Hello everyone, this is Mina, the administrator of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” This blog post is part of the “Porsche Owners File” series, born from our readers’ requests to “share the real voices of various Porsche owners!” Today, we bring you another review from “Porporu 4E,” a Tokyo resident, who shares their experience with the “Panamera 4E Hybrid” in both test drives and daily use. You can find details about Porporu 4E’s Panamera 4E Hybrid specifications, options, and delivery schedule in the previous post.

1) Driving Performance

Does the battery weight affect the driving experience?

I often get asked, “Do you feel the weight of the battery when starting or accelerating?” In city driving, the electric drive (E-Power) provides ample performance. If you’re looking for a more thrilling acceleration, switching to “Sport” or “Sport Plus” mode, or kickdown to start the engine, is recommended.

I haven’t had enough test drives to fully compare the acceleration impact of the battery weight between the 4S and 4E Hybrid. However, I believe that the Panamera Turbo might be the only sports saloon offering a more exhilarating acceleration than the 4E Hybrid.

Is the engine and motor (electric) integration smooth?

When asked if the integration is “seamlessly smooth,” that might not be the best description. In the 4E Hybrid, when you press the accelerator firmly in Hybrid Auto mode or E-Power mode, the engine kicks in. It feels like a two-step process: first, the motor power gives a “whoosh!” followed by the engine power with a “vroom!!”

However, I understand that E-Power mode is primarily for quiet, environmentally friendly driving using motor power. I drive with the mindset that “Hybrid-Auto is a mode where the program automatically determines efficient power distribution.”

After driving the Panamera 4E Hybrid, I realized that rather than focusing on the engine and motor integration, the car’s identity lies in the motor’s supportive role when you want to activate more power in “Sport” mode.

2) Driving Modes and Engine Sound

Which mode to use in the city and on highways?

In the city, I often use Hybrid-Auto or E-Power. When heading to Roppongi, where there are many charging stations, I frequently use E-Power mode. However, if I use E-Power mode extensively, even when switching to Hybrid-Auto mode, the engine doesn’t start immediately, and the system automatically continues in motor mode, judging that E-Power suffices for the driving conditions.

On highways, I mainly use Hybrid-Auto. During delivery, I was advised, “Please drive gently for the first 3,000 km and avoid revving over 4,000 rpm.” So, I haven’t fully explored the sporty driving in Sport or Sport Plus mode yet. I hope to report on whether the hybrid can deliver the sporty Porsche driving experience once I have the chance.

How is the engine sound in a hybrid car?

In E-Power mode, the engine starts immediately when selecting E-Charge mode for charging or pressing the accelerator. The sound of “bavoom, vrooom!” is simply irresistible (laughs). A motor journalist once wrote, “Just a slight press on the accelerator delivers a reassuring exhaust sound that conveys a sense of increased torque,” and I couldn’t agree more.

I’ve driven in Sport mode a few times, and the moment you switch modes, the engine roars and transforms, a sensation I’ve never experienced with any car other than the Panamera.

3) Ride Comfort

How is the ride comfort?

The new Panamera 4E Hybrid is praised for its air suspension, and rightly so. After driving it for about six months, I’ve never felt any floatiness. At low speeds, the ride is smooth without feeling stiff, while at high speeds, you can enjoy a ride that perfectly balances firmness and suppleness.

When purchasing this car, I test-drove other brands as well. Although those cars had top-notch exteriors, interiors, and chassis, the difference with Porsche was clear. It’s hard to express, but the ride comfort of a Porsche feels like it “blends seamlessly” with you.

How spacious is the interior?

Regarding interior space, I’m about 178 cm tall, and a person sitting in the back seat (adult 170 cm) said, “There’s plenty of legroom.” As expected from a luxurious sports grand touring hybrid.

4) Fuel Efficiency

What is the total fuel efficiency after delivery?

Various motor magazines mention the fuel efficiency of the Panamera 4E Hybrid. When I combined the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) values with the Porsche Model Range (2018 Ver.3), it looked like this:

While driving, the cumulative average displayed on the meter panel ranges from “4.0-99.0 km/l,” and the cumulative average for E-Power only driving is always “99.0km/l.” Incidentally, the meter’s fuel efficiency display shows a total of “10.8km/l,” which matches the Porsche Model Range figure (when driving in Hybrid-Auto mode).

During “E-charge” driving, the meter panel’s cumulative average always shows 4.0km/L. Since I often go to Roppongi and Azabu, where charging is frequent, I think that’s why I’m getting a total of “10.8km/l.”

It’s difficult to calculate fuel efficiency assuming no charging spots were used after delivery, but I suspect it might be around 9km/L. This might be because I live in an urban area.

Fuel efficiency when frequently using highways

When traveling about 300–400 km (highway: general road = 9:1 ratio) in Hybrid-Auto mode, the cumulative average is around 13–14km/L. So, when asked, “Is the Panamera 4E Hybrid eco-friendly?” it might not be considered very eco-friendly. However, considering the weight and power of this car, the fuel efficiency might not be bad.

Our apartment has a multi-story parking lot, so we don’t have E-mobility installed. However, if you have a “charging pedestal” in your home’s parking lot and always drive around town in “E-Power” mode with a full charge, it could be considered “eco-friendly.”