2018 Porsche Panamera
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2018 models.

- Class
- Large Cars
- Body styles
- 4 / 4s 4dr Sedan, 4 / 4s Executive 4dr Sedan, 4 E-Hybrid 4dr Sedan, 4 E-Hybrid Executive 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 330–550 hp
- Transmission
- automatic, 8-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Seats
- 4
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline, Plug-in Hybrid
- MPG (best)
- 24 combined · 21 city / 28 hwy
- Length
- 198.8–204.7 in
- Curb weight
- 4,001–4,960 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 8 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Strong performanceUp to 550 hp, versus about 400 hp for similar 2018 models.
- Plug-in hybrid version availableOffered as a plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
- 8 recallsMore than similar models (about 2). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 32 similar 2018 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2018 Porsche Panamera is a large car offered with 3 engines (3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo and 4.0L 8-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 199 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 116-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,123 lb (4 / 4s 4dr Sedan).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 24 MPG combined (21 city / 28 highway), 4% better than the 2018 large car average of 23.1 MPG, for an estimated $3,400 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 8 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
What changed for 2018
- New plug-in hybrid version
Compared with 2017; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2017 Panamera →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Leipzig, Germany
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2018 Panamera configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 / 4s 4dr Sedan | 198.8 in | 76.4 in | 55.9 in | 116.1 in | 65 / 64.2 in | 4,123 lb | 52/48 |
| 4 / 4s Executive 4dr Sedan | 204.7 in | 76.4 in | 55.9 in | 122 in | 65 / 64.2 in | 4,365 lb | 52/48 |
| 4 E-Hybrid 4dr Sedan | 198.8 in | 76.4 in | 55.9 in | 116.1 in | 65 / 64.2 in | 4,784 lb | 48/52 |
| 4 E-Hybrid Executive 4dr Sedan | 204.7 in | 76.4 in | 55.9 in | 122 in | 65 / 64.2 in | 4,960 lb | |
| 4dr Sedan | 198.8 in | 76.4 in | 55.9 in | 116.1 in | 65 / 64.2 in | 4,001 lb | 52/48 |
| Sport Turismo 4dr Wagon | 198.8 in | 76.4 in | 56.3 in | 116.1 in | 65 / 64.2 in | 4,145 lb | 53/47 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panamera | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | +4% | $3,400 | 369 |
| Panamera 4 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | 0% | $3,550 | 378 |
| Panamera 4 Executive | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | 0% | $3,550 | 378 |
| Panamera 4S | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 23 | 0% | $3,550 | 378 |
| Panamera 4S Executive | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 23 | 0% | $3,550 | 378 |
| Panamera 4 ST | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 23 | 0% | $3,550 | 390 |
| Panamera 4S ST | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | -5% | $3,750 | 401 |
| Panamera 4 e-Hybrid ST Plug-in Hybrid | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | -5% | $3,750 | 260 |
| Panamera 4 e-Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | -5% | $3,750 | 260 |
| Panamera 4 e-Hybrid Executive Plug-in Hybrid | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | -5% | $3,750 | 260 |
| Panamera Turbo | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | -9% | $3,900 | 420 |
| Panamera Turbo Executive | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | -9% | $3,900 | 420 |
| Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | -9% | $3,900 | 281 |
| Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid Executive Plug-in Hybrid | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | -9% | $3,900 | 281 |
| Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid ST Plug-in Hybrid | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | -9% | $3,900 | 281 |
| Panamera Turbo ST | 4.0L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | -13% | $4,100 | 449 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2018 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2018 Porsche Panamera.
