, and which you might quite like.

Категория: Краш-тесты