The Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid is for professionals: review

Someone at a Porsche Panamera 4S e-hybrid described it to me in a funny way – he said it was a GTS for nerds. Porsche’s GTS cars have rugged, understated appeal, all the performance and extra equipment you want, and are neatly sandwiched between the standard and turbo models. This thing is a little different.

The 4S E-Hybrid has more power than the Panamera GTs despite the lower base price, but instead of a Snarling V-8, you have a V-6 boosted by an electric motor. It’s not the obvious enthusiast’s recipe, but it’s very satisfying nonetheless.

This is the third generation Panamera Launched in late 2023, it rides on the same platform as the second generation, but with a lot of tweaks throughout. E-Hybrid models get a larger 21.8 kWh battery instead of the old car’s 17.9 kWh pack, which ranges between them. The EPA rates this 4S e-hybrid as having 28 miles of EV range, but as is typical with electrified Porsche models, you should be able to go further.

Compared to the second generation, this third generation Panamera has shifted the gas:electric power balance more towards electrons. The 2.9-liter turbocharged V-6 makes just 348 hp to the second generation’s 443, but increases electric power from 134 hp to 187. However, the new car makes power less than its predecessor – 536 hp to 552.

It’s more than a lot. Porsche It quotes an identical 0-60 mph time for the new car, and in the real world, the extra electric power makes its presence felt with incredibly quick response. On the flip side, if you keep the battery topped off, you’ll see incredible fuel efficiency, as the car manages the handoff between combustion and electric power.

The V-6 is surprisingly musical, too, and where I was left a little wanting with the engine on its own in the standard Panamera, it’s a perfect pair for the hybrid system here. The other big benefit of going for the e-Hijri is a piece of technology that I’m particularly intrigued by (and another that’s not available on the GTS): Porsche Active Ride.

Pros: Powerful and efficient hybrid system, amazing ride comfort and handling, excellent ergonomics

I’ve covered the system in depth here and here, so I won’t go into many technical details in this review. But basically, Active Ride uses the electro-hydraulic pumps from the hybrid system to control hydraulic fluid pressure in the car’s dampers. The system places its own complementary power into the body, and allows complete control over the way the Panamera’s body moves.

It’s surprisingly powerful, and is used to a greater extent in the Panamera than in Porsche’s other sedan, the Taycan. Active Ride, here a $7,150 option, doesn’t turn the Panamera 4S into a magic carpet ride, but it essentially renders all road imperfections insubstantial. You’re aware of the road surface beneath you, and those big wheels and tires transmit vibrations to the body structure.

But the control over the body is supernatural. In Normal mode, you can turn on a setting that moves the body against what is normal, to reduce the effects of lateral and longitudinal acceleration on the occupants. Sometimes, it can be a little stressful for the driver – the nose sticking up under hard braking, the car leaning into corners – but in normal driving, you almost don’t notice it in action. You can turn off these systems, and in Sport and Sport modes only the body remains level.

The ride comfort provided by the system is amazing, as is the active ride force distribution between all four tires for increased grip. Forget any notions of the car being “bothered” by a bump in the middle of the car. Such things are irrelevant here. Panamera without ride actively rides and handles well; Still, it’s amazing. It’s a reason to go hybrid on its own.

Cons: Pricey, more payment in 2026, otherwise – not much

The rest is basically what you’d expect from a Panamera, or any new Porsche, really. Interior quality and ergonomics are excellent, a cut above most everything else. And with the hybrid system, the Panamera can be very effective.

“Can” is the logical word here, because as with all plug-in hybrids, your efficiency is only as good as your battery charge. In normal driving and in normal driving, the car will automatically mix combustion and electric power, and the economy you can get from it is amazing. With an almost empty battery, good luck exceeding 30 miles per gallon, although performance does suffer.

I’m tired of talking about Porsche pricing, but it’s necessary here. This is an expensive car, there’s no doubt about that. Even modest choices, this 2025 car stickers for $150,985; For 2026, an identical car will cost you $161,650. But, that’s right about where the GTS Panamera starts, and I’d argue two things: one, the 4S E-hybrid is the more interesting car, and two, it doesn’t need any more performance than this.

The reason you should buy a Porsche, beyond prestige and heritage, is the engineering. Technically, this car represents a lot of the company’s best. It’s also just an incredibly beautiful car to use day in, day out, and one with capability far beyond what’s necessary.

Then again, I’m a nerd, so of course I love it.