Porsche Panamera

Porsche Panamera: which version to buy

If you want the fastest Porsche Panamera in this catalogue, buy 3 generation Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK (782 hp, Plug-in, AWD): 0–100 km/h in 3.0 s and 325 km/h. If you want the lightest and the only remaining Manual cars, buy 1 generation 3.6 MT (300 hp, 1730 kg) or the restyled 3.6 MT (310 hp, 1770 kg).

If you want the fastest Porsche Panamera in this catalogue, buy 3 generation Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK (782 hp, Plug-in, AWD): 0–100 km/h in 3.0 s and 325 km/h. If you want the lightest and the only remaining Manual cars, buy 1 generation 3.6 MT (300 hp, 1730 kg) or the restyled 3.6 MT (310 hp, 1770 kg). If you want the lowest mixed consumption among versions that actually publish a figure, buy 3 generation Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK (680 hp, Plug-in): 1.7 l/100 km mixed and 38 g/km CO2. If you want diesel torque without a plug, buy 2 generation 2.9 PDK (422 hp, Diesel, 850 Nm) or 1 generation, restyling 3.0 AT (300 hp, Diesel, 650 Nm). Those four jobs do not share one engine.

The catalogue lists 5 generations of Porsche Panamera, 54 versions in the tables below (the generation cards also print 22 / 11 / 17 / 22 / 7, which is a count mismatch, not extra unnamed cars). Bodies are Liftback except 2 generation, which is Estate 5-door. Production windows: 1 generation 2009-09-01 to 2013-06-30; 1 generation, restyling 2013-07-01 to 2016-06-30; 2 generation 2016-07-01 to 2021-01-31; 2 generation, restyling 2020-08-01 to 2024-01-31; 3 generation from 2023-11-01 with stop not measured. Prices are not measured.

Generations: what actually changed in the numbers

1 generation (Liftback, 11 versions in the table) is the only place with Manual and with naturally aspirated 4.8 petrol eights. Power density sits at 83.2 hp/l on 3.6 MT, 3.6 PDK and 4.8 PDK (400 hp). Ground clearance is 143 mm, tank 80 l, Euro 5 except the Plug-in. Lightest kerb in the whole model: 3.6 MT 1730 kg (5.77 kg/hp). Fastest here: 4.8 PDK (550 hp, Turbo, AWD) 3.8 s / 306 km/h at 3.63 kg/hp.

1 generation, restyling (Liftback, 12 versions) keeps 143 mm and 80 l. Diesel 3.0 AT splits into 211 / 250 / 300 hp. Petrol peak moves from 550 to 4.8 PDK 570 hp (118.6 hp/l). The 570 hp car at 1995 kg is 3.50 kg/hp — the lowest kg/hp of generation 1 including restyling. 3.6 MT gains 10 hp (300→310) and mixed consumption falls 2.9 l/100 km (11.3→8.4). Plug-in 3.0 PDK (333 hp) switches boost label from No (pre-restyle) to Compressor, 0–100 from 6.0 s to 5.5 s, CO2 from 167 to 71 g/km; mixed mpg on the restyle Plug-in is not measured. Turbo 3.0 PDK (420 hp) appears at 140.1 hp/l — denser than any 4.8 here.

2 generation (Estate 5-door, 12 versions; card says 22) drops the 4.8 and the manuals. Tank 75 l. Clearance 128–144 mm. Every row is Robotic 8-speed AWD Turbo Euro 6. Duplicate names must be split by power and by the second number that differs: two 3.0 PDK 330 hp (259 vs 262 km/h; 7.9 vs 7.7 mixed; 1880 vs 1850 kg; wheels not measured on the 1850 kg row), two 2.9 PDK 440 hp (same 4.4 s / 286 km/h / 8.3 mixed), two 4.0 PDK 460 hp (289 vs 292 km/h; 10.6 vs 10.3 mixed; 2025 vs 1995 kg), two 4.0 PDK 550 hp Gasoline (same 3.8 s / 304 km/h / 9.5), two 4.0 PDK 550 hp Plug-in (same 3.4 s / 310 km/h). Diesel 2.9 PDK (422 hp, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 850 Nm) is the economy pick of this body: 6.8 mixed, 178 g/km. Plug-in 2.9 PDK (330 hp) is the heaviest 330 hp car here at 2190 kg (6.64 kg/hp) but the lowest CO2 in generation 2 at 59 g/km.

