January 2011

Comparison: The 2011 Porsche Panamera vs. the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte

Germany vs. Italy. It’s a matchup that has captivated racing fans on circuits around the globe for decades. This competition extends to the streets as well with Porsche and Maserati going toe-to-toe with their latest four-door flagship sedans, the 2011 Porsche Panamera and 2011 Maserati Quattroporte. Both are juggernauts, but in the end, one pulls away a clear winner.

 

The 2011 Panamera is offered in five models: The V6-powered Panamera (MSRP $74,400) and all-wheel drive Panamera 4; the V8-powered Panamera S and AWD Panamera 4S and the AWD V8-powered Panamera Turbo. All Panameras are equipped with the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) twin-clutch automated seven-speed gearbox.

 

The more costly 2011 Quattroporte comes in three varieties, all V8-powered: The Quattroporte (MSRP starting at $119,750), Quattroporte S and range-topping Quattroporte Sport GT S. None of the Maseratis is available with all-wheel drive, and all are fitted with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission.

 

The Panamera’s appeal is immediately evident. To begin, the Panamera costs over $45,000 less than the base Quattroporte, and while the Porsche’s 3.6-liter V6 delivers 300 hp and 295 lb/ft of torque, compared to the Maserati’s 4.2-liter, 400-hp, 339 lb/ft V8, the Panamera’s zero-to-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds is within half a second of the Maserati’s. Is five-tenths of one second worth $45,000 to you? And while the Quattroporte registers a fairly dismal 12 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, the V6 Porsche delivers an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Plus, the Panamera 4’s all-wheel drive offers a level of poor-weather traction and usability the Maserati Quattroporte can’t match.

 

The story repeats itself as you work up the model range, as Porsche clearly takes charge in the head-to-head matchup. The Panamera S (MSRP $89,800) again undercuts the Quattroporte S MSRP ($126,250) by tens of thousands of dollars. Its 4.8-liter V8 delivers a stout 400 hp, 369 lb/ft of torque and a 5.2-second zero-to-60 time. The Maserati’s 4.7-liter V8 makes more hp, but less torque (425 hp and 361 lb/ft), and it’s slower to 60 mph (5.3 sec) than the Panamera. The Panamera is again more fuel efficient, at 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway versus the Quattroporte’s unimpressive 12 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Offering only rear-wheel drive, the Maserati has nothing comparable to the Panamera 4S.

 

The marquee matchup pits the two nameplate flagships against each other: Panamera Turbo vs. Quattroporte Sport GT S. In the Porsche corner? Standard all-wheel drive and a monstrous 500-hp twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 with 516 lb/ft of torque. Zero-to-60 mph is gone in 4.0 seconds flat. The Quattroporte Sport GT S wrings 433 hp and 361 lb/ft from its 4.7-liter, and zero-to-60 mph still takes 5.3 seconds. Sport GT S fuel economy is equal to the Quattroporte S, at 19 mpg highway. The Porsche Turbo delivers 23 mpg highway.

 

When equipped with the available Sport Chrono Package, the Panamera models boast even quicker zero-to-60 times. In the case of the Panamera Turbo, it actually makes the sprint in 3.8 seconds – incredible for a car this size – and torque is increased to a staggering 568 lb/ft.

 

Inside, both super-sleds impress with top-quality materials, but the Porsche offers a driver-oriented cockpit, loads of technology, and excellent comfort for its backseat passengers. All Panameras get standard Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a high-resolution seven-inch Wide Video Graphics Array (WVGA) Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display, and 3D hard disk based navigation. This system can be further upgraded with BOSE Surround Sound or a 1,000-watt, 16-speaker Burmester high-end surround-sound audio system.

 

As is the case with Porsche’s entire lineup, regardless of which Panamera model you select, there are a number of seating options and a seemingly endless list of personalization opportunities. For instance, you can order power rear seats, heated and cooled seats front and back, a variety of leather colors and treatments, plus little things like painted ventilation slats, different-colored gauge faces, a ski bag and many, many other options.

 

In a parting shot at the Maserati, the Porsche Panamera’s easy-to-access cargo area (it’s a hatchback) swallows up 15.7 cubic feet of cargo. The Quattroporte’s trunk is slightly less capacious at 15 cubic feet even.

 

Both the 2011 Maserati Quattroporte and 2011 Porsche Panamera are excellent, high-performance four-doors with heaps of style and plenty of brand heritage. In this matchup, however, the Porsche drives away the winner, offering more value, equal or better (extreme, even) performance and the practicality of available all-wheel drive. This is a year-round grand tourer that makes no sacrifices. The competition should be worried. 


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