2026 Porsche Panamera Expert Review
Reviewed by Zach Gale
Some of the most entertaining four-doors on the planet are made by Porsche, and the 2026 Panamera is among them. Though some MotorTrend editors prefer the sublime Taycan, the gas-powered Panamera still holds appeal as a quick and premium four-door with a range of nearly 500 miles in some configurations.
The 2026 Porsche Panamera's gas and hybrid variants compete with the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-AMG 4-Door Coupe, and, yes, the electric Porsche Taycan. See the Taycan here.
What's New
Changes to the 2026 Panamera are minimal, but should enhance the experience overall:
- Surround View (a 360 camera) with Active Parking Support (self-parking) is now standard
- The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid and Turbo S E-Hybrid are now quieter, thanks to thermally and noise-insulating glass
- Updated USB-C ports can share power across two ports for a total of 60 watts
- Plug-in hybrid models have a new level 2 charger
- Porsche Connect is now free for 10 years. The feature helps connect you to your car via a phone app and via apps installed in the car itself. A four-year data pass is now included
- Alexa, the Amazon-based digital assistant, is now included
- Dolby Atmos can improve the sound quality for 2026 Panameras with Bose or Burmester sound system
What We Think
The idea of a four-door Porsche stopped being novel a while back, thanks to the original Panamera, which debuted more than 15 years ago, followed by the Taycan. And we'll be direct: For outright four-door driving fun the Taycan is fantastic. The 2026 Porsche Panamera isn't far behind, and it's got a couple other tricks up its sleeve.
Porsche has made remarkable strides with the electric Taycan's driving range and, especially, charging speeds. On a road trip, though, the 2026 Panamera would still be a better choice for most. That's because it's more spacious and has a longer driving range thanks to the fact that every Panamera has a gas engine.
The Panamera may be better for traditionalists who still appreciate the sound of a V-8. In our review of a Panamera GTS, we said the engine sound was "soft enough not to impede conversation but loud enough to remind you that you didn’t buy the V-6 economy engine."
Put it all together, and it really becomes a question of priorities more than which Porsche is better. Do you want the one that's more spacious and easier on a road trip? The 2026 Panamera would fit best. Do you want the one that you can recharge at home, that shrinks around you on a winding road? That better describes the equally pricey Taycan.
