2019 Porsche Panamera Review

At the bottom of the ladder, there's the only rear-wheel-drive Panamera, the base trim. From there, everything else is all-wheel-drive: the Panamera 4, Panamera 4S, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera GTS, Panamera Turbo and Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Everything above the base trim is also offered in the Executive body style (except the GTS), which is a longer version of the Panamera that adds more than 4 inches of rear legroom. The 4, 4S, 4 E-Hybrid, GTS and Turbo models are also available in a Sport Turismo body style, which has a bigger hatchback cargo area. All Panameras come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four seats. (A middle rear seat is optional.)

The base Panamera comes with quite a bit of standard equipment, including a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (330 hp, 331 lb-ft), 19-inch wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (also known as adaptive suspension or PASM), LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, a power hatchback liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, and a push-button ignition.

Also standard is partial leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating, dual-zone automatic climate control, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth, a wide-view 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system (including a navigation system, Apple CarPlay and a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot), and a 10-speaker audio system with satellite and HD radio as well as USB and auxiliary audio inputs.

The Panamera 4 keeps the same standard equipment and uses the same single-turbo 3.0-liter V6 as the standard model but adds all-wheel drive. The Panamera 4S keeps the all-wheel-drive powertrain, but it swaps the engine to a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 (440 hp, 405 lb-ft) and adds a unique dual-exhaust system. The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid gets the 2.9-liter engine along with an electric motor and a 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery (for a combined 462 hp, 516 lb-ft) with about 30 miles of all-electric driving range. An air suspension is standard on the hybrid models to support the extra weight of the battery pack.

New for 2019, the Panamera GTS uses the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 found in the Turbo models, but in a slightly detuned (453 hp, 457 lb-ft) yet still potent form. Like other GTS models offered by Porsche, the Panamera GTS bundles performance hardware such as the Sport Chrono package, an adaptive air suspension, active suspension management, and a lower ride height with Porsche's Sport Design styling touches (front and rear fascia, side skirts, gloss black trim, and 20-inch wheels) for a lower overall cost than adding them individually. Inside, adaptive 18-way power seats get suede-like trim as do the armrests, sun visors, headliner and steering wheel. There's an optional GTS interior package with embroidered logos, contrast stitching and different seat-belt colors.

The more performance-oriented Panamera Turbo makes use of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (550 hp, 567 lb-ft), 20-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, an adaptive air suspension, keyless entry and ignition, a power-adjustable steering wheel, synthetic-suede roofliner and pillar trim, full leather upholstery, 14-way power front seats with memory settings, heated rear seats, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.

At the top of the ladder, there's the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which adds the hybrid components to the 4.0-liter turbo V8 (for a combined 677 hp and 626 lb-ft). Essentially, standard equipment is the same as on the regular Turbo with the addition of 21-inch wheels, ceramic-composite brakes, the Sport Chrono package, and a second air-conditioning system to cool the car while it's parked.

There's a long list of stand-alone or bundled options for pretty much every trim level since Porsche believes that owners should be able to customize their cars to personal taste. You can option the 4 and the 4S with most of the Turbo's standard equipment. Additional highlights for the lineup include various wheel, paint, interior trim and leather specifications; speed-sensitive steering assist; a sport exhaust; power-closing doors; a heated steering wheel; a 21-speaker Burmester audio system; 18-way adaptive sport seats; eight-way power rear seats with memory function; ventilated front and rear seats; massaging front and rear seats; four-zone climate control; a rear touchscreen interface; power rear sunshades; and a dual-screen rear entertainment system.