The Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid exhibits highly effective promise and a green-friendly drive. We spent every week behind the wheel to see if this eco-performance SUV can ship.
It’s a Porsche with an id disaster; a Cayenne SUV that’s a coupe, a 455-horsepower efficiency automobile however a plug-in hybrid. It’s an SUV, however is it an off-roader? Possibly it’s only a option to make it simple being inexperienced.
The Cayenne vary actually gained’t go away you wanting for alternative. Porsche makes 18 totally different variations of the mannequin, break up evenly between the extra upright Cayenne known as an SUV and this sleeker body-badged Coupe. Inside that vary, you’ll discover V6 and V8 engines, together with plug-in hybrids, like this one.
Within the hierarchy of the Porsche Cayenne vary, the E-Hybrid sits low, only one notch above the bottom V6 model. Check out energy outputs, although, and all of a sudden it turns into extra spectacular.
With 455 horsepower, the Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid out-shoves the GTS mannequin. As a substitute of a twin-turbo 4.0L V8, the E-Hybrid does it with a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 and an electrical motor mounted in entrance of the eight-speed computerized.
Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid Provides 134 Horsepower
The V6 delivers 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, the electrical motor one other 134 ponies and 295 torques. Web outcome: 455 horsepower and a wholesome 516 pound-feet of torque.
It’s not as fast because the V8 GTS, although. It’s half a second slower to 60 mph (4.2 versus 4.8 seconds) by the stopwatch, even when geared up with the Sport Chrono Bundle and the beautiful dashboard clock that accompanies it. The function additionally contains launch management and a button that turns all the pieces to essentially the most sport mode doable for 20 seconds.
Whereas the E-Hybrid has a 17.9kWH battery and that electrical motor to pull round, the burden distinction isn’t a lot in contrast with the V8’s further cylinders. About 333 kilos on a automobile that weighs round 5,200 to begin with shouldn’t eat into efficiency an excessive amount of.
That leaves us not sure why the Cayenne E-Hybrid is slower. However we do know that it’s sluggish in additional than simply launch-control drag race mode. This SUV doesn’t really feel prefer it makes 455 horsepower at any level within the drive.
It’s not gradual — it simply by no means feels as fast correctly. That’s not one thing you wish to really feel in a six-figure style-forward efficiency SUV. Nearly prefer it is aware of, the non-obligatory efficiency exhaust sound is subdued even when within the louder Sport modes.
Electrical Increase Permits 17-Mile Vary
So what are you getting with all of this electrical {hardware}? The power to drive an estimated 17 miles on electrical energy, in keeping with authorities rankings. Then, 21 miles per gallon mixed as soon as the battery cost is depleted.
That’s a big increase versus the 17 miles per gallon a GTS claims to supply and even the 19 mixed of a base V6. My time within the Cayenne E-Hybrid confirmed that near 30 miles of electrical driving was doable and that 26 mpg was simply attainable.
Plus, while you’re on electrical energy on the town, the Cayenne Coupe feels extra pure.
This Porsche Hates Going Gradual
It is a automobile that hates half-measures. Draw back from a cease slowly (such as you would in E-Energy mode) and it’s completely comfortable. Flooring the accelerator and go away that cease signal along with your hair on fireplace and it’s completely comfortable.
Strive one thing within the center, and it appears confused, pulling away after which lurching ahead when it decides that you just actually needs to be going quicker. In E-Energy mode, it doesn’t have sufficient shove to do this.
That no half-measures perspective is pervasive, affecting the drive in addition to the powertrain. My take a look at mannequin had the entire accessible dealing with add-ons: Dynamic Chassis Management (PDCC), which actively tweaks the roll bars to get rid of roll, adaptive air suspension, and rear-axle steering, which ought to improve stability on the freeway and reduce the turning circle on the town.
Regardless of (or presumably due to) all of these devices, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe felt fidgety at high and low speeds. Darting round inside its lane, following each single mark on the pavement, these seen and people not, like a canine that has simply picked up the odor of the off-leash park.
Cayenne Coupe Comes Alive
Discover a place the place you can begin to strategy the Cayenne’s limits, and it feels unleashed. The hefty steering wheel now not jumps round in your fingers. Now it is able to run — lastly comfortable while you’re tackling a freeway interchange, and all of a sudden disenchanted as soon as once more while you’re again in a straight line.
The energetic air suspension is extremely able to controlling this heavy Porsche. Even the largest bumps are dealt with with little greater than a thump from the tires. Like a steamroller over contemporary asphalt, the highway bent to the desire of the automotive and never the opposite approach round.
