The 2014 Porsche Panamera S (970 facelift) is the best Panamera model year, with the 2016 Panamera 4S at #2 and the 2015 Panamera GTS at #3. The 2014 has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $93,200 and rates 21 combined mpg.
Powertrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.8 KBB.com owner rating (2010-2016 generation)Base price when new: $93,200 MSRP (S 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 3 recalls and 13 owner complaints listed for the 2014 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars calls the 2014-2016 facelift years the most refined 970 Panameras, with the best tech and strongest daily usability
The 2014 Panamera S is a 970 facelift car with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder and rear-wheel drive. It has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $93,200 and rates 21 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 13 owner complaints for the 2014 Panamera, and Stuttcars calls the 2014-2016 facelift years the most refined.
Go ifThe lowest original price of the facelift 970 picks, with the top KBB.com owner rating
Why #1 over #2: It started at $93,200 versus $98,300 for the 2016 Panamera 4S, with the same 4.8 KBB.com owner rating.
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2016 Porsche Panamera 4S (970 facelift)
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe last 970.
Powertrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.8 KBB.com owner rating (2010-2016 generation)Base price when new: $98,300 MSRP (AWD 4S 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 4 recalls and 3 owner complaints listed for the 2016 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars calls the 2014-2016 facelift years the most refined 970 Panameras, with the best tech and strongest daily usability
The 2016 Panamera 4S is the last year of the 970 and adds all-wheel drive to the turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder. It has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $98,300 and rates 21 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 3 owner complaints for the 2016 Panamera.
Go ifThe last year of the 970, with all-wheel drive and the fewest owner complaints here
Skip ifYou want a lower price (2014 Panamera S: $93,200)
Why #2 over #3: It started at $98,300 versus $113,400 for the 2015 Panamera GTS, with the same 4.8 KBB.com owner rating.
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2015 Porsche Panamera GTS (970 facelift)
Photo: nakhon100 / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe facelift V8.
Powertrain: 4.8-liter 8-cylinder, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.8 KBB.com owner rating (2010-2016 generation)Base price when new: $113,400 MSRP (AWD GTS 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 3 recalls and 6 owner complaints listed for the 2015 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars calls the 2014-2016 facelift years the most refined 970 Panameras, with the best tech and strongest daily usability
The 2015 Panamera GTS is a 970 facelift car with a 4.8-liter V8 and all-wheel drive. It has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $113,400 and rates 19 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 6 owner complaints for the 2015 Panamera.
Why #3 over #4: It is a facelift year, which Stuttcars rates above the pre-facelift 2012 Panamera 4S, with the same 4.8 KBB.com owner rating.
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2012 Porsche Panamera 4S (970)
Photo: M 93 / CC BY-SA 3.0 de via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictPre-facelift V8.
Powertrain: 4.8-liter 8-cylinder, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.8 KBB.com owner rating (2010-2016 generation)Base price when new: $95,200 MSRP (AWD 4S 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 5 recalls and 18 owner complaints listed for the 2012 PanameraKnown issue: CarGurus notes camshaft bolts prone to shearing on early V8 Panameras, mainly 2010-2011 cars
The 2012 Panamera 4S is a pre-facelift 970 with a 4.8-liter V8 and all-wheel drive. It has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $95,200 and rates 19 combined mpg. CarGurus notes shearing camshaft bolts on early V8 Panameras, mainly 2010-2011 cars, and NHTSA lists 5 recalls and 18 owner complaints for the 2012 Panamera.
Go ifA V8 4S at a lower original price than the 2013 GTS
Skip ifYou want the facelift years (2014-2016)
Why #4 over #5: It started at $95,200 versus $111,000 for the 2013 Panamera GTS, with the same 4.8 KBB.com owner rating.
5
2013 Porsche Panamera GTS (970)
Photo: Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe last pre-facelift GTS.
