Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
Price: Cayenne from £67,400, E-Hybrid from £76,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol and electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Battery: 25.9kWh
Power: 470hp
Torque: 650Nm
Emissions: 39g/km
Economy: 166.1mpg
Range: 42 miles
0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 157mph
Boot space: 545 litres
Styling
The new Cayenne looks much the same as its predecessor at first glance, but Porsche has made quite a few changes. New paint options, fresh alloy wheel designs and a new rear bumper are just part of the story, and eagle-eyed readers might also spot the redesigned front wings or the new bonnet.
But arguably the highlight is the new headlights. The fresh Cayenne gets LED Matrix headlights as standard, allowing the car to dip the main beam in the direction of other vehicles to avoid dazzling them while also providing maximum illumination. But customers can also specify even posher HD LED Matrix lights, which come with a selection of extra functions. The system will highlight the lane in which the car is driving to help drivers stay on course, and it can flash in the direction of potentially unseen hazards.
Interior
While Porsche's exterior upgrades may be subtle, the interior has had a much more comprehensive overhaul. There's a new dashboard design that incorporates the Taycan's curved digital instrument cluster and the push-button ignition switch, as well as the toggle-style gear selector. In truth, we quite liked the old Cayenne's 'hybrid' instrument display, which combined analogue and digital readouts, but the new one is clear, configurable and easy to read, so it ticks all the right boxes.
Moving the gear lever has freed up space on the centre console, which means there's a new climate control panel that mixes physical toggle switches with digital displays and semi-conventional buttons. As is Porsche's wont these days, many of the switches are incorporated into one large black panel, which looks alright when it's clean but attracts fingerprints immediately.
Other than that, the biggest change is the arrival of the optional new passenger display, which is designed to offer front-seat passengers the same infotainment options as the rear-seat entertainment package. That means you can stream television shows and movies from the passenger seat, while a kind of film in the screen prevents the driver from seeing what's being shown. The unintended consequence of that, however, is that the colours are slightly distorted for the passenger, too.
Although there are clearly new additions to the Cayenne, the impeccable quality has obviously been maintained, with every material and panel feeling as robust and as upmarket as before. Everything feels solid and rugged, but in a really tactile way, even though the overall design isn't necessarily that inspiring. Other car makers, take note.
Practicality
Although Porsche has made significant changes to the Cayenne's interior, the cabin space available has not changed, and that's very good news indeed. The 'basic' Cayenne has a boot of almost 700 litres with the rear seats upright, but this E-Hybrid version has sacrificed some space to make room for the hybrid system. Still, a 545-litre boot is not to be sniffed at, particularly when it's paired with exceptional interior space. Seating four adults is a simple matter, with ample head- and legroom for even the tallest back-seat passenger.
Performance
Among Porsche's upgrades for the new Cayenne is a host of changes for the best-selling E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid powertrain, which combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and an electric motor. However, Porsche has increased the power output of that electric motor significantly, taking it from 136 to 176hp for extra punch when running on electric power alone.
Porsche has also increased the size of the plug-in battery, increasing it to 25.9kWh to provide a zero-emission range of 42 miles. If you want, you can just plug the car back in at this point, utilising the 11kW on-board charging system to top up the battery and continue on your way. Do that often enough and you'll find the Cayenne E-Hybrid hugely economical, if not quite as efficient as the official economy figures suggest.
Alternatively, you can just let the 3.0-litre V6 engine start with a muffled bark and allow that to take over. You can even use that to charge the battery, although it will guzzle fuel in the process. Or, if you'd rather, you can just combine the might of the two propulsion systems using the Sport or Sport Plus modes to access the maximum output of 470hp. That's just 4hp less than the V8-powered Cayenne S, and it allows the E-Hybrid to achieve similar performance figures. Officially, 0-62mph takes 4.9 seconds, which is a tenth faster than a basic Cayenne S, although adding the Sport Chrono pack to the V8 model cuts its time to 4.7 seconds.
In short, the E-Hybrid is more or less equal to the S in terms of performance, but it's more economical and cheaper to buy (more on that later). And you don't sacrifice that much character as a result. Sure, the V6 engine isn't as soulful as the V8, and you don't get that delicious burble at idle, but you get silence that won't annoy your neighbours when you have to leave home at Horrid O'Clock in the morning, and the V6 makes a sporty little growl when it gets going.
What's more, the transition between petrol and electric power is smooth, even though the engine is hardly silent, and that makes it feel as seamless as can be. It's a great powertrain.
Ride & Handling
Porsche says it has tweaked the Cayenne's suspension to make it more comfortable than before, and though the difference isn't huge, we'd say the German company has achieved its aim. Admittedly, our test took place on smooth Alpine roads, but the Cayenne glided over the bumps almost as if they weren't there. That's particularly true at higher speeds, which makes the Cayenne brilliant for long-distance motoring, whereas there's a little rumble and thump around town. By the standards of other plug-in SUVs, though, it isn't bad at all, and Porsche says a little feedback from the suspension is intentional, because it tells the driver exactly what the wheels are doing.
Despite the small improvement in comfort, though, the Cayenne is still enormously good fun to drive quickly, even if it feels a bit big and heavy at times. But it's hugely stable, with minimal body roll in the more aggressive Sport and Sport Plus settings, and Porsche's trademark steering feel. That you can throw something this big and spacious around with such abandon is quite remarkable.
But there is a small catch, and it's specific to the E-Hybrid model. Because Porsche has had to reserve the first part of the brake pedal's travel for regenerative braking, which charges the battery and slows the car at the same time, the feel during light braking is sadly lacking. It isn't the end of the world, but more conventionally powered Cayennes inspire a tad more confidence.
Value
The new Cayenne starts at £67,400, but this E-Hybrid model commands a premium of almost £10,000. At £76,800 plus options, it's only £4,000 cheaper than the V8-powered S model, which comes with very slightly more power and just the same amount of standard equipment. Not that that's anything to write home about. Yes, every Cayenne gets the digital instrument cluster and the touchscreen infotainment system, as well as some posh upholstery, but Porsche isn't known for its generosity. Almost all customers will want to add more than a few options.
Verdict
Like its predecessor, the new Cayenne is a fantastic car. Porsche didn’t need to change all that much – the Cayenne was still selling well – but the upgrades are considered and effective, which only adds to the car’s appeal. This E-Hybrid version is expected to be the best-selling version, and it’s easy to see why. Cheap company car tax, ample power and a sensible price tag make it the obvious choice for many, although were money no object, we’d prefer to have the lighter and slightly more spacious V8-powered S.
