2020 Porsche Panamera

The 2020 Porsche Panamera arrives in so many trims- the base, 4S, 10 Years Edition, GTS, and the Turbo. Apart from these trims Panamera also offers three different body styles Standard, Sport Turismo, and Executive. The Standard and the Executive body styles are more or less similar except for the fact that the latter offers more wheelbase than the former. While the Panamera Sport Turismo is designed more like a station wagon and less like a stretched hatchback which is what the Standard Panamera looks like. The Panamera 10 Years Edition is a special addition this year to commemorate ten years of Panamera production. This edition is based on the base trim and offers special exterior bits and a couple of features that are otherwise optional on the base trim. Thus it is priced at $103,300, which is a premium of $16,100 over the base trim.

While the Panamera GTS and Turbo trim both of which are powered by a twin-turbo V8 have been reviewed by us separately, so don't forget to check them out. Speaking of powertrain the base trim comes with a turbocharged V6 engine while the 4S trim comes with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. Except for the base trim, all other trims are AWD while the base trim offers both RWD and AWD. All the trims add a bevy of features except for the 4S trim which only adds a twin-turbo V6 engine while its features list is the same as the base trim. The list of optional features on a Porsche is lengthy with lots of permutations and combinations available depending on your trim choice. There is also a dedicated Porsche car configurator that can be accessed to view all these and we suggest giving it a shot and try building your own Panamera.

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Each trim comes with distinct features making it intimidating for the buyers to pick one. Also, one is bound to be overwhelmed with the specs and several engine choices on offer. In our opinion, the best suit is the Panamera 4S trim. The twin-turbo V6 engine on the 4S is punchy, capable, and sounds great. It also offers AWD as standard which makes for even better handling.

Based on the engine EPA has given different ratings to each Panamera trims. The base engine on the 2020 Panamera provides satisfactory mileage figures with 19/27/22 MPG in city/highway/combined respectively. Moving ahead the twin-turbo V6 powered Panamera 4S trim returns 18 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. Sitting on top are two more trims powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine.

The GTS trim returns 16/23 MPG in the city/highway respectively. While the top-end Turbo trim returns slightly better 18/25 MPG in the city/highway respectively. The Panamera as standard comes equipped with a 23.7-gallon gas tank which in return offers a respectable range. However, if you’re looking for a fuel-efficient Panamera, you can always go for the hybrid variant.

The 2020 Panamera is built with the largest fuel tank, which merits in the exemplary range. As per MPG figures, it is below the BMW 7-Series, which in turn is the most fuel-efficient among all the cars in this comparison. Compared to the 7-Series the Panamera offers 3 MPG less in the city and 2 MPG less on the highway. While on the other end of the spectrum is the Audi A8 L that offers the least gas mileage among all.

"Porsche's only sedan boasts a driver-focused cabin that looks and feels every bit of its steep price tag." -caranddriver

The 2020 Porsche Panamera comes with an opulent cabin that is not only visually sleek but also cozy and feels premium. The cabin can seat 4 people and the head and legroom provided are adequate. The seats are wrapped with faux suede on the base trim while leather upholstery is available as an option. Moreover, the seats are wide and comfortable though upright. They also offer power adjustment to find your desired position with ease. The driver and front passenger seats are placed a bit upright, as a result, it offers a commanding view of the road. The cabin features a laidback dashboard with a neat look and is embellished with chrome accents.

Several add-ons can be had with your Panamera during the time of purchase which can significantly increase the comfort and classy feeling of the cabin. Optional features include quad-zone automatic climate control, thermally and noise insulated glass, heated front and rear seats with massage function, etc. The 2020 Panamera comes equipped with a beautiful dock-styled 12.3-inch touchscreen. It supports navigation, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB connectivity. It also comes with Apple CarPlay as standard.

A premium 10-speaker sound arrangement comes standard, but a 14-speaker sound system by Bose and a 21-speaker Burmester surround sound system can be availed. At the rear, an entertainment system consisting of a pair of 10-inch touch LCD is available. When it comes to utility, the 2020 Panamera offers 17.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats which can be further be expanded to a maximum capacity of 50 cubic feet. 

An on-paper comparison of the Porsche Panamera with the rival cars is difficult as Porsche never releases its cabin dimensions. But we can say one thing that the Panamera is among the very few Porsches whose rear seats are spacious enough to carry adults comfortably. Moving on to the rivals sedans the BMW 7-Series remains the most spacious in both the rows hands down and is closely followed by the Audi A8 L. While the S-Class which offers an almost similar cabin space in the first row seats falls to third place due to much lesser rear legroom on offer. As far as the cargo space is concerned the S-Class offers the most space followed by the 7-Series and the Panamera in that order. While the Audi A8 L gets the smallest trunk among all.

