There was a lot of flak for Porsche when they first brought out their Panamera, the first SUV they had ever designed. After all, what could a manufacturer of sports cars know about family needs and safety? However, the manufacturer surprised its critics with this vehicle with its excellent engineering, a trait Porsche is famous for, and its luxurious interior. Classed as a high-end luxury SUV, the Panamera is a relatively new and impressive solution for those who enjoy style, comfort and safety.

The Panamera sports a huge engine with the entry-level model being graced with a 3.6 litre V6 engine. This gives the car an impressive 300 horsepower with a lot of control to back it up. And for those who want a little more, the Panamera S has been designed with a 4.8 litre V8 engine, the Turbo with twin, turbocharging engines and the Turbo S with a special engine that can give you an impressive 550 horsepower, if you like some juice under your bonnet. And despite being a four-door, the Turbo S model goes from zero to 60 in just four seconds, just in case you feel the need to open up on the open road.

Besides this range’s incredible strength, it has also been designed with aesthetics in mind. The Panamera sports incredible handling, which you would recognise as impressive if you saw the sheer size of it. It is a super-luxury car, large enough to house four adults comfortably inside while shrinking around bends in the road like its sporty brothers. And don’t think that just because it is a sports-utility vehicle, it has sacrificed on balance. Engineers have placed the car’s engine in the front to achieve maximum balance, giving drivers of the 911 a pleasant surprise if they decide to make a switch.

And to add the excellent quality of the ride, the Panamera range can boast adaptive suspension, so no matter where you are on what road you’re on, you get to pick how easy the car is to handle, depending on how much speed you need. But just because the car looks good and handles like a dream, doesn’t mean it has sacrificed anything in terms of safety. The adaptive air suspension also increases the car’s impact absorption, so should anything go awry, you and your passengers are taken care of.

Besides the luxurious interior you would expect to find in the Panamera, you will also be pleased to know that, if you are a parent, the backseats make the perfect place for your kids to relax after a long day of school, or be entertained on those long car trips. The two backseats are luxurious, calling to mind the first-class section of an airplane. And if you want them, DVD players can be inserted, as can a small fridge, to keep kids entertained while you focus on the drive.

One of the best things about the Panamera is the ability to customise. If you prefer the car’s interior trimmed in leather, you can have it. Want wood panels? Done. How about colour? No problem. Since it is one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of luxury cars, Porsche has thought through every type of customising option to ensure that no matter where you take it, it is comfortable. The Panamera range may be a range of similar looking cars, but each is unique and adaptable to the driver.