Similar 2018 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Porsche Panamera (this car) | 24 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2018 BMW 5 Series | 30 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2018 Audi A6 | 28 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 Lexus LS | 28 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2018 Lincoln Continental | 21 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 Tesla Model S | 335 mi | Not rated | 11 |
Recalls (8)
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Anchorage · Jun 26, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V443000 · 37 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Macan S, 2017-2020 Macan, 2017 Panamera Turbo, 2018 and 2020 Macan Turbo and Panamera 4, 2018 Macan Sport Edition, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, and 2019 Panamera 4 Sport Turismo vehicles. The screw that attaches the lower seat belt anchor to the seat frame on the outboard rear seats may not have been tightened properly.
- Risk
- An improperly tightened seat belt anchor can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace and tighten the lower rear outboard seat belt anchor screws, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2023. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is APA9.
Electrical System · Jan 27, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V033000 · 24,467 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera GTS and Panamera Turbo vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of specific model names and model years. Humidity may enter the external coolant pump for the climate control system and cause an electrical short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short circuit increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the external coolant pump and inspect and replace the plug-in connection, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 6, 2023. Owners will receive a second notice once remedy becomes available, anticipated July 2023. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is APA1.
Service Brakes · Oct 16, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V735000 · 44,128 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera 4S, 2018 Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Executive, 2019 Cayenne Hybrid, 2019-2020 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, 2020 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne Turbo Coupe, and Cayenne S Coupe vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
- Risk
- If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the vehicle may not respond as expected when braking, increasing the risk of crash.
- Fix
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB8. Note: This recall supersedes recall 19V115 and includes vehicles that were previously remedied under that campaign.
Electrical System · Mar 6, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V180000 · 182 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc is recalling certain 2018 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 E- Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, vehicles. Incorrect soldering of a control unit may result in the intermittent failure of various systems, possible affecting vehicle driveability.
- Risk
- Impaired vehicle driveability can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Porsche Cars North America will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began May 17, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche's customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA5.
Service Brakes · Feb 20, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V115000 · 14,110 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Executive, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo and Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo vehicles, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo and Panamera 4S Executive vehicles and 2019 Cayenne S and Cayenne vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when the brake pads are worn out. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
- Risk
- If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
- Fix
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA1/AKA0.
Steering › Electric Power Assist System · Dec 19, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V898000 · 17,667 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Porsche Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2018 Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera S E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, and Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo vehicles. A software failure may result in an intermittent loss of electric power steering assist.
- Risk
- An intermittent loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power steering control unit, free of charge. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ13.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Nov 28, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V841000 · 112 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Hybrid, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, and Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport Turismo vehicles. The brake lines installed on the front axle may corrode over time. Corrosion inside the line may affect the front braking performance.
- Risk
- Braking ability that is reduced due to a corroded brake line can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake line, and any damaged brake components, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ11.
Suspension › Rear · Jun 13, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V388000 · 715 vehicles
- Problem
- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo and Panamera Turbo Executive and 2018 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive, Panamera 4S Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, and Panamera 4S Executive vehicles. The connecting links may detach from the rear-axle anti-roll bar potentially damaging the surrounding suspension parts and affecting the vehicle's handling.
- Risk
- An unexpected change to the vehicle's handling can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connecting links for the anti-roll bar, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AJ06.
Not every 2018 Porsche Panamera is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2018 Porsche Panamera buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 8 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 4 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Power Train — 4 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Electrical System — 3 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 70,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Hybrid system. Check for hybrid-system warning lights and ask whether the high-voltage battery has been replaced or is still under warranty.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2018 Porsche Panamera. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Panamera years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Panamera | 21 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Panamera | 21 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 3 | 2 |
| 2024 Panamera | 21 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 Panamera | 22 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 Panamera | 22 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 Panamera | 22 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 4 | 2 |
| 2020 Panamera | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 5 |
| 2019 Panamera | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 Panamera | 24 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 6 | 1 |
| 2016 Panamera | 25 | 197.6 in | Not rated | 4 | 3 |
| 2015 Panamera | 25 | 197.6 in | Not rated | 3 | 6 |
| 2014 Panamera | 25 | 197.6 in | Not rated | 3 | 14 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Porsche. How we calculate this →