Porsche Panamera review - Practicality & boot space

If you’ve got the money, the Porsche Panamera provides supercar-like performance wrapped up in a relatively sensible body. You might be loath to use it for trips to the dump, but the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats actually make this a realistic prospect.

Porsche Panamera interior space & storage

Anyone in the front of the Panamera will find themselves very well taken care of. Leg and headroom are good, while the standard seats offer excellent comfort, something that becomes even truer if you upgrade to the 18-way adjustable sports seats.

Taller adults in the rear may wish for a little more leg and headroom and that wish is granted by the Executive model, whose wheelbase is extended by 150mm. This provides greater space to stretch out, but whichever model of Panamera you choose, it’s far more spacious than the car it replaced. You’re unlikely to hear complaints from the back, even on longer journeys, but if you really do want to look after your passengers, all-round ventilated massaging seats are available.

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Boot space

At 494 litres, the Panamera’s boot isn’t vast, but it’s larger than you’ll find in a BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe (by 54 litres) and by no means a token gesture. Drop the split-folding rear seats and space grows to 1,328 litres, which is roughly equivalent to the space available in a Volkswagen Golf with the seats down, and 14 litres more than in the pre-facelift Panamera. Boot space is reduced in the GTS down to 478 litres with the rear seats in place – drop these and capacity increases to 1,312 litres.

The E-Hybrid models have a further reduced boot capacity due to the batteries under the floor, with 430 litres on offer, increasing to 1,264 litres with the seats down.

Unfortunately, the estate-like Panamera Sport Turismo was discontinued with the latest facelift, so there’s no longer a more practical version of the Panamera on offer.

Towing

In the unlikely event you wish to use the Panamera as a tow car, Porsche will fit the necessary preparation for around £200, with the electric extending tow bar itself costing £1,200. The towing capacity is up to 2,200kg on the petrol models – more than some SUVs can manage – but there’s no such luck with the hybrids, which aren’t able to tow.