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Driven: 2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.

Driven: 2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo
Is this top-of-the range, plug-in hybrid Panamera Sport Turismothe ultimate all-rounder?

   



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2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo

4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5


Test Car Specifications

Model: 2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo
Price: From £149,100
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 turbocharged petrol plus electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Battery: 17.9kWh lithium-ion
Power: 700hp
Torque: 870Nm
Emissions: 65-69g/km
Economy: 94.2-97.4mpg
0-62mph: 3.2 seconds
Top speed: 196mph
Boot space: 415 litres

Styling

In truth, there isn't much to separate this range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid from the basic, 2.9-litre, V6-powered Panamera 4 Sport Turismo. It has the same basic shape, most of the same design features and a similar stance. Look closely and you'll spot the green trim on the badges and the massive wheels that barely contain even bigger brakes, but to the casual observer, there's nothing to separate this 700hp monster from its 330hp sibling. Not that there needs to be, because the Panamera Sport Turismo is quite the looker. That rear end merges beautifully with the rest of the car, and the front end has matured well over the years. It's a stylish thing.

Interior

Porsche is often lauded for its uncanny ability to build incredible cars year in and year out, but what’s less well documented is the incredible quality the brand provides. If you thought BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi cabins were well built, just wait until you step inside a Panamera. The panel gaps are millimetre-perfect, the switchgear feels smooth, robust and wonderfully engineered, and the materials used are first rate. We’ve driven Rolls-Royces that feel considerably more flimsy.

The technology is almost as good, with the Panamera getting Porsche’s brilliant hybrid instrument cluster that seamlessly merges analogue dials and digital screens to give you the best of both worlds. Then there’s the touchscreen infotainment system, which is huge and comes with cool Google Earth-style graphics for the navigation system, while Porsche has finally integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Admittedly, the screen isn’t perfect – some of the menus are a bit fiddly – but it’s better than most.

Practicality

Although the Panamera is definitely a sports car at heart, let's not forget it still has practical estate car duties to fulfill. The cabin is every bit as spacious as that of the hatchback, with ample room and seat adjustment in the front, while those in the back feel the benefit of a slightly higher roofline. Even those of above-average height will have no trouble fitting in. The real point of the estate, however, is the boot, and there this Turbo S E-Hybrid version falls down slightly. Sure, a 415-litre load bay is not to be sniffed at, but the standard Panamera 4 Sport Turismo has more than 500 litres of load space, and that's a significant difference.

Performance

Plug-in hybrids are usually all about economy and emissions, but not this one. Sure, the official figures claim it’ll manage more than 90mpg and about 30 miles on the electric motor alone, but that’s pie in the sky when it comes to the real world. Around town, you should get about 20 miles from the battery, and on a long run we’re talking about no more than 30mpg. If most of your journeys are short and you charge regularly, you might manage impressive average economy, but only if you can resist the lure of the V8.

If you can’t resist the fantastic soundtrack, however, you will at least be left with an incredibly fast car. With a 136hp electric motor supplementing the aforementioned 571hp V8, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid has a total of 700hp (yes, we know the numbers don’t add up – blame engineering), and that means it gets from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and tops out at 196mph. That’s supercar performance from a luxury estate.

Ride & Handling

But while the Panamera is every inch the luxury estate, it doesn't drive like one. In that inevitable Porsche way, the straight-line speed is backed up with unbelievable poise and precision that makes this all-wheel-drive luxo-barge handle like a hot hatchback. And a good hot hatchback at that. The steering is sublime, the response is immediate and the car feels very adjustable, yet stable at the same time. It's a masterclass.

And it does all that without troubling the ride comfort. In its softest setting, the Panamera glides over the bumps as though they aren't there, making it an unbelievably good long-distance tourer. Motorway miles are effortless in every way, and it's still good around town, despite its 21-inch alloys. It gets a bit firmer when you up the ante with the drive mode selector, but that's only to be expected and you get even more body control in exchange. Few cars are this perfectly judged.

Value

The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo starts at around £150,000, which is an awful lot of money – especially when a Panamera 4 Sport Turismo comes in at less than £80,000. It’s even more outrageous when you consider that you don’t get that much more for your money. Yeah, bigger wheels and a few toys come as standard, but there’s very little you couldn’t specify on a Panamera 4 and still come out with a sub-£100,000 car. That said, every version of the Panamera is luxurious, with lovely upholstery and seats, as well as some smart technology, so you can’t complain too much.

Verdict

The Panamera Sport Turismo is a wonderful thing, and this Turbo S E-Hybrid version does not change that in the slightest. In fact, for many customers, the hybrid system will be a positive boon, but we'd probably stick with the 'standard' Turbo S model. The V8 is too addictive to switch off, and the fuel savings are only impressive if you're committed to the cause. But this is still every inch the five-star car.



James Fossdyke - 15 Sep 2022



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2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.

2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.2022 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Image by Porsche.








 

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