2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid First Look Review: Now With A Dash Of Taycan
Porsche has updated its entire Cayenne lineup for the 2024 model year, and the E-Hybrid model will continue to be one of the more sensible purchases in the range due to its mix of swift performance and reasonable efficiency. A newly updated 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine and electric motor pairing now make 463 horsepower combined, up from 455 hp previously, while the high-voltage battery capacity has also increased, hinting at an improved all-electric range. But the big news is the successor to the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid arrives with 729 horsepower - the new Turbo E-Hybrid makes almost 60 horses more than the outgoing range-topper. And for those who want something in between, there's the 512-hp Cayenne S E-hybrid introduced toward the end of the year. To go with its improved plug-in hybrid powertrains, the E-Hybrid models also get refreshed looks and a completely different dashboard design, making this more than your average facelift.
When Is The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coming Out?
Orders have already opened, and the release date for the new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid SUV is scheduled for the summer of 2023 in the USA. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid and Turbo E-Hybrid models will be delivered early in 2024.
2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Price And Competition
The price of the 2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid begins at $91,700, which is $5,200 more than the 2023 equivalent. In the middle of the range, the S E-Hybrid will go for $99,100, while the ferocious Turbo E-Hybrid goes on sale for $146,900. This MSRP excludes a destination and handling fee of $1,650.
One of the Cayenne E-Hybrid's much cheaper rivals is the BMW X5 Hybrid, which starts at a cost of $72,500 for 2024, and it's even more powerful than the base Porsche with 483 hp combined. The updated Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e will also be cheaper when it arrives, but it only makes 381 hp and uses a four-cylinder engine.
New Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Exterior And Colors
The Cayenne has never been the most beautiful SUV around, but it has come a long way from the ungainly first-generation model. Several alterations have been made to the exterior of the facelifted Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid to refine the design, such as new Matrix Design LED headlights with a distinctive lighting signature. There is also a restyled hood along with massaged fenders that give the vehicle a more athletic look.
On S E-Hybrid models, a Silver Exterior Package is standard. The Turbo variant gets model-specific styling, boasting larger air intakes and black airblades up front, bespoke wheel arch trim, and a color-keyed rear bumper.
A range of new wheel designs has been introduced, including standard 20-inch alloys (21-inch wheels on the Turbo). At the back, the updates are easier to notice at a glance, as the previous taillight clusters have made way for new three-dimensionally designed taillights that stretch across the width of the body, and this forms part of a new rear fascia. Twin tailpipes in brushed stainless steel are standard on the Turbo E-Hybrid, showing off red brake calipers.
A range of customization options are also available for E-Hybrid; from the Extended Exterior Package in black to the SportDesign Package in High Gloss Black or carbon fiber, buyers can spend up to $10k on these options alone. The front fascia, exterior mirror trim, window trim, and door handles can all be personalized. As for the colors one can spec for the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, new hues are Algarve Blue Metallic, Montego Blue Metallic, and Arctic Grey. The color featured here is Carrara White Metallic, and the E-Hybrid can be distinguished from non-hybrid models by its Acid Green brake calipers and the same color for the surround of the Cayenne script on the tailgate.
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Dimensions
Not much has changed in this area, with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid's dimensions still very much reflective of its mid-size segment positioning. The E-Hybrid has a length of 194 inches and a wheelbase measuring 114 inches. Its height is 66.8 inches, and the width is 78.1 inches with the mirrors folded, or 86.4 inches including the mirrors. Turbo models are slightly lower to the ground, with height coming in at 66.4 inches.
This is no rugged off-roader, but the Cayenne has been a decent performer over rougher terrain if it's really required. With the steel suspension, it has 8.1 inches of ground clearance and a wading depth of 9.8 inches. With air suspension, the ground clearance increases to 9.1 inches, and the wading depth is 11 inches.
The new E-Hybrid is even heavier than before, with the curb weight now being 5,348 pounds on the standard model. The Turbo E-Hybrid tips the scales at 5,664 lbs.
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Engine And Performance
Porsche has updated the Cayenne E-Hybrid's engine and electric motor. For base cars, the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 mill has specs of 300 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque on its own, and the new electric motor makes 174 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. Combined, the peak outputs are now 463 hp and 479 lb-ft; remember, the power and torque peaks of the V6 and electric motor can't simply be added up as the two power sources deliver their peaks at very different stages.