2 generation, restyling (Liftback, 12 versions; card says 22) is where names gain 4, 4S, GTS, Turbo S, E-Hybrid, Sport Turismo, Platinum Edition. Dates overlap generation 2 (from 2020-08-01 while Estate 5-door still runs to 2021-01-31). RWD returns on 2.9 PDK (330 hp). Mixed on petrol 2.9 PDK / 4 2.9 PDK is 8.8 vs 7.7–8.3 on the Estate 440 hp 2.9 PDK. Turbo S 4.0 PDK (480 hp) and Turbo S Sport Turismo 4.0 PDK (480 hp) both do 3.1 s / 315 km/h — 0.7 s faster than generation-2 4.0 PDK 550 hp Gasoline (3.8 s) despite 70 fewer hp, because 2155 kg vs 2035 kg is not the whole story: 3.1 vs 3.8 is a 0.7 s gap at −70 hp. Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK (700 hp) is +220 hp and +270 kg vs Turbo S 4.0 PDK (480 hp, 2155 kg → 2425 kg) and is 0.1 s slower to 100 (3.2 vs 3.1) at the same 315 km/h; mixed 2.9 vs 12.8. 4S Sport Turismo 2.9 PDK (450 hp) lists top speed 2263 km/h in this dataset — that is the figure on the card, not a second source.

3 generation (Liftback, 7 versions, still in production in this file) is a short list: two petrol 2.9 cars at 353 hp and a stack of Plug-in / Turbo names. Clearance and Euro class are not measured. City and highway mpg are not measured on every row. 4 2.9 PDK (353 hp) is +23 hp vs restyle 4 2.9 PDK (330 hp) and 0.5 s quicker (4.8 vs 5.3) at 1920 vs 1975 kg. RWD 2.9 PDK (353 hp) matches restyle RWD 0–100 (both 5.3 s) with +23 hp and +2 km/h (272 vs 270). Two different cars share the name Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK: 680 hp Plug-in (3.2 s, 314 km/h, 1.7 mixed, 38 g/km, 2360 kg) and 500 hp Gasoline (3.8 s, 302 km/h, mixed not measured, CO2 not measured, 2065 kg, wheels not measured, from 2024-10-01). Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK (782 hp) is +82 hp vs the 700 hp restyle hybrid and 0.2 s quicker (3.0 vs 3.2) with 325 vs 315 km/h; kerb, mixed, CO2 not measured.

Engine specs (hp, Nm, displacement, fuel, layout, boost, gearbox, drive)

Use the English labels from the cards. Cylinders and layout are taken from those fields, including Diesel 2.9 PDK (422 hp) listed as 8 / V-shaped.

Generation 2 also repeats 4.0 PDK (550 hp Gasoline), 4.0 PDK (550 hp Plug-in) and 2.9 PDK (440 hp) as second identical rows; they do not add a new hp/Nm pair.

What the extra displacement buys, in hp per litre (hp ÷ litres): restyle 4S E-Hybrid 2.9 PDK 193.5 hp/l; 3 generation Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK 195.7 hp/l; restyle Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK 175.2; generation-2 Gasoline 2.9 PDK 440 hp 152.0; naturally aspirated 3.6 / 4.8 400 hp only 83.2. A 2.9 Plug-in in later gens out-densifies the old 4.8.

Performance and mpg

0–100 and top speed, with mixed l/100 km. City/highway sit in the source; they are omitted below only when the card already marks mixed. Not measured is written where the card is empty.

Slowest 0–100 in the file: restyle 3.0 AT (211 hp) 7.5 s, top speed 211 km/h. Fastest 0–100: Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK 3.0 s. Fastest listed top speed besides the 2263 figure: 325 km/h on that same 782 hp car. Turbo S 4.0 PDK (480 hp) 3.1 s is the fastest non-hybrid sprint.

