In The EFTM Garage: Panamera GTS Sport Turismo

There was once a time when the thought of Porsche making an SUV was mortifying. There was also a time when the Porsche Panamera was deadset ugly. Also let’s face it, aside from the taking the SUV road Porsche has also made a station wagon here. I know the brand will hate that description, but it is.

The first generation from 2010 to 2016 suffered from a roofline that sat too high towards the rear, followed by a big butt. But since 2017 the ‘family Porsche’ has a roofline that tapers away nicely. In the EFTM Garage last week sat the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo, a mouthful that also costs more than a four-bedroom house in many parts of regional NSW.

ENGINE

4.0L petrol twin-turbocharged V8.

POWER / TRANSMISSION

338kW / 460m, All-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic transmission with launch control.

0 – 100km/h

4.1 seconds

FUEL ECONOMY

9.3L/100km

TECHNOLOGY

• Porsche Communication Management (PCM)
• Connect Plus including Apple CarPlay
• Bose Surround sound system, 14 speakers/710kw
• DAB+ Radio
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Ambient interior lighting
• Night Vision Assist (option)
• Head-Up Display (option)
• Lane Change Assist (option)
• Traffic Jam Assist (option)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

If you really want to go all out on a full-sized European luxury barge there are several options. The Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S Class. But if you’d also like the ability to go around corners at warp speed, brake like you’ve hit the side of a cruise ship and have that Porsche ‘feel’, then the Panamera is for you. It eats up luggage, has plenty of width and headroom. Although it’s far more a 4+1 human carrier rather than a genuine five-seater. Which is why you won’t see too many as hire cars. 

NEGATIVES

This car is also epically more expensive than some of the other Europeans I’ve mentioned. The fact you need to pay $3,280 for a Head-Up Display is frankly an outrage. If you’re after a feeling of sheer, lunatic acceleration this version doesn’t feel as quick off the mark as the figure suggests. But the rolling acceleration is more than satisfying, but don’t expect an angry V8 note.

Price: $397,130 as tested before on-roads!

Full review soon!