PDCC’s anti-roll management can be shockingly good at preserving the Cayenne degree, even when it’s time to toss it round. I used to be tempted to see if it might deal with my espresso cup with no lid. With the houndstooth material that was a part of the $17,480 “Light-weight Sport Bundle in Carbon Fiber,” I decided that was a foul concept.
Nonetheless Gives Off-Street Functionality
The newest Cayenne may not be the off-roader the unique was, however Porsche hasn’t moved away from rough-road functionality fully. Press the off-road button and the suspension is raised from 6.3 inches at its lowest (7.4 in regular mode) to 9.6 inches. Due to the air suspension and softer roll bars permitted by PDCC, it’s agency on gravel and rocks however nonetheless compliant.
Taking the Cayenne Coupe down cottage paths needs to be no sweat. Simply be careful for something that would puncture the ultrawide tires, as they’re extra suited to pavement.
Coupe Cuts Cargo, Towing Capability Stays
It is a Cayenne Coupe, and meaning Porsche has determined to make the roofline spherical as a substitute of sq.. That cuts into cargo house for gear, however the quantity is determined by how you propose on loading it.
If you happen to’re placing in groceries or baggage and never going above the tops of the rear seats, the cargo house is similar. If you happen to’re filling it with balloons (or tall bins or bikes), you may want the additional peak. You’ll be able to even throw a factory-supported tent on the roof.
Purely by the numbers, the Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid offers you 17.6 cubic toes with the seats up and 50.8 cubic toes with them folded. The SUV-badged Cayenne holds 22.7 cubic toes and 56.8 cubic toes with them folded. Each can tow as much as 7,716 kilos, which is a formidable determine for any crossover on this dimension class or with this a lot efficiency.
The remainder of the cabin is lots spacious. A great deal of headroom entrance and rear, aided by the choice of a set roof as a substitute of a glass panel. Even with the accessible panoramic sunroof, although, it is a giant automobile for a driver and three passengers.
For consolation, eight-way adjustable entrance seats are customary. My tester had the 18-way adjustable adaptive sports activities seats that allow you to tweak the aspect and backside bolsters and prolong the underside seat cushion. If you happen to can’t get cozy in these, I’m unsure what to let you know.
Cabin Feels Completely Porsche
The cabin structure is simple to make use of, too. Keys surrounding the gearshift take you on to the entire vital options like chassis, nav, and even the off-road-specific settings. The flat panel has haptic suggestions, so in case you press a digital button, you’ll really feel a click on.
It seems to be clear however continues to be useful. The drive mode selector is correct on the wheel, and that features a button that exists solely to set off the 20 seconds of Sport Response mode the place all the pieces is tweaked to the max.
Halfway by the mannequin yr 2022, Porsche upgraded Cayenne’s infotainment system. Other than some interface and tile structure tweaks, Porsche added wi-fi Android Auto (wi-fi CarPlay was already supplied) and built-in Spotify into the system. If you happen to’re an Android person, look ahead to the later-year fashions or a 2023.
If you happen to use iOS, you in all probability don’t care concerning the modifications. Full disclosure, our tester was an early 2022 mannequin with out these modifications. We got the possibility to check out the brand new system again to again in a distinct Porsche and located the modifications delicate however helpful.
The draw back of Porsche’s flat-panel middle console is that it’s apparent what options you’re lacking. Within the case of this Cayenne, the ventilated seat button was looking at us with nothing to do.
Have It Your Means
That’s not essentially a draw back, although. Porsche helps you to configure your Cayenne nearly precisely the way you need it, to a degree few automakers do at any value level. This unit was optioned with out radar cruise, ventilated seats, or perhaps a heated steering wheel.
However you may get all of these (plus some others) for much less cash just by choosing the Sport Design Bundle as a substitute of the Light-weight Sport Bundle. Or with lots of of different choice configurations. Need a carbon fiber proprietor’s handbook cowl? You are able to do that, too.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid: An SUV?
One of many choices you must get is the surround-view digicam. The usual reversing digicam is shockingly low-resolution for a automobile this new.
Ranging from the essential $91,800 for the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe, it’s simple to spend weeks configuring a Porsche mannequin simply the way you need it, the best way I’d as a child with well-worn vendor brochures. This one has been curated very particularly, with about $34,800 in choices taking the value to $126,600.
Although it says “coupe” within the title, the Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid does a terrific job of being an SUV, each on and off-road. However it ought to really feel as fast because the numbers counsel, and Porsche must type out the chassis’ pleasure in on a regular basis driving.
