Porsche Panamera (1st Generation) - The Ultimate Guide

The initial Porsche Panamera (internal designation 970, first generation introduced for the 2010 model year) was designed under the leadership of Michael Mauer, who at the time was Vice President of Style at Porsche. Mauer and his design team were responsible for the Panamera’s exterior styling and overall design language as part of Porsche’s effort to create a four-door grand tourer that still carried Porsche design cues.

The first-generation Porsche Panamera—internally known as the Porsche Panamera (970)—was produced from model year 2010 through 2016. Covers all variants of the original Panamera lineup, including the Panamera S, 4S, Turbo, GTS, Diesel, and the first E-Hybrid models. The generation officially ended after the 2016 model year, before being replaced by the second-generation Panamera (971) for 2017.

A first-generation Porsche Panamera (970) — produced from 2010 through 2016 — has depreciated significantly from its original new-car prices (which were typically $90,000–$135,000+ when new). Today, used examples vary widely based on model year, mileage, condition, and trim. For early years like 2010–2012, typical listings show prices often ranging from roughly $10,000 to around $30,000 in the U.S. market, with many falling in the $12,000–$20,000 range for base Panamera or Panamera S trims and higher-end variants (like Turbo) occasionally reaching $25,000–$30,000+.

Later-generation first-gen cars toward 2015–2016 generally command slightly higher values, with KBB data showing 2016 Panameras often priced somewhere in the $20,000+ range for standard models and more for stronger condition examples or higher trims. In summary, most first-gen Panamera prices today are well below their original MSRPs, commonly between about $10,000 and $30,000+ depending on specifics, making them among the more affordable entry points into Porsche’s luxury performance sedan segment on the used market.

The difference between the first-generation Porsche Panamera and the second-generation Panamera is significant, both mechanically and philosophically. The Porsche Panamera (970) (2010–2016) was Porsche’s bold first attempt at a four-door grand tourer, built on a bespoke platform with steel-heavy construction and a design that prioritized performance and interior space over visual elegance. While it delivered strong engines (especially the V8 models), superb high-speed stability, and a very “Porsche-like” driving feel for its size, it was heavier, less refined, and its interior tech now feels dated. Ride quality could be firm, fuel efficiency was modest, and early cars are known for higher running costs as they age.

By contrast, the Porsche Panamera (971) (2017–2023) represents a major leap forward. It rides on Porsche’s MSB platform, shedding weight while improving rigidity, and features far more advanced suspension technology, including widely available adaptive air suspension and rear-axle steering. The exterior design is sleeker and more cohesive—closer to a stretched 911—and the interior was completely modernized with digital displays, improved infotainment, and better materials throughout. Engines became more efficient and responsive, hybrid models gained real-world usability, and overall refinement improved dramatically, making the Gen 2 feel more like a luxury flagship that still happens to drive like a Porsche.

The original Porsche Panamera (970) was highly innovative—not because it was perfect, but because it fundamentally challenged what a Porsche could be. When it debuted for the 2010 model year, Porsche was known almost entirely for sports cars and SUVs. The Panamera became the brand’s first true four-door luxury performance sedan, and it wasn’t a rebadged executive car—it was engineered from the ground up to feel unmistakably Porsche. Its low seating position, rear-biased weight distribution, available V8 engines, and optional PDK dual-clutch transmission (rare in luxury sedans at the time) made it drive more like a stretched 911 than a traditional German executive car. In an era dominated by BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class comfort, the Panamera prioritized driver engagement.

What truly made the first-gen Panamera special was how far Porsche pushed technology and packaging for a debut product. It introduced features like active aerodynamics (deployable rear spoiler), Porsche Torque Vectoring, adaptive air suspension, and one of the earliest high-performance luxury hybrids with the Panamera S E-Hybrid—years before electrification became mainstream. Inside, the cockpit-style interior with its towering center console and dozens of physical buttons was radical at the time, emphasizing a “pilot-first” philosophy rather than rear-seat luxury. While its controversial styling drew criticism, the Panamera proved Porsche could successfully expand beyond two-door sports cars without losing its DNA. In hindsight, the 970 wasn’t just innovative—it laid the foundation for Porsche’s modern luxury lineup and reshaped the brand’s future.

The Porsche Panamera (970) was exceptionally fast for a four-door luxury car when it launched, especially considering its size and weight. Even the base Panamera was capable of 0–60 mph in the mid-5-second range with a top speed around 160 mph, putting it firmly in sports-sedan territory. Step up to the Panamera S and 4S, and acceleration dropped to roughly 4.5 seconds to 60 mph, thanks to naturally aspirated V8 power and Porsche’s rapid PDK transmission.

At the top of the lineup, the Panamera became genuinely supercar-quick for its era. The Panamera Turbo could sprint from 0–60 mph in about 4.0 seconds with a top speed just under 190 mph, while the later Panamera Turbo S pushed that even further, dipping into the high-3-second range to 60 mph. Even the Panamera GTS, tuned more for driving feel than outright speed, was good for roughly 4.3 seconds to 60 mph, combining pace with one of the best exhaust notes in the lineup. In real-world terms, the 970 Panamera delivered performance that embarrassed many dedicated sports cars of the time—while carrying four adults and luggage at Autobahn speeds.

For the first-generation Porsche Panamera (970, 2010–2016), most enthusiasts and used-car buyers tend to point toward the mid-cycle facelift years—roughly 2014 through 2016—as the “best” years to consider. Those later years benefit from Porsche’s updates including revised engines (like the modern 3.0 V6 turbo replacing the older naturally aspirated V8 in the S/4S), improved fuel efficiency, and smoother performance and refinement compared with the earliest models. The facelift also addressed some early-model quibbles and generally represents a more mature version of the 970 platform, making 2014–2016 Panameras strong candidates for reliability and overall ownership satisfaction.

Early years like 2010–2012 are often regarded as less desirable due to being first-run models with older engine tech and some teething issues, while some buyers also avoid 2016 specifically due to certain reported quirks that cropped up at the very end of the generation. Beyond this, opinions vary among owners—with some preferring 2012–2013 for early low-mileage examples and the opportunity to find compelling deals—but as a general rule, the facelifted 2014–2015 range tends to hit the sweet spot for performance, refinement, and value in the first-gen Panamera lineup.