Porsche Panamera V6

A V6 sounds like a small engine for a car as big as the Panamera, but thanks to the unit’s 296bhp potential, this model never feels slow. It’s also a refined cruiser, and smooth over uneven roads. Poor low-speed refinement is the only fly in the ointment – the engine and gearbox feel at the limit of their performance. Still, the cabin looks sensational, and comfort is first rate. For the money, not many cars can match this Porsche’s blend of performance and personality.

The Panamera is playing the numbers game. Porsche’s new entry-level super-saloon hasa 3.6-litre V6 engine, and is £10,000 cheaper than the V8.

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It weighs in at £61,461, and bosses expect it to account for more than half of all Panamera sales in the UK. So what do drivers have to look forward to?

As well as reduced running costs – with combined fuel economy of 30.4mpg – the car delivers strong performance. It covers 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and hits a 160mph top speed.

The jury is still out on the Panamera’s styling, but our car impressed inside. Only the new Jaguar XJ serves up a better blend of comfort and luxury.

It’s as practical as it is well appointed, with four individual seats, plus a spacious boot. Passengers in the rear get individual air-conditioning controls, as well as a button to move the front passenger seat forward. Up front, our car had Porsche’s touchscreen-based sat-nav system, which gives instructions through the instrument binnacle, too.

As the engine spins into life, it sounds more like a turbine than a slow-revving V6. Shifts from the seven-ratio gearbox could be smoother, particularly at low speeds, when the engine is cold. But the unit’s 296bhp is delivered smoothly and evenly to the rear wheels – a four-wheel-drive model is also available – and the car is a competent cruiser.

The V6 has conventional metal springs, instead of the air-suspension in the V8, and features 19-inch wheels. Yet the ride is still smooth, and the car remains composed
over rough roads. Bumps are absorbed without fuss, which only adds to the refined feel you get from behind the wheel, especially on motorways.

Steering is accurate, but in corners the Panamera can’t hide its size. Catch a pothole, and you can feel the springs struggling to manage the greater load. The brakes are powerful, and the traction control acts swiftly to rein in wheelspin.

But the Panamera’s focus on lower costs isn’t all positive. It lacks the star qualities of the V8, and we’d prefer stronger pace low in the rev range, plus better low-speed refinement. Maybe the imminent hybrid will be a better eco compromise.

Rival: Jaguar XJ D
With a V6 diesel, the dramatic-looking XJ provides better low-speed pace than the Porsche, while its interior is every bit as well designed. Plus, in LWB trim, it’s more spacious.