Nothing conjures up combined feelings fairly like a efficiency plug-in hybrid. At first, it looks as if an ideal center floor between fuel and electrical. There’s easy, emissions-free driving for working round city, big selection and fast refueling for lengthy journeys, and large efficiency if you let the engine and motor work in tandem.
The brand new Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid does provide all that. However, it’s not fairly so simple as having your cake and consuming it too.
Fast Specs
2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe
Engine
Twin-Turbo 4.0-Liter V-8 PHEV
Output
729 Horsepower / 700 Pound-Toes
0-60 MPH
3.5 Seconds
Weight
5,719 Kilos
Base Value / As Examined
$153,050 / $191,230
Porsche facelifted the third-generation Cayenne for the 2024 mannequin 12 months, and the adjustments are in depth. For the plug-in hybrid fashions, the battery capability will increase from 14.1 kilowatt-hours to 25.9 kilowatt-hours, which brings a giant bump in electrical vary. The motor additionally will get a rise from 134 to 174 horsepower, and mixed with a revised twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid produces a ripping 729 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque. That’s greater than the previous Turbo S E-Hybrid. Greater than any combustion SUV on the market now, save the mechanically related Lamborghini Urus SE.
However there’s a worth to pay for this mixing of combustion and electrical energy—and never simply the steep $158,995 base worth of the 2025 mannequin (our tester was a 2024). Porsche quotes a curb weight of 5,719 kilos for this Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe. The Cayenne GTS Coupe, which makes use of the identical V-8 with out the hybrid system, weighs practically 700 kilos much less.
The entire thing is slightly absurd. Not simply the load determine by itself, I imply the entire thing. A luxurious SUV that nods towards effectivity and the necessity to scale back our environmental affect but additionally has a twin-turbo V-8 and weighs as a lot as two unique Boxsters. It’s simply a lot automobile.
Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Execs: Enormous Efficiency, Unimaginable Experience & Dealing with, Good Electrical Vary
The burden dominates every part. Admittedly, this Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid coupe handles its weight in addition to it may possibly, because of the optionally available rear-wheel steering and energetic anti-roll programs. It’s freakishly agile and physique roll is saved to an absolute minimal if you put it into Sport Plus mode, the place the automobile lowers on its air springs and stiffens up its adaptive dampers. Via corners, this Cayenne doesn’t really feel its weight in anyway.
Steering is exact as you’d count on from a Porsche, however surprisingly mild. And under 50 miles per hour, when the rear wheels are calibrated to show in the other way of the fronts, there’s this barely unnatural sense of the automobile castering round that takes a bit to get used to.
Porsche revised the springs and dampers for all facelifted Cayenne fashions, and right here, they supply an uncanny-good unfold of sentimental, cushion-y journey high quality and sport-sedan-like dealing with. Even on the optionally available 22-inch wheels, massive bumps barely make a blip. Principally, it rides and handles in a means that’s fully divorced from its big weight and tall journey top.
Nonetheless, you’re all the time aware of the load beneath braking. Even slowing down at low speeds for a cease signal, you’ll be able to really feel all that mass shifting round beneath you. It by no means feels fairly proper. Additionally not serving to issues is the truth that the braking is inconsistent. It’s all the time a problem to mix regenerative braking from the motor and friction braking, particularly when you could have carbon-ceramic rotors, as our tester does.
Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Cons: Huge Curb Weight, Costly, Poor Gasoline Financial system With Lifeless Battery
Coming to a whole cease round city, you all the time find yourself getting a bit extra braking than you need. The motor drives via the Cayenne’s eight-speed computerized, so if you’re coming to a cease, the automobile has to stability motor regeneration with downshifts. You don’t really feel the shifts, however the sensation is much like aggressive engine braking. Attempting to be completely easy rolling to an intersection is an actual problem.
Sometimes the hybrid system hiccups when getting up to the mark too, however when you’re going, it’s all very easy. The engine cuts out and in seamlessly, and the motor is all the time able to ship a wallop of torque.
It’s foolish fast, unsurprisingly. The electrical motor and engine mix to make the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid really feel prefer it’s bought a supercharged Chevy V-8 beneath the hood. You go to cross somebody on the freeway, and the eight-speed auto downshifts a gear, possibly two, earlier than an infinite surge of energy. Get on it arduous from a low gear, and it’s much more eye-opening. Efficiency like this was not way back unique to upper-echelon 911s.
Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
This may be heretical to say, but it surely sounds higher than quite a lot of new 911s, too. As a part of the Light-weight Sports activities Bundle—a laughable line merchandise for a 5,700-pound automobile—you get a center-exit sports activities exhaust, and it’s raucous. Even in its quiet modes, there’s an ever-present burble from the V-8 and a muscle-car thunder with the valves totally open. It’s infantile and completely addictive.
Nonetheless, the tougher you get on it, the extra gasoline you’re going to burn. Which is, in fact, apparent, and usually not a priority in a hi-po SUV. However in slightly over per week with the automobile, I couldn’t cease eager about gasoline financial system. I imagined a guilt-free but highly effective V-8 expertise, and whereas the hybrid system can lower gasoline consumption, it doesn’t flip this Porsche right into a Prius.
As with all plug-in hybrids, you need to cost it typically. Up to date Cayenne hybrids get an 11-kilowatt on-board AC charger, so when you’ve got the suitable setup at house, you must have the ability to get a full battery in round two and a half hours. And the vary is superb. The EPA says it’ll do 24 miles on a cost, however I frequently noticed figures nearer to 40 miles.
For those who’re driving round city slowly, you’ll get nice gasoline financial system. Hell, you’ll be able to go away the Cayenne in E-Energy mode and the V-8 won’t ever even activate till you get on the throttle arduous. Longer journeys at increased speeds are a combined bag, although. I drove the automobile 200 miles and again totally on the freeway, however with about 20 miles of gradual New York Metropolis site visitors. With a full battery, I managed practically 27 mpg in comparison with 22 mpg with round 1 / 4 of a battery. It’s not nothing! However, it’s nonetheless conspicuous consumption.
Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
In the end, you’re left with one thing that is the very best of each worlds, and the worst of each worlds. Beneath the suitable circumstances, you will get a giant effectivity profit from the hybrid system, however at different occasions, it’s quite a lot of further weight to hold round.
Philosophically, the bottom Cayenne E-Hybrid and Cayenne S E-Hybrid in all probability make extra sense, pairing a lighter, extra environment friendly V-6 with the identical battery and motor. However, the efficiency and speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick persona typical of a Porsche Turbo is simple. I like this factor lots, regardless that I additionally discover it completely ridiculous and suspect that it’s possible not fairly as satisfying as a pure fuel automobile, or a full EV.
And this being a evaluate of a Porsche, we are able to’t finish earlier than speaking concerning the worth. It’s so damned costly. Notably, the bottom worth between this 2024 check automobile and the equal 2025 mannequin jumped from $153,050 to $163,945. The as-tested worth of this one rises from $191,230 to simply beneath $200,000. You’ll be able to skip quite a lot of the choices our tester has, just like the $9,070 carbon-ceramic brakes and the $10,700 Light-weight Sport Bundle (although it’s the solely approach to get these wonderful houndstooth seats). Nonetheless, it’s a really costly automobile regardless of the way you slice it.
Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
I suppose it’s pure for a sophisticated automobile to engender sophisticated emotions. Some moments, you like it. Others, you’re baffled by it. And infrequently, you’re left astonished by simply how foolish it’s. I kind of need one, and I’m barely disturbed by that notion.
Like I stated earlier, combined feelings.
Opponents
11
Chris Perkins / Motor1
11
2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe
Engine
Twin-Turbocharged 4.0-Liter V-8 PHEV
Motor
Singe Everlasting-Magnet Synchronous
Battery
21.8 Kilowatt-Hour Web (25.9 kWh Gross) Lithium-Ion
Output
729 Horsepower / 700 Pound-Toes
Transmission
Eight-Pace Automated
Drive Sort
All-Wheel Drive
Pace 0-60 MPH
3.5 Seconds
Most velocity
183 MPH
Effectivity
19 MPG Mixed (Gasoline Solely) / 46 MPGe Mixed (Gasoline + Electrical)
EV Vary 24 Miles
Cost Time
2.5 Hours
Cost Sort
11 Kilowatt AC
Weight
5,719 Kilos
Seating Capability
4 / 5
Cargo Quantity
15.3 Cubic Toes / 47.5 Cubic Toes
Base Value
$153,050
As-Examined Value
$191,230
