Panamera’s exterior may be unusual and its positioning may be slightly out of kilter with its traditional rivals, but its interior finish has been executed to a superb standard. In terms of perceived quality, Porsche has nothing to fear from any car with a list price of less than £100,000.
Suttgart has wanted to use this cabin layout, with a tall centre console running throughout the cabin and a high-set gearlever, since a similar layout was featured on the Carrera GT. Here, though, it extends to the rear cabin, leaving two individual chairs in the back. In many ways that has made life easier for Porsche, because the seats can (optionally) be widely adjustable in a way that a bench can’t be. They’re sited slightly inboard of the front seats too, to afford a view ahead. Rear leg room is typical for the class – which means fairly generous by most standards – and although head room is tighter than in an Mercedes-Benz S-class or BMW 7-series, we wouldn’t call it mean.
The front seats themselves are supportive and comfortable, if narrower than the big chairs in, say, an S-class. But it’s entirely in keeping with the more sporty nature of the Panamera. The driving position itself is fine, too: widely adjustable save for the limited visibility the car affords, due mostly to its gently sloping rear tailgate with its small, high window.
Buying the Panamera is the biggest issue here, because although its running costs are likely to be in keeping with its rivals, it’s the price and extent of the Panamera’s options list that we suspect will push most examples to well above £100,000. To ask punters to pay for a rear wiper and steering wheel stereo controls at this level is ludicrous.
In the Panamera’s favour, depreciation is likely to be slow and other running costs should be on a par with its rivals. Its interstellar seventh gear has a very positive effect on fuel consumption at cruising speeds, too.
