When the first Porsche Panamera came out, it had some strong competition as four-door coupes were all the rage at the time. Even so, the Panamera outsold all of them and has survived the SUV trend unlike many of its alternatives back in the day. What made the initial Panamera so special was its superior handling and performance, relatively low price, and great reliability. And one of the most powerful versions of the Panamera you can get is the GTS. The current Panamera GTS horsepower is only behind the Turbo and the Turbo E-Hybrid. But we also have to mention that the Panamera GTS price is considerably lower than both of those more powerful versions. That makes the GTS one of the best Panamera iterations we have ever gotten and that's something that will become more obvious as we progress in this Panamera GTS review and compare it to the Turbo and the Turbo E-Hybrid. But before that, if you are looking for a Panamera GTS, or any Panamera for that matter, you can always find a few examples at Exotic Car Trader so don't be afraid to take our search engine for a spin.
The GTS badge was available on the first generation Panamera three years into its production. The GTS model was made to offer customers a faster and more performance-oriented Panamera other than the Turbo. The GTS was then the most powerful naturally aspirated Panamera you could buy just making it a de facto equivalent of the 911 GT3 RS. Many automotive journalists consider the GTS to be the most well-rounded Panamera you could buy, and that's even more true with the current one. It's not surprising then that the GTS sold pretty well all across the globe, but just how many Panamera GTS were produced is unknown. All we can say is that the total sales of the Panamera were sitting at just over 235,000 in 2019 which is 35,000 more than what Porsche expected to sell. And if you are wondering where was the Panamera GTS made, the answer is Leipzig, Germany like all other Panameras. The fact that Porsche didn't outsource its production is a big contributing factor to Panamera's high sales figures. Now, let's see what makes the Panamera so special under the skin and take this Panamera GTS review to the more technical side.
The engine in the first GTS was a 4.8 liter V8 and was by far the best-sounding Panamera ever made, not to mention it was seriously quick with 430 horsepower. But with the second generation, the 4.8 liter V8 was replaced with the famous 4-liter twin-turbocharged unit. That means the current GTS has the same engine as the Turbo, only detuned. That makes the current Panamera GTS much faster than before and more similar to the Turbo than ever before. For example, the Panamera GTS 0-60 time is 3.2 seconds while the top of the line Turbo S sprints to 60 in 2.9 seconds. Also, the GTS is less than a second slower over a ¼ mile. Those numbers are even more impressive when we consider the Panamera GTS’s horsepower and torque figures of 480 and 457 lb-ft. That's 140 horsepower less than the Turbo S. The Panamera GTS's top speed is equally impressive at 186 mph (300 km/h) which is more than anyone will ever need in the real world. In terms of weight, the Panamera GTS's weight is 20 pounds lower than that of the Turbo S at 4,561 lbs and a whopping 719 lbs lower than the Turbo E-Hybrid. All in all, the GTS offers more performance than ever and is arguably the biggest bargain of the Panamera lineup.
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The Panamera GTS interior isn't much different from the standard Panamera. The biggest difference is in how customers spec out the interior colors, and the materials used. In general, the Panamera GTS uses much more Alcantara on the seats instead of regular leather, as well as on the steering wheel. The door trim, specifically, the door handles and armrests also uses Alcantara, and contract stitching with colored seat belts is also the norm on the GTS, unlike other Panamera versions. Other than that, the Panamera GTS design is largely the same as it is in other Panameras apart from the stopwatch mounted on top of the dashboard which is optional in other versions. That means you get a huge infotainment screen, and a centrally mounted rev counter with multifunctioning displays on either side. The center console is fairly high which is reminiscent of small mid-engine supercars. In the rear, the Panamera GTS gets two individual seats with optional infotainment screens, climate controls, and even heating and ventilation. Being a four-door sedan, we also have to mention the trunk capacity. And the Panamera technically being a hatchback gets you a nearly 500 liter trunk capacity which is about the same as a Mercedes CLS, and just 30 liters less than a BMW 5-Series. Folding the rear seats increases the capacity to 1,350 liters which means the Panamera is besides being one of the fastest four-door cars you can buy, also one of the most practical ones.
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When parked next to an Aston Martin Rapide or the first Maserati Quattroporte, the first-generation Panamera GTS exterior looked unattractive, to say the least. And although there are still better-looking sedans than the current Panamera GTS, it looks miles better than it ever did. That's in part thanks to the bigger wheels found on the GTS and a more aggressive and at the same time more streamlined front bumper. The side profile looks like a stretched 911 and the window shape is almost identical. Another nice detail is a big vent just behind the front wheels with lines coming off of it stretching almost the entire length of the car. The vent makes the otherwise tame side profile look much more serious. And the rear of the Panamera is where the most improvements can be found. The new, unbroken tail light LED looks miles better than the earlier tail lights, plus it's a throwback to early 911s and that's always a plus. The Panamera GTS design also features huge quad exhausts and a fairly discreet diffuser. And then we get to what in our humble opinion is the highlight of the Panamera GTS exterior design and that's the split folding rear wing which opens up at 55 mph. The wing itself and its complex folding mechanism make the Panamera stand out from all other performance sedans.
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Being one of the more expensive Panamera models, the Panamera GTS technology features much more equipment as standard than for example, the diesel version. The four-wheel drive system is standard as it should be on a nearly 500-horsepower family sedan. The latest 8-speed automatic transmission is of course the only option in all Panameras, including the GTS. But being a Porsche, there will always be a ton of optional equipment and we're not just talking about different driver aids and colors in this case. Some of the highlights include the PDCC system, rear-wheel steering, and rear locking differential. PDCC is an active suspension system that among other things reduces body roll and greatly improves the handling characteristics. Rear wheel steering won't help much in terms of lap times, but it does make your life easier in everyday use as it makes the Panamera GTS much more maneuverable. The more enthusiastic drivers will also want to get the rear locking differential, and we all know why.
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So, how much is a Panamera GTS worth? The Panamera GTS starts at $135,200 which is $38,000 more than the base Panamera 4, and $50,000 less than the Turbo S. Considering that you only get a 330 horsepower turbocharged V6 in the Panamera 4, and the same 4 liter V8 in the Turbo S, that makes the Panamera GTS great value for money. Of course, to say that optional equipment at Porsche is expensive would be an understatement so the GTS can easily pass $150,000 and even go into the Turbo S territory. That said, there are no Panamera GTS trim levels apart from individual equipment or equipment packages which helps keep even the base GTS on par with the most expensive one, at least on the surface. Also, the optional equipment doesn't retain its price that well on the used market, so it makes much more sense to go after a well-equipped example once it's two to three years old. And if you are after a used Porsche Panamera GTS, check if any are available at Exotic Car Trader so we can help make your purchase as easy as possible.
Although the Panamera GTS went from being a spiritual four-door GT3 RS equivalent to a detuned Turbo S, it's an even better car now than it was before. That's mainly because you get 80% of the Turbo S performance at a nearly 50% discount. Now, if you have liked this Porsche Panamera GTS review, you can find many more reviews such as this one on our blog. But if you are looking to buy a Panamera GTS, or any other supercar, luxury car, classic car, or muscle car, Exotic Car Trader can help you with every step of the process. From sourcing the car and inspecting it to arranging delivery and negotiating prices. At the same time, Exotic Car Trader can help you sell your current vehicle or even arrange a trade with one of our other customers. In the end, the latest Panamera GTS unfortunately lives in the shadow of the Turbo S and the E-Hybrid, unlike the first generation. But if you want the most driver-oriented Panamera and the best bang for your buck, the current GTS is the one to get.
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