The 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo lies at the bottom of the entire Sport Turismo lineup and has a starting price of $99,200 yet its list of features might feel a bit sparse for some. Nonetheless, Porsche offers a myriad of standalone optional features to better equip your vehicle but again, the price rises in a steep manner and rather quickly with each option. Some of the standard features include Heated front seats, Adaptive air suspension with PASM, Wireless charging pad, integrated Navigation system, and Lane-keeping assist among other features. Some of the optional techs and features include Massaging seats, ventilated seats, night vision camera system, quad-zone climate control, surround-view camera system, and soft-close doors among others.

Which trim should you buy?

We would recommend buying the Panamera Sport Turismo with the optional middle seat for the rear passenger seat along with the night vision system and the surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 motor that dishes out an impressive 325 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of maximum torque. By default, the wagon gets an AWD layout and the motor is paired to a standard 8-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission that also has a manual actuation feature. 

Being the base model of the Sport Turismo lineup, the power and torque output is the lowest here, yet it is more than adequate for daily driving, effortless and triple-digit highway cruising along with frequent enthusiastic driving sessions as well. The standard AWD system offers terrific traction and enhances the overall driving experience of the car. When equipped with the Sports Chrono package the car gets marginally quicker and gets an extra drive mode, the Sports Plus. Slotting into that mode makes the car a track-friendly machine that can come out of corners like a pro. It sprints from 0-60mph in 5 seconds, which is also the segment standard. And while its quarter-mile timings are not yet known, it records the highest top speed of 164 MPH. 

The Mercedes-Benz E 450 wagon gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 motor but it gets a mild hybrid system assisting it. Hence, it delivers more power and torque output yet its acceleration times are largely similar to the Panamera’s figures. It also gets a standard AWD layout yet its driving dynamics are nowhere near as sporty as the Panamera Sport Turismo. The Audi A6 Allroad Wagon also utilizes a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 paired with a mild hybrid system for assistance. Despite that, the wagon generates a lower power and equal torque output to the E 450, yet its figures of 335hp and 369lb.-ft are more than what the Panamera Sport Turismo has on tap.\

How well does the 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo handle?

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo goes a step further than the regular Panamera sedan, adds more practicality with that stretched body yet it still feels like a sports car from behind the wheel. The car might not offer some mind-bending experience like its higher performance-specced models yet it’s nimble and confident enough to go out on the tracks after completing a regular grocery run from the supermarket. 

The Porsche 4D-Chassis Control works like a charm and when combined with the adaptive air suspension, you’ll absolutely love taking this car around those winding roads or hit the tracks after a long and busy week. Apart from the enthralling driving experience, the car is as comfortable as any luxury sedan out there, cruising and gliding over almost anything without breaking a sweat.

2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Wagon Braking Performance

Despite being a full-bodied luxury car, the 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo offers a sports car-like braking prowess, much like its handling and performance. The car gets 6-piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers at the front with ventilated discs and 4-piston aluminum monobloc units at the rear. The set of impressive braking hardware halts the car to a dead stop from 60mph within a ridiculous 102 ft. that is quite unsurprising given the size and heft of the vehicle.

The Mercedes-Benz E 450 wagon manages to equally impress with its braking performance like the Panamera. It gets smaller brake rotors and higher curb weight than the Panamera yet, it still manages to halt within 108 ft. The Audi A6 Allroad wagon has bigger brakes and a lower curb-weight than the E 450 yet it covers a distance of 119 ft before coming to a halt. The number might not be as impressive as the E 450’s or the Panamera’s, yet it is adequate.

Porsche shifted to using smaller capacity engines for the base models of its sedans and wagons, resulting in increasing the fuel efficiency of the vehicles without having to compromise on the performance. The 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo returns an average of 19mpg within the city limits, 26mpg out on the highways, and combined mileage of 22mpg. It also gets a fairly big gas tank of 23.7 gallons, offering a set of impressive driving range figures.

The Mercedes-Benz E 450 wagon has lower fuel efficiency figures than the Panamera Sport Turismo largely owing to its engine configuration and curb weight. Moreover, it gets a smaller gas tank too, holding about 21.1-gallons of gasoline. The Audi A6 Allroad wagon evenly matches the Panamera here in terms of fuel economy figures and even has a slightly better city mileage of 20 MPG as well. The only thing that might plague this vehicle is its relatively small 19.3-gallon gas tank.