Interior Features:

• Power-adjustable front seats
• Heated front seats
• 40/20/40-split folding rear seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Available memory function for front seats
• Available soft close door
• Available Alcantara upholstery

"Panamera styling has not always been well received. The attempt to blend 911 sports-car cues into a large luxury sedan (well, hatchback) took until this second generation (which debuted in 2017) to finesse." -kellybluebook.com

After the company first flaunted the Panamera hatchback a decade back, it hasn't received any major design changes. Even after such a long time, the car still arrives with an amphibian-like fascia which has been the case since its introduction. Despite the decade-old fascia, Porsche seems to keep up with the market by making it look sharper with progressing model years. For the 2020 model year, the company has worked on minor touches on the headlights making them more prominent and sharper. 

The Bi-Xenon LED headlights come standard on the 2020 Panamera and it makes the car look preserved in terms of appeal. At the rear, the LED taillights with fender vents, an adaptive spoiler, and a dual exhaust system take care of the appeal. Furthermore, you get 19-inch alloy wheels which can be further had in various wheel designs. These features significantly add to the aesthetic appeal of the Panamera.

Among all these sedans, the 2020 Panamera is the lightest weighing only 4157 lbs, thanks to its compact design. Opting for the Executive body style increases the length and the wheelbase of the vehicle. On the other hand, the Audi A8 L weighs nearly 4773 lbs., and mostly remains ahead in terms of exterior dimensions except for the compromised ground clearance. The BMW 7-Series comes with the largest wheelbase which translates into a better interior room while the Panamera is the one with the smallest wheelbase.

Exterior Features:

• LED headlights w/ PDLS
• Tinted LED taillights w/ light strip
• 19-inch alloy wheels w/ dual-arm 5-spoke design and summer tires
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power liftgate
• Available 21-inch exclusive design alloy wheels
• Available LED headlights w/ matrix design including PDLS+

Being one of the most renowned carmakers from Germany, Porsche has kept up with the safety standards and has been a contender for producing safe vehicles. The 2020 Panamera consists of a uni-body structure frame which is made out of alloy composed of aluminum and high-strength steel. The ceramic brakes further merit its ability to stay away from trouble. Sadly, neither NHTSA nor IIHS have crash-tested the Panamera which is common for all luxury vehicles. As standard, the 2020 Panamera comes standard with front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. That being said, you can add advanced driver assistance features from the options list.

Safety Features:

• Available Surround-view parking camera
• Blind-spot monitor w/ lane-keep assist
• Available head-up display
• Available adaptive cruise control.
• Available forward-collision warning
• Available night vision camera
• Available adaptive headlights

2020 Porsche Panamera vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Even though the Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes equipped with a twin-turbo V6 engine, it lags behind the Porsche in real-world performance. However, there are obvious reasons to prefer the S-Class, because of its significantly superior design with the better appeal, intuitive infotainment, and better accommodation.

No wonder the base trim S-Class is expensive by quite a margin. And for a chauffeur-driven car, the S-Class sure is the one to go for while the Panamera is more suited for ones looking for a driver's car without taking a hit on practicality.

2020 Porsche Panamera vs 2020 BMW 7-Series

The BMW 7-Series goes head to head with the Panamera, and both the cars are quite well-balanced in terms of specs. But BMW has a winning edge in better handling, braking, and superior fuel efficiency. The 7-Series comes equipped with the most important safety features like blindspot monitor, back-up sonar, and so on as standard which are optional on the Panamera.

Moreover, it can accommodate 5 people which is 4 in the Panamera. In short, the 7-Series makes for a better value proposition than the Panamera, and even though it has a bigger dimension it still can be a driver's delight that can be had without breaking the bank.

2020 Porsche Panamera vs 2020 Audi A8 L

Between the Audi A8 L and the Porsche Panamera, the Panamera is a clear winner hand down, as it comes with a better engine that performs well, offers better fuel efficiency, and better range. It also has a bigger trunk space compared to the A8 L.

Apart from this, Audi offers very few optional features and packages while buying which is just the opposite in the case of Porsche. Thus there is no compelling reason to consider the Audi over the Porsche. 

The 2020 Porsche Panamera satisfies the buyer in every aspect and more than anything it is a practical Porsche in which you can have fun too. The Panamera comes equipped with a very capable engine and the performance is commendable in the segment. Moreover, it features a very attractive and spacious cabin with several creature comforts along with good trunk space. Acknowledging all the good sides of the car and the performance it delivers, the 2020 Panamera is indeed a good buy in the $90,000 range.