Mpg (mixed): best measured petrol-era diesel is restyle 3.0 AT 250 hp at 6.3 (city 7.8 / highway 5.5); generation-1 3.0 AT 250 hp is 6.5. Generation-2 Diesel 2.9 PDK 422 hp is 6.8 — 0.3–0.5 worse than the 250 hp diesel, with 172 more hp. Worst mixed among measured petrol: generation-1 4.8 MT 12.5 and restyle-era Turbo S Sport Turismo 4.0 PDK 13.0 (city 21.2 / highway 11). Plug-in mixed, when measured: restyle 4 E-Hybrid 2.9 PDK 2.2; 4S E-Hybrid 2.9 PDK 2.7; Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK 2.9; 3 generation Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK (680 hp) 1.7. Generation-2 Plug-in mixed is not measured on both 2.9 PDK 330 hp and 4.0 PDK 550 hp Plug-in; CO2 is 59 and 69 g/km.

AWD vs RWD on the same name: generation-1 3.6 PDK 300 hp AWD 6.1 s / 257 km/h / 9.6 mixed vs RWD 6.3 s / 259 / 9.3 — AWD is 0.2 s quicker and 0.3 l/100 km thirstier, +60 kg (1820 vs 1760). 4.8 PDK 400 hp AWD 5.0 s / 282 vs RWD 5.4 s / 283. Restyle 3.0 PDK 420 hp AWD 5.0 s / 286 / 9.0 vs RWD 5.1 s / 287 / 8.7; AWD is 190 kg heavier (2000 vs 1810). 3 generation 4 2.9 PDK vs 2.9 PDK (both 353 hp): AWD 4.8 s / 270 / 11.2 vs RWD 5.3 s / 272 / 10.5 — 0.5 s and 0.7 l/100 km for AWD, +35 kg (1920 vs 1885).

GTS 4.0 PDK (480 hp) vs Turbo S 4.0 PDK (480 hp): same hp and 620 Nm; GTS 3.9 s / 300 / 9.8 mixed vs Turbo S 3.1 s / 315 / 12.8. The GTS is 60 kg lighter (2095 vs 2155) yet 0.8 s slower; the extra 3.0 l/100 km on Turbo S is the measured cost of the 0.8 s.

Sport Turismo vs Liftback at 330 hp AWD: 4 Sport Turismo 2.9 PDK 5.3 s / 263 / 10.7 vs 4 2.9 PDK 5.3 s / 270 / 8.8; +30 kg (2005 vs 1975). Same sprint, 7 km/h and 1.9 l/100 km.

Dimensions and weight

Kerb range with a number: 1730 kg (3.6 MT 300 hp) to 2425 kg (Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK 700 hp). Gross with a number: 2335 kg (3.6 MT 300 hp) to 2900 kg (generation-2 4.0 PDK 550 hp Plug-in). 3 generation 4 2.9 PDK E-Hybrid, 4S 2.9 PDK E-Hybrid and Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK have kerb and gross not measured.

Ground clearance: 143 mm on all generation-1 and restyle-1 rows that list it; generation 2 128 mm on both 4.0 PDK 460 hp, 133 mm on the 330/440/422 hp cars, 134 mm on 550 hp Gasoline and Plug-in, 144 mm on Plug-in 2.9 PDK 330 hp; restyle 2 is 130 mm on petrol 2.9/4.0 and 133 mm on the 2.9 Plug-ins. 3 generation clearance not measured.

Tank: 80 l through generation 1 restyle; 75 l through generation 2 and restyle 2 and on 3 generation petrol 2.9; 80 l again on 3 generation hybrids and on Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK (500 hp).

Wheels (as listed): generation 1 mostly 245/50 R18 with 275/45 R18; 550 hp 255/40 R20 with 295/35 R20; several 4.8 rows not measured. Restyle 1 adds 255/45 R19 with 285/40 R19 on 520 hp and 420 hp AWD. Generation 2 Estate: 265/45 R19 with 295/40 R19, or 275/40 R20 with 315/35 R20 (550 hp Gasoline), or 275/35 R21 with 325/30 R21 (550 hp Plug-in). Restyle 2 repeats those plus triple lists 265/45 R19, 275/40 R20, 275/35 R21. 3 generation petrol and hybrids list up to six sizes including 325/30 R21; Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK (500 hp) wheels not measured.

Independent spring suspension and ventilated disc brakes (rear label Disc ventilated on the cards) are the repeating chassis labels where present.

