Model tested: Porsche Panamera S 4.8 V8 4S PDK
Price as tested: £72,266
Date tested: December 2009
Road tester: Stuart Milne

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 85%
The Porsche Panamera is the first ever four-door from the Stuttgart-based car maker. It takes the manufacturer to a four-car company. We took to the streets in the entry-level Porsche Panamera S to see if it has what makes all Porsches great - the fun factor.

1. Looks
Some dislike the Panamera's looks, but it's exactly what a four-door Porsche should look like. It has the unmistakabe Porsche face, and there's no doubting its roots from the rear; but it's the sides where it looks slightly awkward.
8/10

2. Looks inside
There are swathes of leather and wood which makes the car feel even more expensive that it actually is. The instrument cluster will be familiar to any Porsche fan, but the ability to display the sat-nav in one of the gauges is a useful improvement.
9/10

3. Practicality
There's only space for four in the Panamera, but there's a massive amount of room for everyone. Boot space is 236 litres; the seats split and fold for extra space. Rear three-quarter visibility is poor, making parking tricky.
8/10

4. Ride and handling
The Panamera is wonderful to drive, with perfectly-weighted steering offering plenty of feedback. It rides well too: on the softest of its three settings, it soaks up bumps brilliantly; on the hardest setting, it's surprisingly focused.
10/10

5. Performance
Two engines are available: a 4.8-litre V8 in the Panamera S and 4S and a turbocharged version in the Turbo. With 400 and 500bhp plus 369 and 516lb/ft of pulling power respectively, the S manages 62mph 5.2 seconds before reaching 177mph; the 4S offers a 5 second 0-62 and a 175mph maximum while the Turbo can hit 62mph in 4.2 seconds and reach 188mph.
10/10

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6. Running costs
Starting at more than £70,000, and rising to over £90,000 for the Turbo, the Panamera isn't cheap. Expect fuel consumption in the mid twenties at best, but depreciation should be relatively gentle.
6/10

7. Reliability
Porsche has a well-deserved reputation for build quality, which is demonstrated in the fit and finish of high quality components in the Panamera.
9/10

8. Safety
The Panamera hasn't been put through EuroNCAP tests, but it should perform well. Standard safety equipment includes ESP, driver, passenger, curtain, front side and knee airbags while rear seat airbags are optional. A tracking system is also standard-fit.
8/10

9. Equipment
All Panameras get leather trim, bi-xenon headlights, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, auto-dimming mirrors, sat-nav, Bluetooth, cruise control, heated and electric front seats and alloy wheels. A performance driving course is also included.
8/10

10. X-Factor
For Porsche, a sporty drive and practicality in anything other than the Cayenne were mutually exclusive. Now the Panamera offers a wonderful blend of both; as exciting to drive as it is to be driven in.
9/10