Porsche Panamera vs Mercedes CLS: used head-to-head

Which of this pair of luxury four-door coupes makes the most sense second-hand?

23 May 2017

The prestige four-door market was the domain of some rather staid saloons for many years – but then the luxury four-door coupe came along and jazzed things up. Such models mix traditional four-seat accommodation with curvaceous, low-slung styling, and the kings of the class are the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS. We take two used models of the same age to see which appeals most.

Looking at six-year-old examples, the Panamera now sells for half its original price, at £31,000, while the bargain second-generation CLS can be had for £15,500. Is the Porsche’s premium worth splashing out for?

Surprisingly, the 3.0-litre turbodiesel Merc hits 0-62mph more than half-a-second quicker than the Porsche, and it proves the superior all-rounder, too. Even more of a shock, the CLS rides more firmly than its rival, allowing it to corner with less body lean and more control.

The Panamera claws back points when it comes to refinement, though, with a dearth of engine, wind and road noise. It’s more refined than the luxurious Mercedes at speed, which you wouldn’t expect of such a sporty model. At least the Stuttgart car lives up to its preconceptions with its immaculate steering feel and feedback.

The Porsche builds on this with its immaculate, gorgeously styled cabin, which expertly blends supercar and prestige car credentials. The seats are supportive and the driving position great – as they are in the Merc – while the dashboard is more stylish and luxurious than its rival’s despite an abundance of switches on the centre console. Its infotainment system is less fiddly than that of the CLS, too.

Both cabin spaces are perfectly fine for four adults, even six-footers.

And standard easy-fold split rear seats help give the Porsche the more practical load space with the chairs down. This is a rarely chosen option on the Mercedes.

Cost advantages fall to the Mercedes. Like-for-like, the 2011 car is half the price of its competitor, and you could even buy a two-year-old model for the same money as the six-year-old Porsche. That’d get you some remaining factory warranty, too. The CLS is more economical and its CO2 emissions are superior, but the two contenders cost around the same to maintain. In fact, the Porsche’s menu-based service pricing gives it the edge. Skip any potential buys from either camp that don’t have a full service history from an official dealer.

In the final reckoning, the impressive Panamera is a remarkably practical model that boasts sports car character and luxury transportation for four. However, to our mind that doesn’t make it worth double the value of the CLS. The Mercedes is the surprising winner here, with its great on-road character, sporty drive, fine kit levels and a cabin that is classy if not quite up to the Porsche’s standards. Look no further for a bargain-priced luxury four-door coupe.

Mercedes-Benz CLS350 CDI Sport

Engine size 3.0-litre diesel

List price when new in 2011 £52,983

Price today £15,500

Power 261bhp

Torque 457lb ft

0-60mph 6.2sec

Top speed 155mph

Fuel economy 46.3mpg (Official average)

CO2 emissions 160g/km

Porsche Panamera

Engine size 3.0-litre diesel