Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid
Price: Panamera from £89,400; 4 E-Hybrid from £99,100 (£133,386 as tested)
Engine: 2.9-llitre turbocharged V6 petrol with 25.9kWh battery pack and 140kW electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 470hp
Torque: 650Nm
Emissions: 24g/km
Economy: 256.8mpg
Electric Range: 60 miles
0-62mph: 4.1 seconds
Top speed: 174mph
Boot space: 430-1,264 litres
Styling
Interior
Inside, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid looks pretty much exactly the same as any other Panamera model, with the same basic dashboard layout and the same digital instrument display and touchscreen infotainment system. As expected, the systems are clean, sharp and responsive, but not exactly ground-breaking in terms of features. But it all works well and it's easy to live with. And it's integrated with the optional passenger display, which, where fitted, lives in the dashboard, and has a film in the screen to stop the driver being distracted by whatever is on it.
As usual, the Panamera's interior is impeccably built, with lots of upmarket materials even in this relatively lowly model. Everything is bolted together with the kind of Germanic precision you expect, and it's ergonomically sound. At least for the most part. Admittedly, the gear selector on the dashboard takes a bit of getting used to, but it means there's space on the centre console for a wireless phone charging cubby and a proper climate control panel, with proper switches and everything. It'll never catch on...
Practicality
The slight drawback of choosing a hybrid Panamera over a more conventionally powered example is a reduction in boot space. Because of the big battery, the 4 E-Hybrid's boot only measures 430 litres, down from 494 in the standard Panamera. And with no estate option available these days, there's no way to mitigate that loss. Still, there's plenty of cabin space, with loads of rear legroom and respectable rear headroom, although again, the estate would come in handy for very tall passengers on that front.
As standard, all Panameras come with two rear seats, both of which get Isofix child seat mounting points. But there is a '4+1' option that sees a third seat slotted between the other two for occasional use. We can't see how anyone would want to spend any time at all back there, though, so the Panamera is best left as a four-seater.
Performance
Like every other E-Hybrid version of the Panamera, the 4 E-Hybrid gets a sizeable 25.9kWh battery and a 140kW electric motor, but that's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine. Together, the system produces a meaty 470hp, which makes the 4 E-Hybrid only fractionally less powerful than the 4.0-litre, V8-powered Panamera GTS. As a result, the sprint from 0-62mph takes a fraction over four seconds, and flat out it'll do 174mph.
Obviously, the complexity of the system has its drawbacks. In Sport and Sport Plus modes, the system manages to marry the combination of immediate electric response and V6 relentlessness very nicely, but there's a bit more hesitancy in Hybrid mode, where the focus on economy is such that the system takes a while to sort itself out. At least it does so smoothly, and that V6 is silky. So much so that were it not for the constantly dancing dials on the digital instrument cluster, you'd have a hard time knowing whether you're running on electric or petrol power.
As well as being smooth, the system is also pretty efficient, despite hauling a car that weighs more than two tonnes. The official figures suggest it'll do 60 miles on a full charge, but we reckon about 40 miles or so is more realistic. Especially if you leave the confines of a town centre. But it's still a useful range that allows you to go to the shops, take your kids to school and maybe even go to work without using a drop of petrol. Even if you do all that, though, and you charge regularly at home, we doubt you'll manage the claimed economy of 256.8mpg.
Ride & Handling
In every form, the Panamera is spectacular to drive, and this is no exception. Precise steering is joined by an air suspension system that's included as standard, allowing for a comfy ride and decent body control. But our test car came with the optional Active Ride Suspension, which goes further than conventional air suspension by being proactive, and working to even out the movement of the car. So the car will raise its nose when you brake, counteracting the natural 'diving' tendency, and it'll lean into corners to counteract the natural body roll. The result is something that stays almost completely level, more or less regardless of what you do with it. So it handles remarkably well, to the point where it feels more like a sports car than a luxury saloon.
Yet it can still do all the luxury four-door stuff. The ride is sublime, allowing you to get a feel for what the wheels are up to without ever jarring or jolting you. And that's in Sport Plus mode. Dial it back to a more conventional setting and the ride is pillow-soft, cossetting you all the way. As a long-distance motorway cruiser, the Panamera is brilliant, but it also has the potential to handle itself on a back road or a race track, with only minor changes to the settings.
Admittedly, we think the sports exhaust is a decidedly worthwhile option, giving the V6 engine a fraction more aural intrigue, but even without it, it makes a pretty pleasant snarl in Sport Plus mode. And speaking of worthwhile options, the same is true of the four-wheel-steering system, which makes a big car surprisingly manoeuvrable around town.
Value
The Panamera range starts at £89,400, but the E-Hybrid models cost a bit more. The cheapest 4 E-Hybrid costs £99,100 (almost £7,000 more than a Panamera 4), and you don't get any more equipment for the money. Sure, you do get the hybrid system, which offers a boost of more than 100hp, if nothing else, but standard equipment is much the same. In fairness, Porsche isn't as stingy as it used to be, so all Panameras get decent-sized alloy wheels, leather upholstery and satellite navigation, as well as heated front seats, a reversing camera and a Bose sound system. But an Isofix child seat mounting point in the front passenger seat sets you back an extra £154, and the '4+1' seating configuration? That's £719. Small wonder our test car had more than £30,000 of options on board.
Verdict
The 4 E-Hybrid version of the Panamera might not be the one you choose with your heart, but it's definitely the most sensible version. Combining the brilliance of the Panamera's chassis with a responsive, powerful and (relatively) efficient powertrain is a masterstroke, and it's no wonder that E-Hybrid versions of this car are so popular.
