Porsche Panamera Hatchback Review

Think of the Porsche Panamera, and you'll probably remember a big, hunchbacked five-door that tried – but ultimately failed – to look a bit like a 911.

It had a plush interior, great handling and (mostly) punchy engines. However, its styling, high running costs and so-so practicality stopped it from being anything but a bitpart player in the luxury car market.

This latest Panamera, on the other hand, looks like the real deal. It comes packed with technology, has a more economical range of engines and offers extra space inside. Plus, crucially, it's a lot easier on the eye than its dumpy predecessor.

So, how does it compare with rivals such as the Audi A7 Sportback, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes CLS?

Over the next few pages we'll look at what the Porsche Panamera is like to drive, what the tech-laden interior is like to use, and how much it will cost you to buy and run.