2013 Porsche Panamera

The 2013 Panamera is available in six main trims namely the Base, Base 4, Platinum, Platinum 4, S, and 4S. The S and the 4S come with a more powerful V-8 engine and offers road scraping performance while the other trims come with a V-6 engine which is no slouch and offers a class-leading sports car experience. Being a Porsche, all the trims are well laden with tech and creature comforts. 

Which trim should you buy?

The Platinum trims make more sense to us as they are equipped with many creature comforts and come with exterior enhancements as well. Also, buying a base or a base 4 trim and then upgrading it with optional packages is definitely not worth it. For those who need performance, we mean extra performance can go for the S trims which offer even more rumble and heart-stopping acceleration times. However, they are fuel-guzzling monsters and come with exorbitant pricing.

The 2013 Panamera is available in two engine options depending upon the trim you opt for. The Base and the Platinum trims are powered by a smaller 3.6L V-6 engine, producing 300 HP and 290 lb-ft of torque. The S trims are powered by a bigger 4.8L V-8 engine, producing 400 HP and 369 lb-ft of torque. Both the engines are mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The trims come with RWD or AWD configuration depending on your choice.

The Jaguar XJ is the faster performer in the comparison. It does a 0-60 mph sprint in just 5.2 seconds despite having a smaller engine. The Panamera and the 7-series perform very similarly and do 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. The S-Class offers the least amount of power and does 0-60 mph sprint in under 6.4 seconds. However, it comes with a higher top speed of 162 mph. 

The 2013 Panamera offers less fuel efficiency than the competition. It gives about 18 mpg, 27 mpg, and 21 mpg in the city, on the highways, and in mixed driving conditions respectively. With a fuel tank capacity of 21.1 gallons, you can expect a range of 380 miles, 570 miles, and 443 miles in the city, on the highways, and in mixed driving conditions respectively.

The Jaguar XJ offers the same efficiency as that of the Panamera. However, owing to a slightly larger fuel tank, it offers a better range in all conditions. The S-Class is the most efficient car here, as it outputs the least power. It offers nearly 26 mpg in mixed driving conditions and with a larger fuel tank capacity of 23.8 gallons, you can expect nearly 618 miles of range on a full tank. The 7-series offers similar efficiency figures as that of the Panamera.

As expected, the Cabin of the 2013 Panamera is opulent and luxurious enough. The quality of material used inside the cabin is top notch and finer details are handcrafted to perfection. The interior styling is influenced by the 911 and it's a good thing. The cabin is spacious, comfortable, and well-designed. The instrument cluster packs a 5-ring console that looks sporty and includes different gauges for your ready reference. The Panamera has many separate switches and switches instead of knobs to control different functions. 

The availability of dedicated buttons for each function might be intuitive to some. The front seats are comfortable and supportive in nature. The front headroom and legroom are also generous, to say the least. But the rear seat passengers will enjoy the luxury owing to the availability of a good amount of legroom and sufficient headroom for them. Actually can’t expect much legroom in performance-oriented cars but the Panamera tells another story and we like it.

All the cars except the Panamera offer seating for up to five passengers. The rear legroom is the best in the 7-series as it is a full-size sedan and passengers will be more comfortable on its rear seats. The Panamera offers the least legroom across the second row but considering its performance pedigree, it is quite acceptable. The Panamera offers a cargo capacity of 15.7 cu-ft and is considered to be good. The Mercedes-Benz S-class offers the best cargo capacity and is high on practicality. Some of the standout interior features of the 2013 Panamera are:

• Heated steering wheel 
• Cabin heating
• Rear sunshades
• Leather and simulated alloy trim on the center console
• Custom interior trims 

How intuitive is the 2013 Porsche Panamera’s infotainment system?

As expected, the infotainment system is well-loaded and easy to use. The standard features are Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with navigation module, USB/iPod integration, AUX input jack, 11-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity. The sound quality is also very good in its segment. You can also opt for optional features like Burmester surround sound system for better output and clarity, six-CD/DVD changer, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control system, electronic logbook, Porsche rear-seat entertainment system, etc. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2013 Panamera are:

• CD player
• Voice controls
• USB/iPod ports
• Navigation system
• 11-speaker audio system
• Optional Burmester surround sound system
• SiriusXM satellite radio 

The styling of the Panamera is distinctively Porsche. The car sits low and has a long hood profile. The front bumper is quite low and it has a false grille. It also combines the DRLs and fog lamps. The headlamps are different from a typical Porsche but look good. Overall, the front fascia is a hit or miss depending on your taste. The side profile is a visually plain affair with the roofline merging seamlessly with the rear profile, but not in a coupe-like aggressive curve.

The side profile is a visually plain affair with the roofline merging seamlessly with the rear profile, but not in a coupe-like aggressive curve. As a result, the headroom is quite decent for the rear passengers. The sides also get a thick pillar but that doesn't obstruct the vision in any way. The rear profile is similar to the other Porsche cars you have seen and the tail lamps are sober and wrapped around the quarter panel slightly. The quad exhaust setup adds to the sporty appeal of this performance sedan.

The Panamera has a lower curb weight in comparison to its rivals. This helps in providing better handling on the track and better braking performance owing to lesser momentum. The ground clearance is like any other sedan of its class and even better than the XJ. The BMW has a longer wheelbase, as a result it gets legroom for the rear seat passengers. It is also wider than its counterparts. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2013 Panamera are:

• Bi-Xenon Headlights
• Water repellant side windows
• Headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (S and 4S)
• Automatic rear lid
• Quad exhaust pipes
• 5mm spacers on rear axles
• Thermal and noise-insulated laminated glass.

The 2013 Panamera has not been crash tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS. The Porsche Panamera gets many features like ParkAssist, anti-lock brakes, stability control, airbags, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, active head restraints as standard. Some of the optional safety features include reversing camera, lane change assist, ceramic composite brakes for better braking performance etc. Some of the standout safety features of the 2013 Panamera are:

• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Lane change assist (optional)
• Reversing Camera (optional)
• ParkAssist 
• Remote anti-theft alarm system 

The Porsche Panamera is a four-seater performance oriented sedan from the house of Porsche. It inherits most of the Porsche’s DNA within itself. It looks good, offers many luxurious features and handles very well for its dimensions. However, many other rivals offer better practicality and interior comfort with more occupants. Also, the Porsche is quite expensive as you climb up the trim ladder and many safety features are offered as optional extras and not as standard. If you are into the performance sedan segment and want to have the signature Porsche experience with excellent handling and performance then the Panamera is the way to go.