I spent a week living with the new Porsche Panamera, and I’ve found my dream daily

I quite often dream about what I’d do if I won the lottery. A lot of people would go out and buy a supercar, but that’s not really my style. I’d have a big barn somewhere full of old and quirky cars, including a Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo, a Mk1 Toyota MR2 and a Ford Capri 2.8 Injection.

But I’d also want something extravagant to ferry me from my new seaside mansion to my barn, and I never really knew what car that would be – until I spent a week with the Porsche Panamera. I can now say that this, money no object, is my dream daily.

Well, not this exact car – it’s a little too brown for my tastes. I’d probably go for a dark green with a white interior. Regardless of the colour combo, this is one of the best luxury cars on sale today.

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Living with a Porsche Panamera: getting comfortable

As soon as I stepped inside the Panamera, it felt like it was tailored for me. The driving position is spot-on, which is something I can’t say for many cars because I have quite long legs. You sit nice and low, and the steering wheel comes out far enough so this massive four-door feels like a proper sports car.

Then I started poking around the cabin, and this is a super-luxurious cabin. The overall design might not be as stylish as a Mercedes, but the build quality is top-notch with solid metal switchgear and soft leather on every surface.

Living with a Porsche Panamera: on the move

It was the driving experience which really made me fall in love with the Panamera, because it has a real Jekyll and Hyde personality.

This is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid – the fastest and most expensive version you can buy. It has a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, paired with an electric motor to make a combined 782hp and 800Nm of torque.

But as you set off in electric silence, you don’t get any sense that this car is capable of doing 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 202mph.

In normal hybrid mode, the Panamera is quiet and extraordinarily comfortable. The air suspension adapts to every bump and crease in the road, making even the most potholed city streets feel like you are cruising down the final straight at Silverstone.

But then you flick it into sport mode, and the Panamera becomes a totally different animal. Now the engine is always on, and the exhaust goes into a more fruity setting to unleash the V8 soundtrack. Put your foot down, and it just sits down and sods off.

The Turbo S is ballistically fast – almost too fast for UK roads. I had the car for 10 days in total, and I only managed to use full throttle once for about half a second. It’s insane.

Then you hit a twisty road, and that trick air suspension shows off another party piece. As you go into a corner, the car pumps up the suspension on one side to counteract the body roll. This means you can chuck it into a bend and it remains almost eerily flat. The steering is also fantastic.

I drove a BMW M5 a few weeks before this, and that car left me a bit cold. It just felt far too big on the road. The Porsche almost shrinks around you, so despite it being about the same size as the BMW it doesn’t feel as unwieldy.

Sounds like this is the perfect car then?

Well, not quite. There were a couple of things I noticed during my time with the car which weren’t so great.

The first was glossy black plastic across the dashboard. Not only does this attract fingerprints, but it was already noticeably scratched on this 2025 car. It lets down what is otherwise a lovely interior.

And the other downside is the price. When I first drove this Panamera, I was convinced that I’d buy this over a BMW M5. That was until I saw the spec sheet.

This range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid starts from £175,000, and this one is optioned up to an eye-watering £195,000. That’s £90,000 more than an M5, and almost as much as the flat it was parked outside of, which is why it would have to be a lottery win car for me.

Living with a Porsche Panamera: the one I’d buy

The Porsche Panamera is my dream daily driver, but I wouldn’t have the Turbo S E-Hybrid. It’s just too fast for UK roads, and in a situation where I’ve won the lottery I wouldn’t care about the extra fuel economy you gain from the hybrid system.

I would buy a Porsche Panamera GTS. That car has the same 4.0-litre V8 engine as the Turbo S, just without the hybrid gubbins. This means it has 500hp and will do 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds, which is still stupidly fast but a bit more usable than the Turbo S.

A GTS, finished in dark green with a white interior, would be my choice.

How I tested the Porsche Panamera

I had a busy week with the Porsche Panamera, trekking up and down the country to motoring events and work meetings. I racked up the best part of 700 motorway miles, plus many more on twisty roads and around town.

The Panamera was brought into service as a taxi for the wider Carwow editorial team to get lunch, giving me a great opportunity to test the spacious and comfy rear seats.

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