2010 Porsche Panamera Quality Review

It sounds a bit unusual, but the rear seats are more comfortable than the front chairs in the 2010 Porsche Panamera. There's plenty of room and support in either set of buckets-and the driver's seat is the one you'll arm-wrestle for-but the rears have more width, thanks to the slimmer center console, along with plenty of headroom and foot room, too.

Although the 2010 Porsche Panamera is a large four-door sedan, Edmunds reports that the Panamera has "only four seats" in its "surprisingly spacious interior." Up front, Edmunds says that the driving compartment is "eminently accommodating," while Autoblog raves that "all seating positions are extremely comfortable and supportive." The rear seats score very well with reviewers also, and Motor Trend proclaims that the Porsche Panamera's "rear seat is terrific," as it "swallows a pair of six foot adults with ease." Edmunds observes that rear passengers have "head- and legroom to spare" as they relax in seats that "can be optioned with eight-way power adjustability, heating, cooling and, believe it or not, a refrigerated box." It's a little amazing to have more headroom in a Porsche rear seat than in a 2010 Ford Taurus, but it's true here. TheCarConnection.com's editors also note the rear seats have power adjustments and ventilation like those in front in many versions, though on some Panameras, leather is applied just to the seat surface, not the sides.

In addition to offering voluminous passenger space, the 2010 Porsche Panamera provides a large trunk that compares favorably with everything else in the class. Behind the backseats is a cargo area that's roomy enough for four roll-aboards, and it's easily accessed from a power tailgate with a rear window shaped like those on Porsche sports cars. All four doors have unique holders that maintain a set position on any incline, for easy exits and entries. The backseats also flip down to expose 44.6 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for two bicycles with front wheels still attached, Porsche says. Edmunds reports "the trunk is accessed via a power hatchback and measures an impressive 15.7 cubic feet." If you're making that monthly bulk grocery run, Motor Trend says that the Porsche Panamera's "rear seats fold to boost the luggage capacity from 15.7 cu ft to 44.6 cu ft, just under what you can fit behind the third row of a Chevy Suburban." The 2010 Porsche Panamera also "offers a roof rack and a trailer hitch," according to Motor Trend, which should allow you to find room for just about anything your weekend-or weeklong-escape requires.

In keeping with its near six-figure base price, the 2010 Porsche Panamera is bathed in top-notch materials that Cars.com calls "exquisite." Edmunds similarly raves about the "beautiful cabin quality," and Car and Driver feels that "the cabin is stitched with such impeccable savoir-faire that it more than compensates for any cheese puffery in the design." Porsche Panamera drivers have a choice when it comes to interior materials, as Autoblog finds that the Panamera "pampers its occupants with yards of leather, fine wood (or carbon fiber), aluminum trim, and high-quality plastics."

Unlike the purebred Porsche 911, the Porsche Panamera emphasizes a quiet, refined ride, and it shows in the interior decibel levels. Motor Trend is impressed to find that, even while running down the autobahn at 130 mph, there is "little more than a rustle of wind around the A-pillars and a muted hum from the tires, allowing you to enjoy a quiet conversation with your passengers." Autoblog records similar results, claiming that "at U.S. highway speeds the Panamera is a very stable platform nearly absent of wind noise." Some people crave an audible representation of their speed, however, and for them Car and Driver says that Porsche includes "a button to make the otherwise somewhat hushed exhaust louder."