2024 Porsche Panamera

Porsche's Panamera has really come into its own after a rocky introduction back in 2010, with the first iteration suffering from seriously awkward styling. The second-generation Panamera leaned into its predecessor's strengths and smoothed its faults, becoming even faster, more attractive and sharper from behind the wheel. Now, with Porsche's introduction of the third-generation 2024 Panamera, the automaker ratchets all that up again with an added dose of technology and comfort. We traveled to Porsche's factory in Leipzig, where we hit the roads in a still-camouflaged 2024 Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid to see if the newest iteration cements the Panamera as the king of the four-door luxury performance cars.

With the previously mentioned Active Ride suspension, the Panamera is incredibly comfortable. The ride feels well insulated from the road surface, and combined with the excellent multi-way adjustable seats and ample sound deadening; the experience is overall very luxurious. As befits something with the Porsche crest on the hood, the car never feels sloppy or floaty, even in the softest suspension settings, but it feels like the perfect car for a cross-country drive — a typical Panamera strength.

The interior of this third generation of Panamera has seen a substantial overhaul. The instrument cluster now mimics the one you'll find in the newest Cayenne, as does the dash-mounted toggle switch for the shifter. The seats are supportive, if not overly relaxing, but I like this. The center console looks similar to the previous generation's but features new screens for climate control as well as a few physical knobs and buttons for frequently used features. The cabin is truly a nice place to spend time.

If you want a fast, luxurious and technically savvy four-door car these days, and you've got a big enough budget, you'll be a little spoiled for choice. In addition to the Panamera, buyers are also likely to consider the forthcoming Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance, which should start at around the same price as the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid while offering a more traditional luxury car experience. Also in contention are the 2024 Audi RS 7 Performance and the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe, which offer similar performance sans hybrid systems, at much-reduced prices — just $128,895 and $140,795, respectively, before options.

The 2024 Porsche Panamera is meaningfully improved over previous versions and offers deeply impressive performance to match its peaky price tag. It's not a car for everyone, with its unique styling and four-seat interior layout, but then again, it never was.