Porsche Panamera vs Audi A4
What's the difference?

Porsche Panamera

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2024 price

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Audi A4

$28,850 - $47,950

2021 price

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Maserati Quattroporte

Mazda 2

McLaren Artura

Mercedes-AMG E63

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2024 Porsche Panamera

2021 Audi A4

By Emily Agar

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Twin Turbo V6, 2.9L

Diesel Turbo, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Diesel

Fuel Efficiency

9.2L/100km (combined)

5.2L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

One of the best-looking in segment
Power and performance
Robust safety features

Nice to drive
Looks good
Impressive interior

Dislikes

Cabin not the most practical
Ongoing ownership costs
Pricey options

Space-saver tyre
Short warranty
Paying extra for driver-assist tech

2024 Porsche Panamera Summary

Australia hasn't had what you'd call a love affair with the Porsche Panamera. Especially compared to the on-going romance with its iconic sibling, the 911 and even its SUV stablemates.

The Panamera straddles the fence between high-performance sports car and family sedan and it's a position rivals like the BMW 740i, Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes-Benz S450 have sometimes found difficult to balance.

This new-generation 'base' Panamera model is on test to see if this sedan's 2025 redesign will launch an arrow from Cupid's bow for Australian families?

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2021 Audi A4 Summary

The Audi A4 allroad is the off-roader of the A4 line-up. I’m using the term ‘off-roader’ loosely here because this wagon is obviously best suited to daily duties in a city and suburbs, with perhaps an occasional foray into very light off-roading, i.e. driving on a well-maintained gravel or dirt road with few, if any, corrugations, and in dry weather only.

But that’s not a negative factor because the great thing about adventures is that they can be scaled to suit you, your lifestyle and your vehicle of choice.

However, is this allroad your best option for a comfortable, nice-driving all-rounder? Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Porsche Panamera 2021 Audi A4

Verdict

The Panamera is the ‘have your Porsche and drive it too’ model.

It encompasses the fun of the 911 while still being a comfortable daily driver that can easily fit a family of four. The cabin is sumptuously styled and not hurting for features, either.

Could the ownership costs and storage be better? Probably, but if you’re looking at this model, those items will probably be lower priorities for you.

For my little family of three, the base model Panamera is a win.

Verdict

The Audi A4 allroad 40 TDI quattro S Tronic is a nice-looking wagon that’s fun to drive.

It’s packed with tech, adequately functional for daily life and it’s also capable enough off-road as long as the driving surface is nothing more challenging than well-maintained gravel or dirt tracks in dry weather, and you’re not planning a rough-and-tumble expedition into remote bushland.

As I mentioned earlier, the great thing about adventures is that you can scale them to suit you and your vehicle and the allroad offers a nice stepping-stone for people who’d like to experience the outdoorsy lifestyle, before perhaps diving deeper into it.

Porsche Panamera vs Audi A4 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Porsche Panamera vs Audi A4
What's the difference?