Skip advert
Advertisement

Porsche Panamera vs BMW M5, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes E63 AMG - Porsche Panamera vs BMW M5, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes E63 AMG: The verdict

After two hard days on the road, it's time to pick a winner: Porsche Panamera BMW M5, Jaguar XFR or Mercedes E63 AMG? Here's evo's verdict

All four of these cars are magnificent machines, conceived to devour miles with a minimum of effort, yet engage and entertain when mood demands it. However, least convincing in the supersaloon role, at least in this specification, is the Porsche. We debated whether to include a Panamera Turbo or Turbo S, but the £100K+ entry price ruled it out. The trouble is, true supersaloons need to be ultimates, and in this company the 400bhp Porsche felt out-gunned. The manual gearbox of this press car also, sadly, proved slightly cumbersome.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The XFR is a strange car. It’s a truly handsome machine, even in Constabulary White, but the interior and general detailing is a bit glitzy and cheap compared to the German brands. It has prodigious performance and a beautifully lissom feel on a raggedy road, but struggles to up its game to match the out-and-out performance and tight dynamics of the Benz and BMW. Ultimately greatness eludes it.

Splitting the bi-turbo Germans initially felt impossible, but the M5 steadily and relentlessly asserted itself. In all areas – with the possible exception of steering feel – the M5 out-points the AMG. Crucially, its ability to subtly adapt and adjust its delivery from imperious motorway mile-eater to ballistic back-road projectile is in another league. It’s an epic experience and a fabulous achievement. M Power strikes back

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI

With the sun shining and fuel prices palatable, now is the time to indulge your used sports car desires
1 Jul 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025
New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement
Ferrari Amalfi front
News

New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement

The Ferrari Amalfi picks up where the Roma left off, as a more capable, debugged super GT that’s finally brought back buttons
1 Jul 2025