2021 Porsche Panamera GTS review: Striking the perfect balance

Porsche’s Panamera lineup is quite stacked. There are 8 diverse powertrain configurations unfold throughout the three overall body designs — normal sedan, extended-wheelbase Executive and Activity Turismo wagon — for a total of 21 styles. But if you’re in the market for a Panamera, or actually any big luxurious activity sedan of its caliber, I am in this article to make your determination uncomplicated: Just obtain a Panamera GTS, since it is really phenomenal.

The GTS uses a twin-turbo 4.-liter V8 earning 473 horsepower and 457 pound-ft of torque, an improve of 20 hp in excess of past year’s design, and Porsche tuned the engine to supply power in a additional linear style, like what you would hope from a naturally aspirated set up. It truly is paired with Porsche’s phenomenal 8-pace PDK automatic transmission and an all-wheel travel. All the Panamera styles under the GTS use V6 engines, so the GTS is the most economical way to get a V8, slotting underneath the new Turbo S.

The overall Panamera array obtained a facelift for 2021 that brought tweaked light-weight types and diverse bumpers, additional regular characteristics like wireless Apple CarPlay and keyless entry, and additional hybrid styles. The GTS receives crystal clear taillights as regular, which look brilliant with the new full-width lightbar style and design. My examination vehicle is completed in the breathtaking Mamba Environmentally friendly Metallic, which is worth just about every cent of its $840 cost, and goes perfectly with the GTS’ blacked-out exterior trim and badges.

I desire the interior were additional exciting, nevertheless. This Panamera has the GTS’ regular mixture of all-black leather and Race-Tex suede, with dim wooden-like aluminum trim accents. A full leather interior is a no-cost selection (and you can even get it in a nice purplish maroon), which would do miracles for earning the Panamera’s cabin look additional exciting. I do appreciate the redesigned steering wheel with a full suede rim that is the fantastic thickness, and the GTS arrives regular with excellent 18-way adaptive sports activities seats that are supportive and at ease, even on extended drives.

That unexciting interior does not make any difference after I get the Panamera out on the highway, nevertheless. I head up California’s superb Highway 33 north of Ojai, a route that is made up of twisting mountain streets with hairpins and enormous elevation improvements and stretches of desert straightaways with extended sweepers. The GTS’ engine supplies the fantastic amount of power and response, with masses of torque out there at a moment’s discover all the way up to the 6,800-rpm redline. The PDK transmission snaps off rapid shifts without drama, and I am able to power out of corners with my foot to the ground without reaching extralegal speeds. Yeah, it is really a rapid vehicle — Porsche estimates a 3.seven-2nd -to-sixty-mph time — but it never feels much too much for the street. The V8 seems brilliant as a result of the regular activity exhaust procedure, with a nice burble at idle that builds to a throaty roar.

My Panamera examination vehicle is fitted with a number of ought to-have choices that increase the GTS’ by now fantastic dynamics. The $2,a hundred and sixty 21-inch wheels wrapped in superb Michelin Pilot Activity 4S tires are a dimension up from the GTS’ foundation wheels, and they look excellent without compromising trip high quality. Just about every Panamera GTS has an adaptive air suspension with a a little lowered trip top, but my vehicle has the $5,010 Porsche Dynamic Chassis Regulate that provides torque vectoring and a 48-volt lively anti-roll bar procedure. Most crucial is the $one,650 rear-axle steering procedure, which increases agility in the corners and would make the Panamera way much easier to travel in the town. I would never obtain 1 without it.

The Panamera GTS is a marvel in the corners. The steering is completely weighted with additional opinions than any of its rivals, and it feels a ton additional athletic than any sedan weighing all around 4,600 pounds ought to. The chassis soaks up bumps and poor highway surfaces even with the suspension in the sportiest method, and with the assist of the optional torque vectoring procedure the Panamera is usually guaranteed-footed with tons of grip even though however allowing for a little bit of slip and entertaining in the corners. I know it is really a cliche to say this about a non-911 Porsche, but the Panamera GTS actually does travel like a sports activities vehicle.

The 1 performance merchandise on my Panamera’s choices listing that is not worth it are the carbon-ceramic brakes. Certain, they give huge halting power, but on the street you’re never gonna will need it. Plus, they cost a whopping $8,970. The GTS’ regular steel brakes are however substantial and are additional than fantastic sufficient.

With a starting cost of $one hundred thirty,650 (like $one,350 for destination) the GTS is $48,four hundred more cost-effective than the Turbo S, which uses the similar V8 tuned to 620 hp and 604 lb.-ft. The Turbo S is undeniably a excellent machine, but it is really overkill in the greater part of cases. With its focus on in general performance rather of outright pace, GTS is additional usable just about every working day than the Turbo S. And even though it is really pricier and a lot less effective than a Mercedes-AMG E63 or a BMW M5, I feel it is really better to travel than the two.

The only other choices on my Panamera are $740 delicate-near doors, a $one,600 Bose encompass-seem procedure and $one,060 for blind-place checking and lane-holding help. It rings in at $152,680, however $26,370 a lot less than a Turbo S. In my eyes you will find only 1 other competitor that actually poses a problem for the Panamera GTS sedan, and it is really also from Porsche’s personal lineup: the Panamera GTS Activity Turismo wagon, which only charges $6,200 additional. Now that is a no brainer.