Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid 2015 Review

Frankly though, I'm confused as to what purpose the hybrid Panamera serves. If you really want a car that straddles the divide – environment AND performance – buy a Tesla Model S P85+ for half the price.

But judging by the usual criteria applied to Porsches, the Panamera hybrid is magnificent.

Maybe the looks don't appeal to everyone, and the lime-green brake callipers are an acquired taste, but with the dampers and chassis modes set to Sport the Panamera delivers consistent, highly stable handling, communicative steering and linear performance.

Gently powering on will push the nose towards the outside of a bend, but backing off will tighten the line predictably – and let you know through the wheel and seat precisely what's happening. Unlike most other hybrids, moreover, this one will step out at the rear with a heavy application of the right foot.

The Panamera rides well, even when the dampers are set to Sport mode, and it's naturally very quiet without the petrol engine running. Typically, tyre noise prevails on country roads and even on freeways up to the 100km/h limit.

The supercharged V6 pumps solid torque through the eight-speed auto from practically any speed and sounds fabulous doing so. There's no unwanted vibration at lower revs and its exhaust note under load has a sexy six-cylinder timbre about it, as you would expect from a Porsche.

Naturally there's more vibration apparent when the engine is running than when the car is operating in electric mode. On the flip side, the V6 delivers its power and torque in a smoother, flowing stream, whereas the electric motor and the auto transmission aren't always 'simpatico'.

There's some occasional clunking, gear changes are more noticeable and the motor does whine, but with careful modulation of the accelerator it will propel the Panamera across a busy intersection quickly, without the V6 necessarily firing up.

Inside the Panamera, comfort and visual presence reign supreme. Other than a smattering of driver-assist switches nearer the passenger and the indicator stalk on the left of the steering column, the driving position is ideal. Seating is terrific and there's abundant head room and legroom, front and rear, even with the sunroof fitted. Only the low ride height is a shortcoming, requiring passengers stoop a bit further to enter the car, and the rear doors are quite long to open in narrow parking spaces.

There are auxiliary power outlets front and rear, plus face-level vents in the B pillars for rear-seat passengers, and rear-seat heating (an option costing $1050 in this particular car).

Storage space in the cabin could be better and there's a distinct lack of cupholders, but you're not really buying a Porsche for that level of practicality – although the Panamera is pretty easy to use every day of the week. It can negotiate driveways and speed humps without hitting the ground, which is rare for a car of this specification and market position.

Don't go looking for some of the active safety features you would expect from other German brands charging this sort of money, however. Lane Change Assist and Blind Spot Assist were fitted, but as options costing $1540.

As a hybrid the Panamera is fit for purpose in a modest fashion. With planning and patience, and if you live within 20km of your work environment and can recharge the Panamera there, it's possible to commute without using petrol at all. It's worth mentioning too that if much of your commute is by freeway and/or the terrain is flatter, the zero-emissions range should be longer still.

But...

Judged as a hybrid, the Panamera isn't what I would deem an unmitigated success.

According to the trip computer, the car's long-term fuel consumption finished the week at 5.6L/100km, having started the week at 5.9. Under 6.0L/100km is a pretty good number for such a large car, but it points to two things: Most of the Panamera's previous drivers couldn't bother with the rigmarole of charging the battery twice a day. Alternatively (or in addition), distances travelled between recharges exceeded the battery's range in pure EV mode.

If you live further away from the central business district of a major city than a suburb like Parramatta or Box Hill, you will have to use the petrol engine to commute. That's a given.

Personally, I found aiming to maximise the EV range was its own distraction on the road. There's a danger associated with making the driver more a flight engineer than a pilot, but the Panamera is not the only hybrid that's guilty of that!

Adding to your morning (and evening) ritual prior to heading out the door is the bugbear of packing or unpacking the heavy and ponderous recharging unit from the rear of the car. It's an extra five minutes out of your day, for what that's worth, and it's bulkier than the recharger for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

It must be noted, however, that the Panamera's battery will charge fully within the space of about four hours, from a standard 10-amp household outlet, and the plug cannot be removed from the car without unlocking the Panamera first. Both commendable points...

There are other plug-in hybrid vehicles and EVs around that offer a longer zero-emissions range, if you're that committed to helping the environment or prefer not to line the pockets of 'Big Oil'.

In the bigger picture though, the Panamera doesn't fail as a hybrid; a diesel Panamera subjected to the same week of commuting would have used considerably more fuel. Nor does the e-Hybrid fail as a Porsche. It's fun when the driver is of a mind to drive it for the sake of enjoyment. As a purchase, it makes sense too. Even with the extra equipment to make it a plug-in hybrid it's not bad value – relative to other Panamera variants at least.

The problem – to my mind – lies in bringing these different qualities together, at the same time and location. There's no doubt the Panamera S E-Hybrid is an intriguing car, but extracting optimal efficiency doesn't make it any the more fun to drive. As such, most Panamera drivers would be happier behind the wheel of a conventional variant, taking it for the occasional weekend blast.

And I say that as someone by no means averse to hybrids, either in principle or in practice. As Porsche Cars Australia spokesman Paul Ellis noted, however: "The Panamera S E-Hybrid is a starting point for Porsche .... not the end destination."

Also consider:
>> Tesla Model S P85+ (from $127,800 plus ORCs)
>> BMW ActiveHybrid 7 (from $223,100 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz S300 BlueTEC Hybrid (from $196,500 plus ORCs)