It's fairly easy to be cynical about Porsche's Panamera. For a start, the styling of the four-door luxury hatchback can at best be described as imposing, at worst, plain ugly. Then there's the price: even this V6 powered entry-level model costs £61,461, which looks rather expensive alongside something like the more attractive and equally well-built Audi A7 Sportback, which is £10,000 cheaper and has a superior, supercharged petrol engine. It's not even like you can count on the Porsche to be the fastest car in its class; the Audi's got it beaten there too.
The final blow against the Panamera, at least when equipped with 20in wheels and low profile tyres, is a ride that is simply too busy for its GT aspirations. It's not that this is an uncomfortable car, but it's not a particularly relaxing one either.
This isn't to say, however, that there is nothing here to like. Indeed, once inside the enormous Panamera you'll find a very pleasant cabin; with its switches (of which there are an awful lot) laid out along the long transmission tunnel, and its four comfortable leather seats the Porsche evokes the feeling of being in a very posh private jet. In the top of the range turbocharged model you can almost kid yourself that you are too, such is the thrust from the 493bhp twin-turbocharged V8 when you find a piece of planet long enough to extend its full reach.
Unfortunately the petrol V6 lacks the sense of occasion and aural excitement of higher powered models. Peak power of 296bhp might be considered more than enough for a vehicle designed to carry four people, but when that vehicle also weighs 1,730kg performance does tend to get blunted. Similarly, 295lb ft of torque might feel like plenty in a 1,600kg BMW 3-series, but such is the Porsche's sheer size that you'll find yourself changing gear more frequently than you might think. Given this, the optional £2,339 PDK seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox makes a lot of sense, shifting smoothly and quickly enough to disguise any torque shortages.
Of all the Porsche's attributes, it's the handling that stands out. There's enormous grip on offer, even in this entry-level two-wheel drive version, body roll is well resisted and the steering is thankfully accurate enough to make placing this wide car relatively easy. Strong brakes round off a dynamic package that is typically Porsche-like in its competence, and a vivid demonstration of the company's expertise in building cars that are involving to drive, even when the constraints they have been made to work with don't look all that promising.
Ultimately though, you'd have to really want that Porsche badge to justify buying this over more complete rivals, and even then there's an argument that the Cayenne SUV is a more enjoyable machine in which to tackle long distances, with a smoother ride and more commanding driving position, not to mention the fact that with a V6 engine it's an astonishing £20,000 cheaper. And if it really is £60,000 four-seater luxury sports GT with a prestige badge that you're after then there is no finer car than Jaguar's XFR. Given that car's supreme blend of speed, refinement, style and comfort opting for the Porsche instead would seem like a somewhat eccentric decision.
THE FACTS
Porsche Panamera V6
Tested: 3,605cc petrol V6 engine, seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, rear-wheel drive
Price/on sale: £63,800/now
Power/torque: 296bhp @ 6,200rpm/295lb ft @ 4,250rpm
Top speed: 161mph
Acceleration: 0-62mph in 6.3 sec
Fuel economy: 21.6mpg (EU Urban) and 30.4mpg (Combined)
CO2 emissions: 218g/km
VED band: K (£550 first year)
Verdict: Despite being expensive, ugly and underpowered this isn't a bad car. The Panamera's main problem is that in V6 guise others do a much more convincing job for the same money or less.
Telegraph rating: Three out of five
