Porsche Taycan vs Panamera: Performance, Reliability, Driving
We’ve done many Porsche comparison posts, such as the Porsche Macan vs Cayenne, but haven’t addressed the all-electric, very popular, Taycan, until now. In this article, we will be answering a commonly searched question: “What is the difference between the Porsche Taycan vs Panamera?” We will be covering topics such as size, price, performance, reliability, and more. These two vehicles have many differences and few similarities that we’ll be tackling in this short article.
Porsche Taycan vs Panamera – The Basics
The much anticipated Porsche Taycan was first revealed in 2015 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and was coined “Mission E” by Porsche. A few years later, in 2020, the J1 (first-generation) Taycan was produced and sold to the public. It marked Porsche’s first mass-production electric car and made up 7.4% of Porshce’s sales volume in its debut year. There are a few body styles to choose from on the Taycan: a Sedan, Cross Turismo, and Sport Turismo. There are also many trims to choose from on the Taycan including the Base, 4, 4S, GTS, Turbo, and Turbo S. With its success, we can only assume that Porsche is going to continue to produce more and more all-electric vehicles.
The Porsche Panamera was first introduced in 2009, a decade before the Taycan, and is still in production today. Since its inception, there have been two generations: the 970 and 971. Like the Taycan, the Panamera also has a few different body styles: Base, Executive, and a Sport Turismo. There are also many trims offered including the Base, 4, 4S, 4 E-Hybrid, 4S E-Hybrid, GTS, Turbo S, and a Turbo S E-Hybrid. Although there aren’t many of these sold, it’s coined as a larger sedan for those consumers needing more space than a 911.
Taycan Generations
- J1 Taycan (2019-Present)
Panamera Generations
- 970 Panamera (2009-2016)
- 971 Panamera (2016-Present)
Porsche Taycan vs Panamera Price
In this portion, we will be going over the brand new 2023 Taycan and Panamera prices, as well as used prices for both models.
New Porsche Taycan Prices
Like we stated above, there are many different body styles and trims to choose from, so bare with us on this section. Therefore we will focus first on the Sedan body: the base sedan starts at $86,700, the 4S sedan starts at $106,500, the GTS sedan starts at $134,100, the Turbo sedan starts at $153,300, and the Turbo S sedan starts at $187,400. Next is the Sport Turismo body, which is the GTS Sport Turismo and it starts at $136,000. Lastly, the Cross Turismo: the 4 Cross Turismo starts at $97,700, the 4S Cross Turismo starts at $113,000, the Turbo Cross Turismo starts at $155,900, and the Turbo S Cross Turismo starts at $190,000. So, new prices on the Porsche Taycan can range anywhere from $86,700-$190,000 and offers 10 different trims/body styles!
We’ll give a quick rundown on the differences between body styles. The sedan is a normal 4 door sedan that is 195.4 inches long with 14.3 ft³ in trunk capacity. The Cross Turismo has an enlarged rear luggage compartment and has more passenger space. It is 195.8 inches long with 15.8 ft³ in trunk capacity without the seats folded down and 42.8 ft³ with the seats folded. Lastly, the Sport Turismo is the same as the Cross Turismo but with added Sport aesthetics on the exterior.
New Porsche Panamera Prices
Like the section above, there are many body styles and trims to choose from, so here we go. Let’s focus on the sedan body first: the base sedan starts at $92,400, the Platinum Edition starts at $105,100, the 4 sedan starts at $97,000, the 4 Plat Edition starts at $109,300, the 4S sedan start at $110,900, the 4 E-Hybrid starts at $109,000, the 4 E-Hybrid Plat Edition starts at $118,800, the 4S E-Hybrid starts at $119,200, the GTS sedan starts at $135,200, the Turbo S sedan starts at $186,400, and FINALLY, the Turbo S E-Hybrid starts at $196,400. Next is the Executive: the 4 Executive starts at $103,700, the 4S Exec starts at $122,200, 4 E-Hybrid starts at $113,500, the 4S E-Hybrid starts at $130,500, the Turbo S Exec starts at $196,800, and the Turbo S E-Hybrid starts at $206,800.
Lastly, we’ll cover the Sport Turismo body: the 4 Sport Turismo starts at $103,200, the 4S Sport Turismo starts at $117,100, the 4 E-Hybrid starts at $113,000, the 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo starts at $123,200, the GTS Sport Turismo starts at $141,400, the Turbo S starts at $190,400 and FINALLY the Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo Panamera starts at $200,400. So, new prices on the Porsche Panamera can range anywhere from $92,400-$206,800 and offers 24 different body/trim variations.
