Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 2019 Review
Toby Hagon鈥檚 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 2019 Review With Price, Specs, Performance, Ride And Handling, Ownership, Safety, Verdict And Score. In a nutshell: The E-Hybrid is Porsche鈥檚 Cayenne SUV with a green streak, teaming a V6 turbo petrol engine with an electric motor for short-range emissions-free driving. The Cayenne has long been a game-changer for Porsche, arriving as the brand鈥檚 first SUV in 2002 and delivering the first diesel-powered Porsche during its tenure. Now diesel has been banished in the Porsche world, leaving the brand looking elsewhere for an eco-friendly option that can also fulfil towing duties. In its place is the latest Cayenne E-Hybrid, which teams a V6 engine with an electric motor. The latest model is a big change in thinking compared with the original hybrid Cayenne, changing the way the hybrid system operates to place the focus more on performance over thriftiness. What鈥檚 in the range and how much does it cost?
135,600). While each uses the same basic body, there are significant differences with what鈥檚 beneath the bonnet. For starters, the Turbo isn鈥檛 the only turbocharged model - they all have turbo engines. The Cayenne uses a 3.0-litre V6 turbo that is a Porsche-tuned version of an engine also used in various Audis. The Cayenne S gets a more powerful 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and the Cayenne Turbo gets a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The Cayenne E-Hybrid uses the same 3.0-litre V6 in the basic Cayenne but pairs it to a 100kW electric motor. Down the track, there will also be a Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid that will pair the V8 with the electric motor, creating the performance flagship of the range. As for equipment levels, it depends on the model. As such, we鈥檒l focus on the E-Hybrid here. What鈥檚 the cabin like? The E-Hybrid is mostly like any other Cayenne with a five-seat cabin (it鈥檚 not available with a third row). There鈥檚 the occasional lurid green highlights, such as on the speedo needle buried among what is a rare analogue addition to the digital dash. What are the front seats like?
It鈥檚 typical Cayenne with terrific front seats that are deep and supportive, giving every indication you鈥檒l be in good shape after hundreds of kays in the saddle. Grab handles in the centre console are surprisingly reassuring, while there鈥檚 cubby holes and a useful centre binnacle, the latter home to twin USB inputs. What are the back seats like? Those in the rear also get firm seat cushions but inherent comfort and support. Combined with generous leg and head room it makes for a very adult friendly space. There鈥檚 also a folding arm rest with cupholders, making better use of the centre space that is other compromised for passengers due to its raised, narrower seat base. A pair of USB outlets and deep door pockets look after gadgets in the rear. What鈥檚 the boot space like? The boot is sizeable although the floor of the hybrid sits slightly higher than it does on other Cayennes, a product of batteries being packed in beneath it.
That reduces capacity from as high as 770 litres on the Cayenne and Cayenne S to 645 litres in the hybrid. But it鈥檚 far from tight, the deep, broad space capable of swallowing plenty of family gear. What are the controls and infotainment like? The Cayenne benefits from the latest infotainment functionality first introduced on the Panamera. That includes a large black panel (be careful of reflections on sunny days) with touchpad virtual buttons that at least provide haptic feedback by kickback back when you push them. You鈥檒l no doubt accidentally click some, though, such is their sensitivity. There鈥檚 the occasional oddity, such as the knob that looks like it鈥檒l adjust the volume but instead zips you around the touchscreen if you don鈥檛 feel like touching. Volume adjustments are made with the dial below that one. Still, most of what you need can be controlled on the steering wheel, with rolling wheels t adjust the left and right screens within the instrument cluster and buttons for stuff like volume and phone operation.
The circular drive mode selector is handy for switching between electric and sports modes, plus there鈥檚 a Sport Response button in the centre to prime the transmission and turbo for brisk overtakes. What鈥檚 the performance like? Combining electric and petrol propulsion makes for a surprisingly brisk SUV, one capable of hitting 100km/h from rest in 5.0 seconds. Key to its efforts is the 100kW electric motor that also muscles up 400Nm. It鈥檚 that torque that鈥檚 available very early on in the piece, any prod of the throttle rewarded with quick responses. You鈥檒l typically get about 35-40km from a charge, one powered by a 14.1kWh battery (charging from a household powerpoint takes about six hours, or two if you鈥檝e got a wallbox charger). But it鈥檚 when the engine fires up that the Cayenne produces its best, using the additional 250kW and 450Nm for significantly more punch. Sure, there鈥檚 plenty of car to move - at almost 2.3 tonnes it鈥檚 hundreds of kilos heavier than the base Cayenne - but it still responds enthusiastically, with a broad spread across its rev range.