Pro
Despite the change from a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 to a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, the Panamera GTS is not significantly more powerful than the S. Power increases from 440 to just 453, although torque sees a sizable jump from 405 pound-feet to 457. The extra twist is the primary contributor in the GTS scooting to 60 miles per hour three-tenths of a second faster than the 4S (3.9 seconds to 4.2).
On the road and with the drive mode set to its most aggressive, the 4.0-liter engine and eight-speed dual-clutch transmission are natural partners. Dip into the throttle and the ample torque will move the Panamera ahead eagerly – the transmission only steps in when really necessary, dropping multiple gears in short order before firing off rapid upshifts as speeds climb. The Panamera GTS loves to run.
Pro
There's more to the GTS package than two more cylinders and an extra 1.1 liters of displacement. A standard adaptive air suspension (a $2,190 option on the 4S) with a GTS-specific, 0.4-inch reduction in ride height compared to the Panamera 4S provides sportier handling, while the must-have Sport Chrono package (a $2,290 that adds Sport Plus, a Sport Response button, and launch control on both this and the 4S) comes standard too. But our favorite element is the sport exhaust system, featured on every Panamera GTS. The quad-tipped exhaust brings out the very best in the V8, giving it a louder, more soulful note that encourages the driver to wind out the engine. We complained about this exhaust setup missing on the last Panamera Turbo we drove (it's a $3,490 option there), and sampling it on the GTS just confirms what we suspected a few years back: Porsche's 4.0-liter V8 is at its best with this exhaust.
Pro
As we'll highlight in a moment, there are more powerful cars with starting prices well below the Panamera GTS' $128,300 price tag. But this is a more engaging, more enjoyable vehicle. The Panamera, despite its size and mass, feels agile and willing when presented with a corner. You can push the Porsche in a way that a faster car, like the Mercedes-AMG E63 or BMW M5, might not appreciate. In short, this feels like a sports car when exercised, rather than a very fast sedan with confident handling, like you'll find elsewhere in Germany. That's partially down to our test car's Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, a system that quashes body roll using active anti-roll bars. This $5,000 option also includes rear torque vectoring, for more speed on corner exit. Even without this package, though, the Panamera has the steering rack of a smaller, more eager car.
Con
It’d take a trained Porschephile to spot a Panamera GTS alongside its lesser siblings. The only indications on our tester were its GTS-specific, no-cost 20-inch wheels, a GTS decal on the front doors, black badges on the tail, and smoked taillights. There are, of course, ways to make your Panamera GTS look more expressive from the factory, although they’re mostly available on non-GTS models and they cost money. We'd simply like a little more panache for a trim that's clearly more focused on performance.
Con
As we were saying, there are more powerful cars available for less cash. The Panamera GTS starts at $128,300 and offers 453 hp. A BMW M5 Competition starts at $110,000 and packs 617 hp, while a Mercedes-AMG E63 is available at $107,350 with 603 hp. These cars are not competitors for the Panamera – they're too big and upright and sedan-like – but the $130,000, 600-hp BMW M8 Gran Coupe is. We adore the way the Porsche drives and can appreciate its better balance between straight-line speed and out-and-out agility, but sacrificing 147 horsepower for a $1,700 savings is a tough ask.
Con
Yes, that's right, Porsche's first all-electric car is a potential foil to the Panamera GTS, despite its range limitations (although it’s worth noting early Taycans are going much further than their EPA estimates in real-world conditions). The Taycan 4S packs 482 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, and it scoots to 60 in 3.8 seconds. Crucially, though, it starts at just $103,800 and is available with every performance option, including a larger battery pack, for less than $130,000. The GTS has its own charms, but if you're the sort of person that loves being an early adopter, the Taycan does a lot of what the Panamera GTS can do (but differently) for around the same price.