Which version to choose

Buy generation-3 petrol if you want a current 2.9 with more hp per litre than the restyle 330. 4 2.9 PDK (353 hp) is 122.0 hp/l vs 114.0 on restyle 4 2.9 PDK (330 hp), 5.44 vs 5.98 kg/hp, 4.8 vs 5.3 s. Mixed is worse where measured (11.2 vs 8.8). RWD 2.9 PDK (353 hp) is the lightest current petrol at 1885 kg.

Buy a 2.9 Plug-in if you want torque without a 4.0. Restyle 4 E-Hybrid 2.9 PDK / Platinum Edition 700 Nm at 462 hp; 4S E-Hybrid 2.9 PDK 700 Nm at 560 hp (193.5 hp/l, 3.7 s, 3.97 kg/hp). Generation-3 4 2.9 PDK E-Hybrid 470 hp / 650 Nm / 4.1 s; 4S 2.9 PDK E-Hybrid 544 hp / 750 Nm / 3.7 s — same 3.7 s as the 560 hp restyle with 16 fewer hp; mixed, CO2, kerb not measured on both gen-3 2.9 hybrids.

Buy Turbo S petrol if the sprint matters more than the hybrid’s CO2. Restyle Turbo S 4.0 PDK 3.1 s beats Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK 3.2 s at −220 hp and −270 kg. Generation-3 Turbo E-Hybrid 4.0 PDK (680 hp) matches 3.2 s with 1.7 mixed. Generation-3 Turbo S 4.0 V8 E-Hybrid PDK is the 3.0 s / 325 km/h peak; Nm is 650 versus 948 on the 680 hp sibling — more hp, 298 Nm less torque on the card.

Buy generation-2 Estate 5-door if you need that body. The 1850 kg 3.0 PDK 330 hp is 30 kg lighter than the 1880 kg twin and 3 km/h faster (262 vs 259) with 7.7 vs 7.9 mixed. Skip 460 hp 4.0 PDK if you already looked at 2.9 PDK 440 hp: +20 hp, +70 Nm, +1102 cc, 0.3 s (4.1 vs 4.4), +3 or +6 km/h, mixed 10.6/10.3 vs 8.3, +110 or +80 kg. The 2.9 at 152.0 hp/l does more with less metal. 4.0 PDK 550 hp Gasoline is 3.8 s / 304 km/h at 3.70 kg/hp — same sprint as generation-1 4.8 PDK 550 hp (3.8 s / 306) at +40 kg (2035 vs 1995) and −2 km/h, mixed 9.5 vs 11.5.

Buy generation-1 restyle 4.8 if you want the last big naturally-less-boosted eight’s peak turbo numbers. 4.8 PDK 570 hp at 1995 kg is 3.8 s / 310 km/h / 10.2 mixed; the 2080 kg twin is 3.9 s / 10.3. Versus generation-2 550 hp Gasoline: +20 hp, +6 km/h, mixed 10.2 vs 9.5, same 3.8 s on the lighter 570.

Buy a diesel only in generation 1 restyle or generation 2. Restyle 3.0 AT 300 hp: 6.0 s / 259 km/h / 6.4 mixed / 650 Nm — versus 211 hp 7.5 s / 211 km/h at the same 6.3 mixed. Generation-2 2.9 PDK 422 hp Diesel: 4.5 s / 282 / 6.8 / 850 Nm. After 2021-01-31 diesel is gone from this file.

Buy a manual only in generation 1. Restyle 3.6 MT 310 hp: 6.3 s, 8.4 mixed, 1770 kg versus pre-restyle 300 hp 6.8 s, 11.3 mixed, 1730 kg — 0.5 s and 2.9 l/100 km for 40 kg.

Do not use problems or reliability as a tie-break. Fault rates, workshop costs, engine-out prices and air-filter jobs are not measured in this dataset.

AWD is not free mass: +35 to +190 kg on the pairs above, usually 0.2–0.5 s quicker, usually more mixed fuel. Plug-in is not free mass either: generation-2 2.9 PDK 330 hp Plug-in is 2190 kg versus 1880 kg on Gasoline 3.0 PDK 330 hp (+310 kg) for 0.9 s (4.6 vs 5.5) and 59 vs 180 g/km. That is the clearest “what the hybrid buys” sum in the file: 0.9 s and 121 g/km CO2 against 310 kg.

Pick by the number that is actually on the card for that exact name and horsepower. Duplicate names without the hp (and, where hp matches, without kg or top speed) will point at the wrong modification page.