Porsche offers the Panamera with a range of engines at different price points, but which is the best?
The origin of the Porsche Panamera dates back to the late 1980s. Porsche found tons of success with its V8-powered 928 model and wanted to see if they could make a four-door version. What they came up with was a prototype called the 989.
Long story short, the 989 never went into production, mainly because Porsche was broke and barely shipping 911s at the time.
Jump to the 2009 Shanghai International Auto Show, when Porsche unveiled the Panamera. It was the same basic concept as the 989 but designed for modern times. Porsche had built a fast, comfortable sedan with a V8 at the front and a hatch at the rear so you can even haul the family dog.
Now, the Porsche Panamera has been around for over a decade and has gotten better with each passing year. As of 2019, more than 235,000 units have been shipped.
Porsche Panamera 970
The first-generation Panamera–also called the 970–was produced for the model years 2010 through 2016. Throughout this time, Porsche crammed quite a few engines into the G1 chassis.
The automaker has put everything from a 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 to a fire-breathing 4.8L twin-turbo V8 in the Panamera. Porsche was even kind enough to offer a 3.0L diesel if you wanted yours to sound like a tractor.
Let’s take a look at the power units available in the first iteration of the Porsche Panamera.
Early Panamera Engine: 3.6L V6
By far the most common engine you will come across in the early Panameras is the 3.6L V6, which was available in base model 970s whether they were equipped with two- or all-wheel drive. The engines were used from 2009 until 2013 and produce 296 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 3.6L engine is derived from the 4.8L V8. It is available in the Panamera S and 4S models and is essentially a carbon copy of the V8 with two cylinders removed.
These engines perform adequately but can feel sluggish at times due to the roughly 4,000 pounds of Panamera it has to drag around.
V6 Panamera S Hybrid
In the early 2010s, hybrid vehicles were all the rage. So much so that even Porsche decided to jump on board. The company was discussing a hybrid-powered Panamera as far back as 2008 and finally brought it to market in 2011.
The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is driven by a 3.0L supercharged V6 that is assisted by a 46 hp electric motor. This is the same unit that powers the Cayenne Hybrid that Porsche borrowed from Audi.
The electrified 3.0L produces 296 horsepower and 428 lb.-ft. of torque and gets the Panamera to 60 mph in six seconds.
From a consumer standpoint, it is hard to love this engine because of its service requirements. Most people don’t know that if you own a hybrid vehicle, you can only get it serviced at the dealer. The electric battery pack has to be de-energized to perform any service beyond an oil change. Special training and diagnostic software are required to discharge the battery, so the majority of independent auto shops won’t even touch hybrid vehicles.
Porsche Panamera Diesel
Clocking in at a monumental 37 mpg, one of the most economical engines that Porsche has stuffed into the Panamera is the 3.0L turbocharged diesel. Once again, instead of wasting precious Porsche resources on designing their own engine, the automaker decided to borrow one from Audi.
This is the same 3.0L turbo tractor engine available in the Cayenne Diesel and produces only 246 horsepower, but it offers a stout 406 lb.-ft. of torque in the Panamera.
4.8L V8 Porsche Panamera S, 4S & GTS
From 2009 until 2013, the Porsche Panamera S and 4S models were driven by a 4.8L V8, producing 395 horsepower and 396 lb.-ft. of torque. These engines come mated to Porsche’s seven-speed twin-clutch Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (or PDK for short) transmission.
The Porsche Panamera GTS is driven by the same 4.8L V8 but with a few minor tweaks to make a little more power. The GTS produces 424 hp and 384 lb.-ft. of torque, which is more than the S model.
The 4.8L V8 provides reliable torque in traffic and doesn’t struggle to sling around the Panamera’s immense weight like its 3.6L cousin.
However, it is important to watch out for leaks in the cooling system as a coolant pipe under the intake manifold is made of plastic and is a well-known issue. Porsche even released an updated part number that is made of aluminum to solve the problem.
4.8L V8 Panamera Turbo & Turbo S
When it comes to purchasing a Porsche, the Turbo badged models are the best of the best. Excluding the 911s that could practically be race cars, the Turbo and Turbo S are the quickest and most luxurious vehicles that Porsche offers.
