If you exclude off-roading, in which case you’ll need an SUV, high-performance wagons are like the Swiss army knives of the automotive world.
That’s because they can meet the family’s transportation needs, with plenty of passenger and cargo space, while also offering excellent performance and handling. Naturally, the Audi RS6 and Mercedes-AMG E63 are the first such vehicles that come to mind, but Porsche has entered the fray in the past two years with the Panamera Sport Turismo.
The range-topping version is the Turbo S E-Hybrid, which boasts 680 PS (671 HP) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque. This makes it the world’s most powerful estate car, so it should be hard to beat in a drag race.
Related: Porsche Already Working On A Facelifted Panamera Sport Turismo
To find out if that’s indeed the case, Carwow pitted it against the Mercedes-AMG E63 S which is rated at 612 PS (604 HP) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft). Both wagons feature a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, but the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo also has an electric motor which produces 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of instantly-available torque. Will this give the Panamera the edge over the E63 S?
Well, in a drag race it might, because the electric motor offers an instant response. In the rolling race, however, it should not make such a big difference, at least not against the E63 S whose V8 engine produces the same amount of torque on its own as the Panamera’s V8 and electric motor combined.
Before jumping to conclusions, one thing that should be noted is that the Porsche’s plug-in hybrid powertrain makes it the heavier car in this comparison, and that clearly has an influence on acceleration and brake tests alike.