The 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo interior is a generous place to be in. The Panamera has finally moved away from the overly-busy interior with that unwieldy center console laden with buttons. The overall design now looks quite modern and stylish, with the dashboard dominated by screens and glossy panels. The center stack design bears a similar design from the previous models yet the capacitive touch buttons, the chrome lining, and the sleek physical buttons make for quite a praiseworthy appearance. The 8-way adjustable front seats along with heating function offer excellent support and comfort levels while the optional massaging and ventilation functions enhance the comfort levels further. There are a handsome amount of storage spaces inside yet the cabin feels less spacious for passengers when compared to the rivals.

The Mercedes-Benz E 450 Wagon gets a more premium, classy, and comfy cabin when compared to the Panamera Sport Turismo. The dashboard design resembles the one you’d find inside the S-Class sedans and the excellent quality of materials along with the standard features on offer make the cabin rather homely. The cargo space on offer is excellent at 35 cu-ft. The Audi A6 Allroad wagon has one of the best cabins in the segment owing to its screen-heavy and high-tech interior. The dashboard design is similar to the one found inside the A7 and the standard list of features is way better than what the Panamera has to offer as standard.

Some of the standout interior features include:

• Partial leather seats in embossed leather
• 8-way power-adjustable front seats with heating
• 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats
• Automatically dimming interior mirrors
• Multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo comes with a huge 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that runs the PCM system underneath. Much like other Porsche vehicles, the system offers a generous list of features and gets the basics covered. However, when compared to the infotainment systems of the rivals, the PCM unit might feel slightly unintuitive but its fluid nature and ease of access make it quite a convenient unit to live with. Some of the features include Online Navigation Module, mobile-phone preparation, a Hi-fi sound system with 10 speakers, and SiriusXM satellite radio among others.

Some of the standout infotainment features are:

• 12.3" touchscreen infotainment system
• Porsche Connect
• Satellite Navigation
• Virtual Cockpit
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• HomeLink
• Aux Input
• Bluetooth 
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto

The 2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo’s exterior design has got adequate quirks to attract a decent set of eyeballs everywhere it goes. The low roofline along with the swept-back yet wagon-style design makes this car look almost like an extended 911. The front end remains clutter-free and easy-looking, much like other Porsches and the four-point LED running lights look spectacular even during the day. The wheels get a unique design and are wrapped in performance tires. The side profile remains uncluttered while the rear-end looks attractive with the unique taillight design and the quad-exhaust tips.

The Mercedes-Benz E450 Wagon gets a simplistic and practical approach to the design. It is shorter in length and wheelbase than the Panamera, making it a bit more maneuverable in tight spots and city traffic. Moreover, its straightforward design makes it more suitable for families as compared to the Panamera Sport Turismo. The Audi A6 Allroad wagon gets the most appealing design here and looks like a sedan with a trunk of a station wagon. The front grille design and the LED headlamps further enhance the appeal of the wagon as well.

Some of the standard exterior features include:

• Four-point LED daytime running lights
• Front corner lights with LED position light
• Panoramic roof
• Automatic rear hatch
• Adaptive rear spoiler
• Fog Lamps

Porsche vehicles are almost never crash-tested for their safety ratings owing to the exotic price tags combined with the low sales numbers. Despite that, the car comes with a wide array of safety techs over the basics. Some of the features include Porsche Side Impact Protection System, Full-size airbags for driver and front passenger, and Engine immobilizer among others. There are also full-size airbags for both the front passengers including knee airbags as well.

Some of the notable safety features are:

• Traffic Sign Assist and Cornering Notification
• Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Back-Up Camera With Surround View 
• Porsche Side Impact Protection System
• Night vision camera

2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo vs. 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is more focused on delivering performance and handling rather than usability and practicality. The E 450 only falls short in front of the Panamera in terms of fuel economy, yet it makes up for it with its sizable gas tank and driving range. On the inside too, the E 450 wagon is better than the Panamera owing to its spaciousness and comfort.

2021 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo vs. 2021 Audi A6 Allroad

The Audi A6 Allroad is a strong competitor to the Panamera by virtue of its performance, cheaper price tag, and opulent cabin with an abundance of features. Surely, it misses out on the numerous customization options as Porsche would offer with the Panamera, but for as a family vehicle, it is quite adequate. Performance-wise, it is as fast and quick as the Panamera yet has a much lower base price.

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is the perfect vehicle for those who seek a station wagon that drives and behaves like a sports car. Barring the steep starting price, the car has plenty to offer yet its pricey optional extras might be a deal-breaker since it might feel a bit less equipped in comparison to its rivals. Overall, the vehicle provides solid performance, comfort, and some practicality of a wagon but there are better options on the segment.