Powertrain: 4.8-liter 8-cylinder, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.8 KBB.com owner rating (2010-2016 generation)Base price when new: $111,000 MSRP (AWD GTS 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 3 recalls and 13 owner complaints listed for the 2013 PanameraKnown issue: CarGurus notes camshaft bolts prone to shearing on early V8 Panameras, mainly 2010-2011 cars
The 2013 Panamera GTS is the last pre-facelift 970, with a 4.8-liter V8 and all-wheel drive. It has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $111,000 and rates 19 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 13 owner complaints for the 2013 Panamera.
Go ifThe last pre-facelift year, as a GTS
Skip ifYou want the facelift years (2014-2016)
Why #5 over #6: It has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating versus 4.5 for the 2018 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo.
6
2018 Porsche Panamera 4 Sport Turismo (971)
Photo: Ethan Llamas / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 971 wagon.
Powertrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, four-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.5 KBB.com owner rating (2017-2023 generation)Base price when new: $96,200 MSRP (AWD 4 Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon)EPA fuel economy: 20 city / 26 highway / 23 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 8 recalls and 12 owner complaints listed for the 2018 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars notes strong interest in Sport Turismo body styles, which often trade at a premium over sedans
The 2018 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo is a 971 wagon with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder and four-wheel drive. It has a 4.5 KBB.com owner rating, started at $96,200 and rates 23 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 8 recalls and 12 owner complaints for the 2018 Panamera.
Go ifThe wagon body and the lowest original price of the 971 picks
Skip ifYou want a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating (970 years)
Why #6 over #7: It started at $96,200 versus $99,900 for the 2017 Panamera 4S, with the same 4.5 KBB.com owner rating.
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2017 Porsche Panamera 4S (971)
Photo: Ethan Llamas / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 971 launch year.
Powertrain: 2.9-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, four-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.5 KBB.com owner rating (2017-2023 generation)Base price when new: $99,900 MSRP (AWD 4S 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 21 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 6 recalls and 1 owner complaint listed for the 2017 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars calls the 4S one of the best all-around 971 variants
The 2017 Panamera 4S is the first 971 year, with a turbocharged 2.9-liter six-cylinder and four-wheel drive. It has a 4.5 KBB.com owner rating, started at $99,900 and rates 23 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 6 recalls and 1 owner complaint for the 2017 Panamera.
Go ifThe first 971 year, in the 4S variant Stuttcars favors
Skip ifYou want a wagon body (2018 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo)
Why #7 over #8: It started at $99,900 versus $129,300 for the 2020 Panamera GTS, with the same 4.5 KBB.com owner rating.
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2020 Porsche Panamera GTS (971)
Photo: hugh llewelyn / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 971 GTS.
Powertrain: 4.0-liter turbocharged 8-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.5 KBB.com owner rating (2017-2023 generation)Base price when new: $129,300 MSRP (AWD GTS 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 1 recall and 5 owner complaints listed for the 2020 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars calls 2018-2020 a mature run for the 971 with a broad lineup
The 2020 Panamera GTS is the last pre-facelift 971, with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 and all-wheel drive. It has a 4.5 KBB.com owner rating, started at $129,300 and rates 19 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 1 recall and 5 owner complaints for the 2020 Panamera.
Why #8 over #9: It started at $129,300 versus $150,000 for the 2018 Panamera Turbo, with the same 4.5 KBB.com owner rating.
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2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo (971)
Photo: Alexander Migl / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 971 Turbo.
Powertrain: 4.0-liter turbocharged 8-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.5 KBB.com owner rating (2017-2023 generation)Base price when new: $150,000 MSRP (AWD Turbo 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 8 recalls and 12 owner complaints listed for the 2018 PanameraBuyer-guide note: Stuttcars calls 2018-2020 a mature run for the 971 with a broad lineup
The 2018 Panamera Turbo is a 971 sedan with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 and all-wheel drive. It has a 4.5 KBB.com owner rating, started at $150,000 and rates 21 combined mpg. NHTSA lists 8 recalls and 12 owner complaints for the 2018 Panamera.
