Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche Panamera Diesel

Is 750 miles possible from a single tank in a Porsche? We find out

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Porsche Panamera
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

There are those who won’t like the Panamera Diesel, claiming it’s not a proper Porsche – and they have a point. But around 50 per cent of UK sales will be oil-burners, so it’s a car that makes solid business sense. Unusually, the fact it’s superb to drive quickly plays second fiddle to its impressive fuel economy and vast single-tank range, giving it a clear advantage over its thirstier but faster petrol brothers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Panamera is stretching its legs with a new diesel. And although Porsche purists won’t approve, you can’t help but be impressed by the claim that it can cover 745 miles on a single 80-litre tank of fuel.

It’s a brag we had to put to the test, so we set out to drive the 600 miles from Inverness to Auto Express’s London base – without stopping once for fuel.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Porsche Panamera

 

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68702","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

From the outside, barring a Diesel badge, the model looks just like any other Panamera. Even the exhaust has been tuned to produce a rumble closer to that of a petrol V8 than an oil-burner. Under the bonnet is the same Audi-sourced 3.0-litre V6 diesel as used in the Cayenne, attached to an eight-speed auto box.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Panamera

2020 Porsche

Panamera

59,830 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £48,995
View Panamera
Panamera

2023 Porsche

Panamera

59,760 milesAutomaticPetrol2.9L

Cash £46,995
View Panamera
Panamera

2023 Porsche

Panamera

22,752 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £68,300
View Panamera
Panamera

2018 Porsche

Panamera

69,324 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £28,758
View Panamera

While 247bhp might sound meagre compared to the 542bhp of the Turbo S, it is the Diesel’s 550Nm of torque that counts.

It means there’s plenty of mid-range thrust for a car weighing nearly two tonnes, as well as effortless cruising ability – perfect for our 600-mile slog.

A top speed of 150mph and 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds are still respectable in this company, although the Mercedes CLS 350 CDI would have the measure of the Porsche in a drag race. But it’s the fuel economy of 43.5mpg that we’re trying to match here.

Our aim wasn’t to make this a hypermiling competition, crawling along the motorway at 56mph, but to drive the car as it was intended – briskly along winding highland roads and maintaining pace with other M-way traffic. And in both situations, the Porsche excelled.

On fast, twisting routes, the car disguises its bulk brilliantly, and offers feedback through the wheel that large Mercedes and Audis simply can’t replicate. On the motorway the refinement and ride are impressive, while stability in cross winds, during fast lane changes and under firm braking is a constant reassurance. All the time the diesel remains smooth and quiet, and a burst of overtaking pace is only a gentle throttle squeeze away.

After 10 hours behind the wheel and just under 600 miles, we arrived in London feeling ready for more. Incredibly, we still had a quarter of a tank left, and the trip computer said there were still 140 miles remaining.

Add that to the 600 miles we drove, and the 740-mile range virtually matches Porsche’s claim. We even bettered the official fuel economy figure by 0.3mpg.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Porsche Panamera

Porsche Panamera

RRP £86,865Used from £46,995
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,115 off RRP*Used from £14,500
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £6,040 off RRP*Used from £12,900
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,919 off RRP*Used from £14,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Electric car drivers won’t ever go back to petrol or diesel
Opinion - VW ID.7 GTX

Electric car drivers won’t ever go back to petrol or diesel

Editor Paul Barker thinks the EV transition is coming whether we like it or not
Opinion
28 May 2025
The MG HS just got hot! New 221bhp Hybrid+ model joins line-up
MG HS Hybrid+ - front 3/4

The MG HS just got hot! New 221bhp Hybrid+ model joins line-up

The Hybrid+ gives the MG HS another tool to take on the Dacia Bigster
News
28 May 2025
2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners
Land Rover Defender MY26 updates - front

2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners

Land Rover has introduced new, larger white-painted steel wheels for models with big brakes, fixing one massive irritation with the previous generatio…
News
30 May 2025