Car Reviews > Porsche > Panamera Diesel > Porsche Panamera Diesel Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £62,134
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power/torque: 247bhp/ 550Nm
0-62 mph: 6.8 seconds
Economy: 44.8 miles per gallon
Emissions: 167g per kilometre
Equipment: Heated seats, GPS, climate control
On Sale: Now

The new Saloon is tipped to be the most efficient model that the super car manufacturer has ever come out with – but will that be at the expense of performance?

It is all about numbers for the new Porsche Panamera, though unusually for Porsche, those numbers are for once not all related to performance – not in terms of against the clock, anyway.

Numbers concerning fuel economy are the big draw for the new Porsche Panamera, and there is little doubt that they are in fact every bit as remarkable as the company has been publicising them to be. With optional low rolling resistance tyres fitted, the four-door sports car is absolutely the most economical model that the firm has ever manufactured – nothing else in the range, not even Porsche’s own hybrids, come anywhere near the 44.8 miles per gallon consumption figure that is on offer.

On standard rubber tyres, that figure does fall somewhat to 43.5 miles per gallon, while the level of CO2 emissions likewise goes up from 167g per kilometre to 172g per kilometre, yet even those are still genuinely impressive figures for a machine that is capable of travelling up to 150 miles per hour.

For drivers who travel a little more sedately, the Porsche Panamera’s fuel tank can deliver as much as 745 miles in total, and with insiders suggesting that Porsche is considering adding the option of a 100-litre tank, that could easily go even more.

While the car’s fuel sipping abilities are undeniably impressive, speed is still an issue that has to be considered. Fortunately, while it is not up to the pace of its speedier relatives, with a top speed of 150 miles per hour and a 0-62 mile per hour time of just 6.8 seconds, it is not exactly a slouch either and should provide a perfectly adequate, if not extraordinary, then certainly, pleasing performance.

The 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel engine, sourced from Audi and capable of a bhp rating of 247 is strongest when in the midrange. While the output may not sound all that much by itself, that is more than made up for by the massive 550Nm of torque. The 8-speed Tiptronic automatic is able to slip quickly and barely noticeably between its various ratios, while manual control, which is available through either the gearlever or the steering wheel rocker switches. If you are one of those drivers who just have to be in control yourself, paddle-shifts are available for an extra £283.

That might not be such a bad idea, given that for all its economical nature, this is still a Panemera we are talking about here, which means that it is still a remarkably agile vehicle for all of its size, and that incredible ability to carry speed continues to be one of the most amazing and creditable features of this four-door.

The steering is accurate and quick, with the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management system also proving to be a big help in that department, while the balance between the comfort of the ride and the issue of body control is handled extremely well.

With a staggering pace at its disposal, the more economical nature of the new Porsche Panamera Diesel certainly does not detract from the fun

by Autoweb