MotorMouths

The Panamera’s steering is superb – much lighter than you typically get in a BMW but quick and lively. The brakes stop the big sedan so rapidly you almost think for a second that you might be in a 911. But I could never spend 82 large on a big sports sedan whose looks I don’t like.

The Panamera 4 is the sleeper in Porsche’s four-door lineup. It doesn’t lose much in performance to the V-8–engined Panamera 4S, uses less gas, and has a base price that’s $15,800 lower.

Porsche is aiming for the sporty side of the luxury-car market, and Panamera hits the mark. This 4-door hatchback also scores points for its cargo versatility and passenger room and comfort.

Thankfully for Porsche, the Panamera V6 never feels even remotely unsophisticated. Indeed, the new 3.6L is something of a marvel, feeling both powerful and surprisingly smooth.

With a hatchback lends more versatility than the average full-size luxury sedan, and you could a merely adequate driving experience. Thankfully, the Panamera exceeds expectations in this regard, even when equipped with the base, V-6 engine.

For those who can get past the challenging exterior design and lack of low-end pop, the V6-powered Panamera and Panamera 4 are legitimate contenders in the luxury and near-luxury class.

Sure, the 2011 Porsche Panamera V6 does make you miss the easy thrust of the V8 and turbo engines, but not as much as you might imagine. This new V6 is a modest engine with immodest ability.

It’s difficult to conceive of a $75,000 vehicle as a bargain — especially when the option list can raise the price to over $160,000 — but if any sedan qualifies, it might be the 2011 Porsche Panamera.

The Porsche Panamera is a good option for buyers who prefer to own just one car or for those buyers who may already own a supercar but want something almost as fast for daily driving.

Equipped with Porsche’s new 3.6-liter V6, the Panamera and Panamera 4 offer the same looks, comfort, handling and braking as their V8 counterparts, but with better fuel economy and a lower price of entry.

To understand the Panamera V6 crowd, take another walk around and ask yourself what else there is with four doors and back-seat space, in this price range, that simultaneously looks so fast and exclusive.

The V-6 Panamera is essentially the same car as the S and it, too, is a joy to drive. You give up some raw speed but not much else. A truly great luxury car at a bargain (for Porsche) price