Panamera or Cayenne?

The other day, a Porsche owner I often talk with asked me this question.

Mina, who has always loved the Panamera, is now driving a Cayenne, but honestly, which do you think is better, the Panamera or the Cayenne? I know it’s a tough question and hard to answer simply, but I wanted to hear your thoughts.

That was the question.

At that moment, I couldn’t come up with a clear answer and gave a somewhat vague response, so I thought about it more after getting home. After all, I had the chance to drive the 970 Panamera Edition for a year and a half and the 971 Panamera Turbo for about three years, so I wondered what I would choose…

In conclusion, I ended up at “both are great, so I can’t decide” (oh well, haha), but if I had to choose, I’d say, “if you already have Porsche sports cars like the 911, Boxster, or Cayman at home, go for the Cayenne,” and “if not, the Panamera is probably better.”

Panamera and Cayenne

With that in mind, if I had to describe the Panamera and Cayenne each in one phrase, what would they be?

This is purely my personal view, but if I had to sum up the Panamera in one phrase, it would be “a sports car that comfortably seats four.” The ride is very smooth even at low speeds in the city, it’s astonishingly fast on the highway, it handles winding roads well, and if you want, you can even take it to the track. The rear seats are spacious and comfortable, so the whole family can ride in comfort.

That said, the Panamera is a sports sedan, so compared to the 911 and others, it’s naturally bigger and more luxurious, but after driving the Cayenne, I was reminded that the Panamera really is a sports car. If I had to say whether it leans more toward the Cayenne or the 911, it definitely leans toward the 911.

In fact, I do want to take the Panamera to Porsche Driving School or try a track day, but I don’t really feel that urge with the Cayenne. (There are quite a few people who come to Porsche Driving School in a Panamera.)

On the other hand, if I had to describe the Cayenne in one phrase, it would be “a family car that can really perform.” (Vocabulary… haha) It’s an SUV that comfortably seats five, has a smooth ride, and plenty of cargo space, so it’s very family-friendly, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices performance at all.

It feels rock-solid and stable on the highway with plenty of acceleration, and every time I drive it, I think, “That’s Porsche.” It’s a perfectly capable family car, but there’s absolutely no feeling of insecurity or dissatisfaction when driving it.

Of course, in terms of interior luxury and comfort features, domestic or foreign SUVs may have the edge, but it feels like the budget was focused on driving performance rather than interior extras.

What Does My Husband Think About the Panamera and Cayenne?

I asked my husband the same question about the Panamera and Cayenne, and this is what he said:

Well… it depends on the purpose and grade, but if you want to use it daily but also enjoy winding roads and mountain passes sometimes, then the Panamera is the way to go. If you don’t care about winding roads and want to drive long distances and highways fast and safely with the family, then it’s the Cayenne.
After driving the Cayenne, I really feel that the Panamera is a sports car. On the highway, because it sits lower, it has better aerodynamics and speed gains, and it feels like the car is telling me, ‘Push the accelerator more!’ That’s the Panamera. The Cayenne feels like a high-performance tourer you can relax in and cover long distances comfortably.

I see…

Our family has grown to five, so I think we’ll be driving the Cayenne for a while, but as the kids grow up and I get older, I have a feeling I’d like to drive the Panamera again. When that time comes, I’d prefer the hybrid rather than the turbo. After experiencing the incredible motor assist in the Cayenne, I definitely want to try the Panamera Hybrid too.

And if I buy a Panamera again, I want the body color to be bright red, like a true sports car.

A bright red Panamera — I really admire that…! (Though resale value would probably be terrible, haha)