Porsche Panamera 4 e-Hybrid Sport Turismo - long-term review

The latest arrival into the Top Gear Garage is this stunning Dolomite Silver lump of Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo. Quite some name. Quite some car. 

Powered by a 2.9-litre V6 and an e-motor with a total output of 456bhp, it’s capable (if you deploy launch control) of the 0–62mph dash in 4.6secs and with a vmax of over 170mph. Featuring technology that has trickled down from the 918 Spyder hypercar, it’s the apparent breadth of its capability that makes it so attractive. 

With a pure EV range of 22–24 miles, it allows you silent access to low-emission zones. It also means average CO2 emissions of a measly 56g/km. Given it weighs a hefty 2,265kg, the fact that it emits less than a VW Up is either testament to its incredible efficiency or the chaos-theory maths involved in calculating hybrid/PHEV emissions... more on that in the coming months.

What is indisputable is the fact that as the world’s metropolises tighten their vehicular access restrictions and the broader infrastructure of the EV revolution struggles to keep up, the PHEV looks like offering a smart solution that fits the current state of Planet Car. In smart-hybrid mode, it uses the navigation to optimise the efficiency of the drivetrain and switches between pure EV (which it prioritises in urban areas) to hybrid as it reads the road and optimises the battery charging and deployment. It also learns your routes and how you drive and adapts its behaviour accordingly. In short, it’s possibly the most intelligent Porsche on the market.

This capability and luxury comes at a cost, though, with a base price of £85,865. RO69 MTZ weighs in at an OTR of £103,815 (£1,086 PCM) as tested thanks to the liberal application of the options list. Notable highlights include: 21-Inch Panamera SportDesign wheels £3,479, Panoramic Sunroof at £1,581, LED headlight with Matrix Beam (which allows the lights to remain on full beam by blanking out the oncoming traffic to avoid dazzling them), Park Assist including Surround View camera for £1,062, 14-way adjustable electric seats for £1,394, BOSE surround system at £1,062, plus Sport Tailpipes in black... you get the picture.

In short, the Panamera comes fully loaded and the combined effect on first acquaintance is of a very well resolved package. Time was that the Panamera was the ugly duck of the Porsche range but in this spec in Sport Turismo it’s a very good-looking device. It somehow manages to disguise its mass - which at over 5 metres long and just under 2 metres wide is substantial - and create a truly desirable large four door.

Inside the Porsche staples of peerless build quality, clear logical design and cutting-edge technology make the Sport Turismo a wonderful place to spend time and battle your way through your commute as the big Porsche shifts between modes to optimise its performance. It’s going to be a real pleasure digging into its abilities and answering the question whether this is the perfect family car for the current climate. And finding out once and for all if it can live up to that enormous name...