Used Porsche Taycan & Panamera Prices
In this section, we will be covering used Taycan and Panamera prices. Since the Panamera has been around for nearly a decade longer than the Taycan, we will use similar model years (2020-2022) for consistencies sake. A used Taycan’s price ranges from $86,850 – $197,998* with an average price overall of $142,424 depending on model year and mileage. A used Panamera’s price ranges from $64,995 – $202,998* with an average price overall of $133,996, depending on model year and mileage.
Therefore, both on the new and used side, the Taycan and Panamera are very similar when it comes to price.
General Porsche Taycan & Panamera Topics
Porsche Taycan vs Panamera Performance
For consistencies sake, we will be using the 2023 Taycan and Panamera factory performance specs. Now, the fun part, performance, so let’s jump into it.
Engines & Drivetrain
Porsche Taycan Performance
The Porsche Taycan is a fully electric vehicle and performance can vary heavily depending on which trim you end up with. The numbers mentioned below are with Overboost Power with Launch Control. The base Taycan has a maximum horsepower of 402 and maximum torque of 254 lb-ft with a maximum mileage range of 282 miles on the Performance Battery Plus. While the Turbo S Cross Turismo has a maximum horsepower of 750 and maximum torque of 774 lb-ft with a maximum mileage range of 222 miles. This most powerful Taycan boasts an impressive 0-60 time of 2.7 seconds with launch control.
Porsche Panamera Performance
The Porsche Panamera has two different engine options: a 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 and a 4.0L V8 Twin-Turbo engine. The 2.9L V6 Twin-Turbo engine puts down 325hp and 331 lb-ft of torque on all base and 4 models, but is tuned for more performance on the 4S (443hp). The E-Hybrids also use 2.9L TT V6, but with an E-Machine and puts down 455hp and 516 lb-ft of torque in base and 4 models. Like the 2.9L TT above, it is tuned for more performance in the 4S E-Hybrids (552hp). Once you start going up to the GTS model, that’s when real power starts to appear.
The 4.0 V8 Twin-Turbo makes an appearance after the 4S’. In the GTS, the 4.0 TT V8 engine puts down 473hp and 457lb-ft of torque. Then jumps up to 620hp in the Turbo S models and a whopping 690hp in the 4.0 TT V8 E-Hybrid.
Taycan vs Panamera Reliability and Common Problems
Porsche Taycan
Since the Porsche Taycan is a little newer, it’s a little difficult to gauge reliability. However, after scouring the internet for a while, we have decided that the Porsche Taycan’s reliability is average. Here’s an article describing that electric vehicles tend to be less reliable than their gas-powered counterparts. Something we have to remember is that all-electric cars really haven’t been around for a very long time. Therefore, there are going to be faults and bugs, it’s just the nature of newer technology. However, something that is promising is that the Taycan scored a 4 out of 5 in customer satisfaction.
Porsche Panamera
Now, is the Porsche Panamera reliable? To our surprise, the Panamera’s reliability is very poor. According to RepairPal, it has the reliability rated .5 out of 5, which is well below the average luxury fullsize car of 2.5. In fact, this rating puts the Panamera dead last in all luxury fullsize cars (30th out of 30). The average annual maintenance cost for a Porsche Panamera is $1,252, which is above the average by $276.
Common problems seen in Panamera’s include engine overheating, high oil consumption, PCM issues, faulty cam adjuster bolts, coolant leaks, and engine misfires. Given the Panamera is so expensive, there aren’t very many out there that are or should be daily driven. Therefore it’s a little difficult to tell, from a longevity standpoint, how long they can last. However, we have seen some last up to 200,000 miles, which surprised us.
Porsche Taycan vs Panamera – Which is Better?
Typically we feel that the “which is better” question is rather subjective because many consumers have different needs and wants. But, in our minds, we give it to the Panamera because it has a gas engine option. However, for those that are wanting an electric vehicle, the Taycan is a great alternative. We love a good-sounding twin-turbo engine when we hear one and if we would front six digits, we would want a turbo engine. But, we also know that the Taycan does have pretty big tax benefits given it is an all-electric and it can weigh over 6,000 pounds (Section 179). So, again, when it comes to which is better. It all comes down to consumer needs and wants.
Porsche Taycan vs Panamera Conclusion
To wrap up this article, we know making a vehicle purchase can be a daunting task, especially an expensive luxury vehicle like the Taycan or Panamera. So, we hope the information provided above assists in the purchasing decision. In short, the Taycan is all-electric, faster, and can have some tax benefits, while the Panamera is gas, larger, and has 24 different variations to choose from. Both have exceptional safety and tech features, allow for a lot of customization, and are equally priced. If you happen to be reading this and have first-hand experience with either vehicle, please let us know your experience in the comments below. This will help us with our research and future readers.