A Question from a Reader

A reader once asked me, “What do you think of the Panamera’s LED Matrix Headlights?” So today, I’m sharing my thoughts on this Porsche lighting option. The key feature of Porsche’s LED Matrix Headlights seems to be that they

light up the road far ahead at night without dazzling oncoming drivers

When the camera mounted near the rearview mirror detects an oncoming vehicle or one ahead, the system quickly switches off the parts of the beam that could bother other drivers (effectively switching to low beam). The system is also designed to extend the life of the headlights.

So, are LED headlights really worth adding as an option? Here are my impressions from using them.

1. They Give the Headlights a Sharper Look

Take a look at the configurator on Porsche Japan’s official website, and you can immediately see how the headlight design changes. Here’s the standard headlight setup, without the option ↓

And here’s what it looks like with the LED Matrix Headlights option ↓

They look a little more wide-eyed, perhaps? Since 2014, Porsches have featured four-point daytime running lights. With this option, the four daytime running lights frame a cluster of 84 LED segments, giving the front end a more defined look.

Here’s how the car looks as a whole. This is the version without the option ↓

And here’s the version with the option ↓

The headlights give the front end a much more focused appearance.

2. The Lights Feature PORSCHE Lettering

I’m pretty sure the PORSCHE lettering inside the lights comes with the LED Matrix Headlights option… though it may be included on the standard lights, too. Either way, you have to look closely to notice it, and it doesn’t make a difference in everyday driving. (-_-)

3. A Handy Feature on Dark Country Highways

Rural highways can get seriously dark at night, with very little street lighting, and it can be unnerving when you can’t see far ahead. That’s when the LED Matrix Headlights really come into their own. The photos below were taken one night on the Chūgoku Expressway, which gets pretty dark, too.

First, here’s the Panamera’s standard lighting. It’s certainly bright enough, though.

And here it is with the system switched on ↓

Sorry about the terrible photos, but can you see the difference? (-_-)

The lights reach a long way down the road, making highway driving much easier. Green highway signs also show up brightly and clearly. If the system detects an oncoming car across the median or a vehicle in a climbing lane, it quickly adjusts the beam so it won’t dazzle the other driver. (I couldn’t capture it in a photo, but you can clearly see the lights detect a car and switch to low beam.) Pretty clever.

Are LED Matrix Headlights a Must-Have Option?

For our family, the verdict is clear: LED Matrix Headlights aren’t a must-have option. They’re useful if you often drive on dark highways or rural roads with little street lighting, but if you live in a brightly lit city, you probably won’t use them very often. Even among highways, the Hanshin Expressway through the city is brightly lit, so there’s little need for them there.

If you’re driving somewhere like Germany’s Romantic Road, though, I imagine they’d be an absolute must.