2014 Porsche Panamera

The 2014 Porsche Panamera starts at $78,100 for the Base trim and goes all the way up to $125,600 for the long-wheelbase 4S Executive trim. There are a total of 14 trims in the line-up, but the other trims have been covered separately. Having said that, the Base trim is actually very well-equipped and checks most of the boxes of what one expects from a car at this price range. The 4 trim adds AWD to the Base, while the S and 4S add the twin-turbocharged V6 to the table along with some trim-specific features. 

Porsche also offers the Base trim and the 4 trim with an exclusive “Edition” pack which adds a myriad of amenities to both the trims along with special badging and other design elements. The Edition pack does add a bit to the MSRP, and for the price, it includes features like 19-inch wheels, Power-adjustable sport steering wheel, Two-tone leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, Front seat memory function, and Heated rear seats.

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The Porsche Panamera’s trim line-up can be very confusing for one, and to ease things out, we recommend going for the Panamera 4 because of all the amenities on offer and also due to the AWD system that’ll ensure the driving dynamics the company is known for. This trim fits the bill perfectly for a person who wants to enjoy agility occasionally and prefers a nice and laid-back drive. If someone wants performance, the Panamera 4S is good because of the bump in output and also due to the AWD which helps in traction.

The 2014 Porsche Panamera comes equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 under the hood which produces 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is channeled to the rear wheels only via Porsche’s flagship 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. The Panamera 4 ups this by providing an AWD system that is also the most favorable for efficient launches and better driving dynamics. 

The 2014 Panamera also gets an all-new twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 that bumps up the output to 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque and is paired with the same gearbox as the other engine. This mill has a lot more punch and feels a lot more urgent as compared to the base engine, while also maintaining the refinement levels in the cabin. 

The Panamera is the only car here that doesn't have any assistance by way of turbos to help its engine, however, the car still remains pretty quick and matches the turbocharged 7 Series in the 0-60MPH runs, while just nudging ahead of it in the quarter-mile despite the latter churning more output. When comparing the price tag of the sedans in the competition, Porsche is the most expensive option.

The 2014 Porsche Panamera is powered by a naturally aspirated V6, which doesn’t imply a good MPG, but the engine does manage to return impressive numbers. The EPA estimates this engine to return 18 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway, for a combined of 22 MPG from its 21.1-gallon fuel tank. Objectively, the figures are actually good considering the performance the Panamera has on offer along with the added weight of the luxuries inside. 

All the cars have similar fuel tank capacities. When talking about fuel economy, the Mercedes takes the lead in both fuel economy as well as range. The Panamera’s range does take a hit, but considering the naturally aspirated nature of the engine, such fuel economy figures are expected. Maserati stands at the very last with a mileage of just 19 mpg combined.

The 2014 Porsche Panamera is a proper executive sedan that has a posh interior covered in soft-touch material and leather, while also boasting of a very pleasing design and a very intuitive interior with plenty of cubby spaces to store goods. The center console is beautiful but can be rather cumbersome for people who prefer fewer buttons. Apart from this, the gear shifter is conveniently placed, and the armrest has plenty of space inside. 

The seats are very soft and relaxing, almost mimicking a couch to some extent. The seats inside feel sporty and have a lot of support and strong bolstering to keep the occupant in place while the driver carves some corners on a twisty road. The seats’ shape also makes them super comfortable for long drives. Talking of functionality, the Base trim gets power-adjustable front seats, while the higher trims add heating, ventilation, memory function, and massaging as well. The rear seats carry over the comfort of the front seats and are very well appropriated for the occupants.

The 7 Series has the roomiest cabin in the segment, and the cargo capacity is also on par with the Maserati, whose interior dimensions are unknown, but the space is decent enough. The Panamera’s cabin is well roomy for a sporty executive sedan, and the hatchback-like trunk also helps in cargo loading and unloading. The interior is comfortable, posh, and well-appointed, and that being said, some of the highlighting features are:

• Sunroof
• Power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• 8-way power front seats
• Heated front seats
• Chilled glovebox
• 60/40-split rear seatback
• Optional Two-tone leather upholstery 
• Optional power-adjustable sport steering wheel

How intuitive is the infotainment unit in the 2014 Porsche Panamera?

The 2014 Porsche Panamera comes equipped with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. This touchscreen response is fluid, and it is less distracting than the other systems on offer in the market today. This system also comes with Bluetooth in-built for telephony and seamless connection while also enabling music playback. The standard speaker setup is an 11-speaker setup that can be upgraded to a Burmester 16-speaker system for extra clarity and a posh music experience. Some of the highlighting features of this system include:

• 7-inch touchscreen
• Bluetooth
• Porsche Online Services
• Navigation
• Satellite radio
• HD radio
• USB/iPod interface
• 11-speaker sound system
• Optional 16-speaker Burmester surround-sound audio system 

The 2014 Porsche Panamera’s design has been updated for the current model year with a bit more aggression, and as such, the car now comes with a steeper windshield and larger air intakes in the front. It has a typical Porsche face with big headlamps and a seamless hood while keeping the intakes in the front bumper to aid with cooling. 

The side of the Panamera is very reminiscent of a Porsche due to the sloping roof and the low body height with a beautiful tail light. The lines are simple and designed to aid aerodynamics. The rear also looks like a Porsche with the new adaptive spoiler, which is also complemented by a dual exhaust setup. The sedan weighs 3,902 lbs, making it the lightest in the competition.

The BMW 7 Series is the most bulbous of the cars in the competition with the most weight and most road presence, but despite this, it accelerates as well as the Panamera, which is a lot sportier. The Panamera, on the other hand, is more agile and has impressive handling dynamics with a higher ground clearance that also helps in going over the roads’ undulations. That being said, some of the highlighting exterior features are:

• 18-inch wheels
• Adaptive headlights
• LED headlight and taillight accents
• Auto-leveling bi-xenon headlights
• Power liftgate
• Adaptive suspension dampers 
• Chrome window surrounds

The 2014 Porsche Panamera has one of the safest chassis out there without compromising on the sportiness of the sedan. The car is a very impressive balance of comfort, luxury, and performance while also maintaining a very dynamic handling characteristic not seen in any of its rivals. The Panamera does not get a lot of driver-assistance features as standard, but they can be added later via packages that, of course, push the MSRP higher. Some of these safety aids include:

• 360-degree surround-view cameras
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control (optional)
• Adaptive headlights
• ParkAssist
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor

The 2014 Porsche Panamera is the perfect mix of luxury and driving experience. The steering feedback is unparalleled, and the engine-gearbox combination makes acceleration butter-smooth, not to mention the excellent NVH levels inside the cabin. The interior is posh and checks all the boxes one could ask for in the segment. The fuel economy is one of the better ones, but the range is rather low as compared to the Bimmer. That being said, the Panamera does make a very commendable mix of luxury and comfort, making it a sure-shot buy for any enthusiast.