MotorMouths

Porsche predictably aimed for the sporty side of the luxury-car market and certainly hit its mark. There are some compromises to go along with its performance, but for those who would otherwise own a sedan, an SUV, and a sports car but have only one garage space, the Panamera might be just the car to fill it.

I tried a 2010 Porsche Panamera on a recent trip to Romania and I thought it was a very good car. But it’s as ugly as an inside-out monkey.

The Panamera S has an impressive ride-quality range, from limo cosseting to sports-saloon taut, and in this respect it bests its rivals. But climb out of the marvellous four-seat cabin and you’re reminded how the Panamera looks. Only a mother could love it.

Like the V8 Panamera, the V6 has iron-clad body control and is most at home on open, sweeping roads where its bulk is less obvious. But it’s hard not to be disappointed by the Panamera’s lack of visceral driving excitement.

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.

The Porsche Panamera Turbo is ruthlessly effective in covering ground incredibly quickly whether you’re on an autobahn, back road or race track. But the styling cues are more closely aligned to the 911 than the driving experience. And that’s a real shame.

While it is a rewarding vehicle to experience, whether as a pilot pulling almost 1.0 g around a turn or as a passenger unwinding in the back seat, the Porsche Panamera doesn’t outclass its competition.

The 2010 Porsche Panamera delivers on (almost) all accounts: delivering huge power, great handling and ample room for four adults. It does a remarkable job of packing in performance and usable, comfortable interior space, but the styling doesn’t quite present a coherent picture.

If you want most of the comfort of a luxury car with a heady dose of dynamism and world-beating pace, then the Porsche Panamera Turbo has few peers.

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.