{"id":3576,"date":"2025-10-07T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/?p=3576"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:03:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:03:42","slug":"the-porsche-panamera-4s-e-hybrid-is-for-the-nerds-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/07\/the-porsche-panamera-4s-e-hybrid-is-for-the-nerds-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Is for the Nerds: Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Someone at Porsche described the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid to me in a funny way\u2014he said it\u2019s a GTS for nerds. Porsche\u2019s GTS cars have a strong, simple appeal, all the performance and extra equipment you want, slotted neatly between standard and Turbo models. This thing is a bit different. <\/p>\n

The 4S E-Hybrid has more power than the Panamera GTS despite a lower base price, but instead of a snarling V-8, you have a V-6 augmented by an electric motor. It\u2019s not the obvious enthusiast recipe, but it\u2019s very satisfying nonetheless.<\/p>\n

This third-generation Panamera<\/a> launched in late 2023, riding on the same platform as the second-gen, but with lots of tweaks throughout. E-Hybrid models get a larger 21.8-kilowatt-hour battery in place of the old car\u2019s 17.9 kWh pack, which ups range. 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 a lot further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Quick Specs<\/td>\n2025 Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Engine<\/td>\n2.9-Liter Twin-Turbo V-6 Hybrid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n536 Horsepower \/ 553 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
0-60 MPH<\/td>\n3.5 Seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price \/ As Tested<\/td>\n$128,795 \/ $150,985<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Compared with the second-gen, this third-gen Panamera has shifted the balance of gas: electric power more toward the electrons. Its 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 makes just 348 horsepower to the second-gen\u2019s 443, but ups the electrical power from 134 hp to 187. Still, the new car makes less power in total than its predecessor\u2014536 hp to 552. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s more than plenty. Porsche<\/a> quotes an identical 3.5-second 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 flipside, if you keep the battery topped up, you\u2019ll see incredible fuel efficiency, as the car manages the handoff between combustion and electric power. <\/p>\n

That V-6 is surprisingly musical, too, and where I was left wanting a bit with the engine on its own in the standard Panamera, it\u2019s a perfect pair to the hybrid system here. The other big benefit of going for the E-Hybrid is a piece of technology I\u2019m particularly fascinated with (and one not available on the GTS): Porsche Active Ride.<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Pros: Powerful & Efficient Hybrid System, Astonishing Ride Comfort & Handling, Excellent Ergonomics<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ve covered the system in depth here and here, so I won\u2019t go into as many technical details in this review. But basically, Active Ride uses electro-hydraulic pumps run off the hybrid system to control the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the car\u2019s dampers. The system puts its own supplemental force into the body, and it allows for total control over the way the Panamera\u2019s body moves. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s astoundingly powerful, and used to a greater degree in the Panamera than in Porsche\u2019s other sedan, the Taycan. Active Ride, here a $7,150 option, doesn\u2019t turn this Panamera 4S into a magic-carpet ride, but it basically renders all road imperfections immaterial. You\u2019re aware of the road surface beneath you, and those big wheels and tires do transmit vibrations into the body structure. <\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Photos by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

But, the body control is supernatural. In Normal mode, you can turn on a setting that moves the body opposite to what is natural, to minimize the effects of lateral and longitudinal acceleration on the occupants. Sometimes, it can be a bit disorienting for the driver\u2014the nose pitching up under hard braking, the car leaning into corners\u2014but in normal driving, you almost don\u2019t notice it at work. You can turn these systems off, and in Sport and Sport Plus modes, the body just stays perfectly level.<\/p>\n

The ride comfort the system provides is astounding, as is the handling, Active Ride distributing force between all four tires to maximize grip. Forget any notions of a car getting \u201cupset\u201d by a mid-corner bump. Such things are irrelevant here. A Panamera without Active Ride rides and handles very well; with it, it\u2019s astonishing. It\u2019s reason to go hybrid on its own.<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Cons: Pricey, Much Pricier for 2026, Otherwise\u2014Not Much<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The rest is basically what you\u2019d 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 efficient.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u201d is the operative word here, because as with all plug-in hybrids, your efficiency is only as good as your battery charge. Topped up and in normal driving, the car will automatically shuffle between combustion and electric power, and the economy you can get from it is pretty astonishing. With a nearly empty battery, good luck exceeding 30 miles per gallon, though performance doesn\u2019t suffer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sick of talking about Porsche pricing, but it\u2019s necessary here. This is an expensive car, no doubt about it. Even modestly optioned, this 2025 car stickers for $150,985; for 2026, an identical car would cost you $161,650. But, that\u2019s right about where a Panamera GTS starts, and I\u2019d argue two things: One, the 4S E-Hybrid is the more interesting car, and two, you don\u2019t need any more performance than this.<\/p>\n

The reason you buy a Porsche, beyond the prestige and the heritage, is for the engineering. And this car technically represents a lot of the best of what the company is capable of. It\u2019s also just an incredibly nice car to use day in, day out, and one with capability far beyond what\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n

Then again, I am a nerd, so of course I like it.<\/p>\n

Competitors<\/h3>\n

BMW M5<\/a>
\nMercedes-AMG GT 4-Door<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2025 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo Is the Ultimate Daily: Review<\/a>
Is the 911 Hybrid Still a True Porsche? Video Review<\/a>
Give the Electric Porsche Macan a Chance: Review<\/a>
The 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera T is God\u2019s Sports Car<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2025 Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Engine<\/td>\n2.9-Liter Twin-Turbo V-6 Plus Electric Motor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n536 Horsepower \/ 553 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drive Type<\/td>\nAll-Wheel Drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed 0-60 MPH<\/td>\n3.5 Seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maximum speed<\/td>\n180 MPH<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Efficiency<\/td>\n21 MPG (Gas Only) \/ 54 MPGe (Gas + Electric)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EV Range<\/td>\n28 MPG<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seating Capacity<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cargo Volume<\/td>\n15.2 \/ 44.6 Cubic Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n5,068 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price<\/td>\n$128,795<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
As-Tested Price<\/td>\n$150,985<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On Sale<\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Someone at Porsche described the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid to me in a funny way\u2014he said it\u2019s a GTS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3576"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3599,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576\/revisions\/3599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.windbornechurch.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}