With the Sport Chrono Package, the all-wheel-drive E-Hybrid can sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. You'll need summer tires to reach the top speed of 158 mph, though. If you want your hybrid SUV to go even quicker, there's an S E-Hybrid variant that ups the performance specs to 512 hp and 553 lb-ft, enabling a 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph.
The new Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid currently crowns the range as the most powerful Cayenne available. The model it replaces had 670 hp, but with 729 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque from a reworked 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the upgrade is significant. The powerful Turbo E-Hybrid will dispatch the benchmark sprint in 3.5 seconds and max out at 183 mph.
To further improve low-speed comfort, handling, and pitch and roll management, the Cayenne E-Hybrid comes with new shock absorbers with two-valve technology. This setup has rebound and compression stages that are separate, further improving driving dynamics. Optionally, the new adaptive air suspension not only increases ground clearance when necessary but further enhances precision on the road - this is standard on Turbo derivatives along with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus. Drivers can choose between Normal, Sport, and Sport Plus modes.
The pre-facelift Cayenne already provided an excellent balance between comfort and sportiness, so if these aspects have been improved, it will be tough to beat.
Gas Mileage
The high-voltage battery in the new Cayenne E-Hybrid has an increased capacity of 25.9 kWh, up from 17.9 kWh previously. EPA estimates are not available yet, but the manufacturer claims that efficiency has improved. Therefore, the new E-Hybrid should better the 46 MPGe and 21 mpg combined achieved by the previous model. Hopefully, Porsche will be able to crack at least 20 miles for its all-electric range, too.
With its 19.8-gallon gas tank, and assuming improved efficiency, the E-Hybrid should have a total range of around 440 miles.
A new 11 kW on-board AC charger has been introduced as well, and this shortens the time it takes to recharge the battery to under two-and-a-half hours.
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Interior And Cargo
A Taycan-like dashboard layout has found its way into the interior of the new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid range, and it's a pleasing mix of high-tech displays and quality materials. Brand loyalists may bemoan the fact that the analog tachometer, a Porsche staple for decades, has been replaced by a digital version as part of the new 12.6-inch instrument cluster. Even Porsche debated whether to make this move, but as long as it remains legible at a glance, that's what counts.
The tech fest continues with the standard 12.3-inch center Porsche Communication Management (PCM) display, providing access to apps like Apple Music and Spotify. For the full experience, customers may want to tick the options for the new head-up display and the 10.9-inch display ahead of the front-seat passenger. This smaller display allows the passenger to access streaming video content and other functions, but it has a special layer on it so that it isn't viewable - and, therefore, distracting - to the driver.
Going back to the Taycan-like layout, Porsche has grouped often-used functions within easy reach of the driver. That includes the relocation of the gear selector from the center console to the dashboard, while a stalk just behind the steering wheel can be used to quickly access various driver-assistance systems. The steering wheel itself also has new functions for operating these systems.
Porsche has aimed for a usable blend of digital and analog controls, so the air vents remain manually adjustable and there is a haptic volume knob, both of which won't require the precision of a surgeon to adjust on the move.
The various driver-assistance technologies that are either standard or available have either been enhanced or added to. For example, Active Speed Limit Assist makes use of Traffic Sign Recognition to better inform the driver of possibly exceeding the speed limit. With the optional adaptive cruise control, there is a new Evasion Assist function that can detect an obstacle and help the driver avoid it when driving between 31 and 93 mph. Turn Assist, meanwhile, keeps an "eye" on oncoming traffic when executing a left-hand turn at up to 6 mph and will brake the Cayenne if it senses a collision could occur. Finally, the available Porsche InnoDrive suite now includes Active Lane Keep and Intersection Assist, helping the driver negotiate traffic jams and highways more safely.
Leather is standard on the Cayenne E-Hybrid range's seats in colors like Black, Black/Chalk, Black/Bordeaux Red, Black/Night Green, Black/Mojave Beige, and Black/Blackberry. Club Leather with cross-stitching is also available for a price. The Turbo E-Hybrid is set apart by aluminum inlays in the dashboard and door panels, while the roof is lined in Race-Tex. The standard feature specification for the Turbo is slightly more impressive than the base model, and includes a heated GT sports steering wheel and 18-way adjustable sports seats.
Practicality in the cabin is better thanks to more storage in the center console, and the cargo space of the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid works out to 22.1 cubic feet, or 55.1 cubic feet, when the second row is folded. The Turbo E-Hybrid has between 25.7 and 54.9 cubic feet of space.