Car Statistics: Porsche - Panamera Series (4 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

A four door Porsche is always going to be intensely controversial, so the company has worked very hard to give it typical Porsche styling cues, especially around the headlights and tailgate. It looks good from the front and the back, but less so from the side: the very long 115 inch wheelbase and low roof does make it look a bit like a sat-upon Cayenne.

Handling (5 stars)

Without a doubt, the best thing about the car is its suspension. It absolutely demolishes fast A-roads and the ESP system is very progressive, allowing the car to slide moderately before reining things in. The optional air suspension is worth choosing, providing both a slightly better ride and noticeably better body control on rough roads. The only problems stem from its size: the 76 inch width can make narrow roads a slightly fraught experience.

Comfort (4 stars)

The seats are excellent and the car can comfortably cross entire countries in a single sitting - on a German autobahn 100 mph corresponds to just 2500 rpm. The ride is firm, as you would expect, but very well controlled.

Quality (4 stars)

It is a Porsche, so it is hardly going to be flimsy. The interior looks very good and the only thing that prevents a full five stars are the slightly tinny buttons on the centre console.

Performance (4 stars)

The Turbo is a five star car- all 500 bhp can be summoned in an instant. The normally aspirated 400 bhp models are obviously still very fast, but are quite sensitive to how the optional PSK double-clutch gearbox is used. Around town, it is best to leave it in auto mode if you want to avoid some hesitant and slightly jerky gearchanges. At high speed, the PSK box is much better in manual mode, but it needs to be in Sport to deliver quick changes - otherwise it can feel like a very slow-witted auto

Roominess (4 stars)

It does have plenty of space for four - not exactly up to S-Class standards, but perfectly acceptable. The boot is well shaped, but a bit shallow (there is space for a vast 1000 watt amplifier under the floor). There is the option of a ski hatch in the split-fold rear seats.

Costs (3 stars)

Fuel consumption is as good as you are going to get from a 170 mph four-seater, varying between 23.2 mpg and 26.2 mpg depending on the model (when fitted with the PSK gearbox). Servicing will undoubtedly be very expensive but the biggest cost will be depreciation. Traditionally, Porsches depreciate slowly and big saloons depreciate quickly. Time will tell which trend applies to the Panamera.

Value (2 stars)

No matter what you compare it with, this car is expensive. You are not going to get one on the road for under £75,000, which is a lot more than a 500 bhp Jaguar XF-R, for example. There is a big premium for the exclusivity of having a Porsche saloon.

Stereo (5 stars)

Audios range from the very good to the sensational. The optional 1000 watt audio system is like having a miniature concert hall inside your car. Satellite navigation works exceptionally well and has two displays: the main one in the centre console plus a smaller one in front of the driver.