971 Panamera GTS

The other day, I had the opportunity to test drive the Panamera GTS (971). Personally, I’ve always loved the 970 Panamera GTS I occasionally see around my neighborhood—the engine sound is fantastic, and I’ve always thought the raised rear spoiler looks really cool.

So, how does the 971 Panamera GTS feel?

Actually, last fall I participated in Porsche’s driving school (Porsche Track Experience) and got to test drive a Panamera GTS for about a minute here. But the test drive was too short, and since it was on an airport runway with a long straight, I was too excited to drive calmly. So, I consider this recent drive my first real test drive.

The Panamera GTS I drove this time was in Carrara White Metallic. The main options included:

GTS Interior Package in Crayon, Sports Design Package Black, Rear Axle Steering (including Power Steering Plus), 20-inch Panamera Design Wheels Satin Black, Privacy Glass, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Change Assist, Comfort Access, Soft-Close Doors, 18-way Electric Adaptive Sports Seats

among others (Sports Chrono and Sports Exhaust are standard). By the way, checking Porsche Japan’s website, the Panamera GTS is priced around 19.4 million yen, so with options, it easily exceeds 20 million yen.

The engine in the Panamera GTS is the same 4.0L V8 twin-turbo as our Panamera Turbo, but the output is limited to 460 ps (Panamera Turbo has 550 ps). Keeping that in mind, my impressions will often compare it to the Panamera Turbo, but here’s what I felt.

971 Panamera GTS, Test Drive

Front Passenger / Rear Seats

First, my husband drove while I sat in the front passenger seat. The Panamera GTS’s suspension felt much firmer than the Panamera Turbo’s. The Turbo has a more viscous, plush, and substantial feel (hard to describe well…).

That said, although the suspension is noticeably firmer, as expected from a Panamera, the ride was smooth and very comfortable.

Regarding the engine sound, I had imagined the GTS would have a louder, more pronounced engine note, but it was quieter than expected. Even with the windows fully down, both when starting and driving, the Panamera Turbo’s engine sound was noticeably louder. (Our Panamera has over 30,000 km on it, and the muffler might be heated/worn, which could affect this.)

Compared to the base Panamera, the GTS does have a deeper, V8-like low tone, but overall the engine sound is not very assertive.

By the way, the idling sound is almost the same as the Panamera Turbo’s. I once rode in a 911 GTS (991 model) where the idling was quite loud and would often turn heads at stoplights, but the Panamera GTS’s idling was not bothersome. (Still louder than typical cars, but relatively quiet for a sports car.)

After that, we drove a bit on the Royu Driveway. During that time, my husband switched between Sport and Sport Plus modes, but from the passenger seat, I didn’t really feel much difference in the suspension. The main noticeable change was the gear shifts and higher revs.

In this regard, the Panamera Turbo clearly shows more distinct changes when switching modes.

Overall, the Panamera Turbo offers a clearer contrast between luxurious and sporty driving, making for a more dynamic experience. The GTS felt like it smoothly transitions from city driving to sporty mountain roads.

Next, I sat in the rear seat, and the Panamera’s rear seats are indeed spacious and very comfortable. The space isn’t just wide; the seat cushions are long, allowing for a relaxed seating position. Before getting in, I was told “the rear seat might be tough for a pregnant woman,” but that was absolutely not the case.

Just before this, I had been sitting in the rear of a Nissan Note NISMO and was saying, “Wow, this is comfortable, the AC works well, and it’s spacious back here,” but the Panamera’s rear seat was on a completely different level… a stark reminder of the difference in class. (Well, the price difference is several times over, after all.)

Truly impressive. I thought to myself, “Ah, with this, I could drive hundreds of kilometers without any trouble.”

If there are family members who aren’t fond of Porsche, I believe riding in the Panamera’s rear seat will definitely make them like Porsche. (This seems to be a common experience.)

Driver’s Seat

Next, I switched seats with my husband, and once again I thought, “Porsche really feels completely different from the passenger seat versus the driver’s seat.” My husband often says:

Porsche’s driver’s seat is the most comfortable and well-designed seat.

And it’s absolutely true.

Even with the Panamera GTS, the ride felt smoother and more pleasant from the driver’s seat.

Also, when actually driving, I found the Panamera GTS easier to handle than the Panamera Turbo. The handling and brakes are the same, but the power delivery feels different… even though it’s the same V8 engine, the GTS’s reduced horsepower makes throttle control easier.

With the Turbo, especially at low speeds, a slight press on the accelerator can suddenly surge the car forward, but the GTS was smooth and easy to drive throughout.

On the corners of the Royu Driveway, the Panamera Turbo feels heavy and substantial as it leans into turns, but the GTS felt more nimble and agile. I guess that’s what “sport” really means.

That said, on uphill stretches, the Panamera Turbo’s power was noticeably stronger and more forceful. The GTS felt a bit weaker in that regard. (Still, it has more than enough power for normal driving.)

Panamera, Once Again

The Panamera GTS I test drove was truly a wonderful car, but if I had to say, I felt the GTS’s defining characteristics were a bit harder to grasp. The 970 Panamera GTS had an engine sound that roared, and from the outside it was easy to tell, “This is no ordinary model, something special.”

Similarly, the 981 Boxster GTS had distinct sound and power differences from the base model, so I thought, “The GTS models should have more dramatic flair.” But the 971 GTS wasn’t quite like that. I guess emissions regulations have had an impact.

Still, I was reminded how great the Panamera is. It’s easy to drive, even the GTS offers a very smooth ride, and the spacious, comfortable interior makes it truly user-friendly. As a big Panamera fan, I couldn’t help but say to my husband:

The Panamera really is wonderful. Soon the Panamera will be replaced by the 911 (992 model), but I know how extravagant and silly this sounds, yet I find myself hoping that after the 992, the Panamera will come back to our home. By then, the kids will be too big to ride in the 911’s rear seats… so a 5-seater Panamera would be amazing…

My husband laughed and replied,

Yeah, the Panamera really is a great car. Should I tell Mr. H we’re canceling the 911 now? lol

But I can already see that once the 911 is delivered, he’ll be saying, “Wow, the 911 really is amazing!”…

I’m grateful for this valuable opportunity. I’ll share my husband’s impressions in a follow-up post soon.