Go ifThe Turbo V8 sedan, at 21 combined mpg
Skip ifYou want a lower price (2020 Panamera GTS: $129,300)
Why #9 over #10: It has a 4.5 KBB.com owner rating, while the 2024 Panamera 4 has a 4.5 KBB.com expert rating and no owner rating.
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2024 Porsche Panamera 4 (976)
Photo: Alexander-93 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe newest Panamera.
Powertrain: 2.9-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel driveKBB.com rating: 4.5 KBB.com expert ratingBase price when new: $106,900 MSRP (AWD 4 4dr Sedan)EPA fuel economy: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpgNHTSA recalls and complaints: 2 recalls and 2 owner complaints listed for the 2024 PanameraBuyer-guide note: CarGurus says it is too early to judge the reliability of the third-generation Panamera
The 2024 Panamera 4 is a third-generation (976) car with a turbocharged 2.9-liter six-cylinder and all-wheel drive. It has a 4.5 KBB.com expert rating, started at $106,900 and rates 21 combined mpg. CarGurus says it is too early to judge its reliability, and NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 2 owner complaints for the 2024 Panamera.
Go ifThe newest generation, at 21 combined mpg
Skip ifYou want a KBB.com owner rating (970 or 971 years)
How we ranked these
We ranked each Porsche Panamera model year on ratings that are comparable year to year: the KBB.com rating for that model year first (KBB.com shows one owner rating for the whole 970 generation and one for the 971, so years inside a generation tie there), then buyer-guide notes on known issues and refinement for the year (Stuttcars and CarGurus), with original MSRP from iSeeCars listings breaking ties in favor of the lower price. The 2024 pick has only a KBB.com expert rating, so it ranks last. NHTSA recall and complaint counts are shown on every pick but do not set the order, because counts depend on sales volume and years on the road; NHTSA files the Panamera under several names per year, so each count is the total across every Panamera name NHTSA lists for that model year. Prices are the starting MSRP of the named variant and mpg is from fueleconomy.gov for that variant, so plug-in hybrids are not included. Photos: Wikimedia Commons pictures of the same generation, not always the exact year or variant. The 2014 pick shows a red 970 facelift Panamera S, the 2016 pick a blue 970 facelift Panamera, the 2015 pick a white 970 facelift Panamera GTS, the 2012 pick a 2011 Panamera 4S (970), the 2013 pick a white 970 Panamera GTS, the 2018 pick a 971 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, the 2017 pick a 971 Panamera 4S, the 2020 pick a 971 Panamera, the 2018 Turbo pick a 971 Panamera Turbo and the 2024 pick a 976 Panamera. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best Porsche Panamera model year to buy used?
The 2014 Panamera S (970 facelift): it has a 4.8 KBB.com owner rating, started at $93,200 and rates 21 combined mpg.
Which Porsche Panamera years have a known engine issue?
CarGurus notes camshaft bolts prone to shearing on early V8 Panameras, mainly 2010-2011 cars.
How much did a new Porsche Panamera cost?
The cheapest here was the 2014 Panamera S at $93,200, and the 2018 Panamera Turbo was $150,000.
Which Porsche Panamera gets the best gas mileage here?
The 2017 Panamera 4S and the 2018 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, at 23 combined mpg.
EPA combined fuel economy at a glance
2015 Porsche Panamera GTS (970 facelift)19 mpg
2012 Porsche Panamera 4S (970)19 mpg
2013 Porsche Panamera GTS (970)19 mpg
2020 Porsche Panamera GTS (971)19 mpg
2014 Porsche Panamera S (970 facelift)21 mpg
2016 Porsche Panamera 4S (970 facelift)21 mpg
2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo (971)21 mpg
2024 Porsche Panamera 4 (976)21 mpg
2018 Porsche Panamera 4 Sport Turismo (971)23 mpg
2017 Porsche Panamera 4S (971)23 mpg
EPA combined fuel economy, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