The Porsche Panamera Turbo is powered by the same 4.8L V8 from the S model but with two turbochargers, producing 493 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque.
The Turbo S utilizes the same engine but with larger turbos and aluminum pistons. These upgrades push the power output of the 4.8L V8 to 542 hp and 553 lb.-ft. of torque.
The twin-turbo V8 Turbo models are built to a higher standard and are incredibly reliable. So, the biggest issue you will cross with the Turbo and Turbo S is the cost of maintenance.
Porsche Panamera 971
In 2016, Porsche unveiled the second generation of the Panamera as the 971. This Panamera was an all-new car with fresh styling, a bold interior, and a new engine. It is the Porsche Panamera that is still being produced today and has been a top seller for Porsche.
Though the styling was altered to look more like a sedan, the 971 retained its practicality by stealthily hiding its rear hatch. In 2017, Porsche announced the Panamera Sport Turismo, a station wagon version of the 971 with more cargo space.
Just like the last model, the 971 Panamera has a host of engines available at various trim levels. The range now starts with a 3.0L turbocharged V6 and includes a hybrid. Let’s take a look at the range of engines available for the 971 Porsche Panamera.
3.0L V6 Panamera & Panamera 4
The entry-level engine for the 971 Panamera is the 3.0L turbocharged V6, available in the normal Panamera and Panamera 4. This engine produces 325 hp and 332 lb.-ft. of torque, helping get the Panamera to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and to a top speed of 163 mph.
Though this is another engine Porsche borrowed from Audi, the 3.0L turbo is a top contender for the best Porsche Panamera engine. This engine is silky smooth and doesn’t feel underpowered, despite the lower entry price.
Not to mention, there are tons of aftermarket performance parts available for the 3.0L if you decide you want to embarrass some M-series BMWs.
Porsche Panamera 4S Diesel
Porsche decided to continue making the diesel Panamera after the 971 updates, but it only lasted two years. While it was being produced, the Panamera 4S Diesel was powered by a 4.0L twin-turbo V8, producing 414 hp and a herculean 627 lb.-ft. of torque.
In case you missed it, in 2015, Porsche’s parent company Volkswagen got into some hot water about the emissions of their diesel engines. The Stuttgart sports car maker did not escape this scrutiny and had to address concerns with their own vehicles.
At the end of 2017, Porsche decided to scrap the diesel engines across their entire range. This was due to the discovery that the engines produced twice the amount of harmful emissions than allowed by the government.
4.0L V8 Porsche Panamera Turbo
Near the top of the Porsche lineup is the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 in the 971 Panamera Turbo. This beast of an engine produces 542 hp and 568 lb.-ft. of torque pushing the Panamera Turbo to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds with a top speed cracking 190 mph.
The twin-turbo 4.0L is impeccably reliable and immensely powerful, which just goes to show that Porsche Turbos are still built to a higher standard.
4.0L V8 Hybrid Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
If ultimate performance is your main goal, look no further than the electric-assisted 4.0L twin-turbo V8 in the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. This engine is an electrically assisted version of the engine from regular Turbo.
This monster of an engine configuration makes a hybrid Porsche appealing by cranking out a combined 671 hp with 627 lb.-ft. of torque. That coupled with Porsche PDK and all-wheel drive means this Panamera can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph. Those are crazy figures for a sports car let alone a family car that weighs over 4,000 lbs.
What’s the Best Porsche Panamera to Buy?
In all honesty, it is pretty difficult to choose the best Panamera engine because all the ones that run on gasoline are pretty good. The Diesel’s are depressing to drive, and the hybrids need a team of scientists to be serviced, not to mention even some of the used Turbos are still priced over $100,000.
For your money, the best Porsche Panamera engine is the 3.0L turbocharged V6. The 3.0L turbo offers dependable performance at a respectable price. The 971 Panameras with this engine start around $40,000. After considering reliability, performance, and accessibility, the 3.0L turbo takes the prize.
Photos: Porsche
