By each metric, the Cayenne delivers enchancment over the smaller Macan—and so it ought to, given the value distinction and Porsche’s car hierarchy—however on paper, its vary and cost velocity are already behind what Chinese giant BYD has coming down the tracks. However automobiles from efficiency manufacturers like Porsche, even absolutely electrical SUVs, are about extra than simply the spec sheet. An electrical Cayenne must drive like a Porsche, really feel like a Porsche, and remind its proprietor why they’ve paid handsomely for that badge on the steering wheel.
Curved Display screen
In that regard, the brand new Cayenne is as much as the job. The styling is sharper and cleaner than earlier than, thanks partially to diminished cooling necessities and a spotlight as a substitute on a slipperier, extra aerodynamic physique. The entrance finish is recognizably Porsche, and the lively aero blades that protrude from the rear corners of the flagship Turbo variant are additionally on-brand, smoothing airflow and bettering effectivity at velocity.
The rear is in any other case bland, and because the solely Porsche branding is an illuminated motif a part of the sunshine bar, when parked and turned off, the Cayenne is visually forgettable. That mentioned, patrons bored by the Tesla pattern of limiting paint choices to the naked minimal will welcome the Cayenne’s 13 exterior coloration choices and 11 wheel designs.
Inside, it’s recognizably Porsche however with a brand new curved show that cascades down the middle of the dashboard. It’s an arched OLED panel that’ll remind you of the primary time you noticed a folding smartphone—fortunately with out the crease. Discard it as a gimmick if you’d like, however I like Porsche’s strategy right here, because it permits the consumer interface to develop or break up into two throughout the 2 planes of the curved display. It additionally helps scale back glare, whereas a considerate panel under the display acts as a relaxation to regular your hand whereas tapping the show. Physical switchgear controls the fundamentals like temperature, fan velocity, and media quantity, and mercifully, there are correct buttons on the steering wheel, too, as a substitute of hit-and-miss haptics.
Porsche’s infotainment system is without doubt one of the finest I’ve used lately, and with the Cayenne, it’s been additional refined to make menu navigation easier and extra intuitive. The navigation can also be a delight in comparison with many different techniques, however naturally, you’re more likely to hook up Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as a substitute. Porsche nonetheless hasn’t made the soar to CarPlay Ultra, regardless of stating its intention to take action again in 2022 and once more a 12 months later. Meaning your cellphone apps don’t seem on the Cayenne’s driver show, and CarPlay can’t deal with the temperature or radio.
Since it is a full-size SUV, there’s loads of area for 4 tall adults, plus a fifth if wanted, and the trunk stretches from 27.6 to 56 cubic ft relying on the place of the rear seats. A frunk underneath the hood provides 3.2 cubic ft, useful for storing the charging cable.
Velocity Demon
At launch, there are three variants of Cayenne Electrical to select from. The bottom mannequin prices from $109,000 and has 435 horsepower, the midrange Cayenne S Electrical begins at $126,300 and produces 657 horsepower, and the flagship Cayenne Turbo Electrical is $163,000 and has 1,139 horsepower with 1,106 lb-ft (1,500 Nm) of torque. Sure, that final stat is totally monumental for any automotive, not to mention an enormous SUV. It provides the Turbo extra energy than a Bugatti Veyron, and with double the torque of a V12-engined Ferrari Purosangue.
Zero-to-sixty instances for the Cayenne household are 4.5, 3.6, and a pair of.4 seconds, respectively. Once more, the Turbo is in a league of its personal, and if something, the zero to 124 mph (200 km/h) is much more absurd, at 7.4 seconds. That matches a Veyron and is about on par with a Tesla Model S Plaid. However actually, evaluating tenths of a second right here is meaningless. Swap the Cayenne Electrical Turbo to Sport Plus mode, have interaction Launch Management, and the result’s genuinely disagreeable. As ever, my recommendation is to avoid wasting tens of 1000’s of {dollars} and purchase the one which goes furthest.
