The plug-in hybrid Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is the most mature expression of the German brand's iconic SUV.
When in 2002 appeared for the first time the Porsche Cayenne there were not a few who were quick to discount her failure. Its appearance itself was criticized and not unjustly, as its designers were asked to incorporate elements of the timeless 911 onto the high body of a SUV, όwhich even had to preserve the outline of its door frames VW Touareg, on whose floor it was based. What blasphemy, really!
At the same time the tight suspension of the first one Cayenne and its low-profile tires didn't match the character of one SUV, at a time when the request for a 4x4 construction was the atopian off road character. Mthe specific options may have provided it with better road characteristics, compared to other cars in its class, but under no circumstances could it be considered that the Cayenne it had the thoroughbred character of a car from Vaisakh.
Of course, the thought of going off-road did not cross your mind, while the low driving position and the strongly curved body did not allow you, moving in the city, to easily distinguish the boundaries of the body as in a typical 4×4 of the era. Nevertheless, the car, not only was crowned with a tremendous commercial success, but in fact it got the German company out of the dire financial situation it was in.
The weaknesses of the first generation were effectively addressed by the company in the next two series. The latter, first presented in 2017, is no longer forced to shares the architecture of the door panels with the Touareg, giving her designers to indulge in Cayenne more dynamic proportions and a strongly sculpted body.
In this third generation Cayenne aluminum has been adopted to an extensive extent, as has o high strength steel, in order to hold the weight of the structure. As for the range of engines, this is now exclusively made up of turbocharged petrol units, as the diesel version is no longer offered, while all versions are equipped with the eight-speed “Tiptronic S” which promises faster response times to changes.
The car was renewed in 2023, with the mild redesign to include minor modifications to the hood, headlights, bumpers, fenders and tailgate. In terms of equipment, it is worth noting that e.gleon all editions are offered with LED Matrix headlights, while the upgraded ones are available as additional equipment HD LED Matrix.
New interior
Passing into her cabin Cayenne we meet the expected levels of quality and luxury, while the redesigned dashboard now refers to Taycan. The center console now houses a series of tactile and physical switches for controlling the climate control system, as well as a rotary control. The driver has a new steering wheel in front of him, the design of which is borrowed from the 911.
Behind the bezel we find a digital instrument panel that refers to the classic design with analog instruments that we are used to from the German company. The 12.3” multimedia system screen is nicely integrated into the dashboard and features a highly visible menuwhile our test car was also equipped with an extra screen (+1,695 euros) in front of the passenger seat.
The latter can access the multimedia system, watch a movie, etc., while the crystal that covers the screen makes it invisible to the driver, so that he is not distracted.
Screens can also be found in the back row of seats in our test car. Passengers there will be accommodated in comfort, except for the middle one who will need to fit his legs in a fairly bulky central tunnel. Finally, in plug-in version of our test, the storage space (545-1.563 litres) is considered satisfactory, although with a relatively high loading threshold, with its floor actually raised 2-3 cm, in relation to the opening of the rear door, having to accommodate the battery and the 75 liter tank below, when in the non-electrified models, the luggage space is configured at 698 liters (1,708 liters with the seats down).
Its range Porsche Cayenne
In the context of the renewal of the said generation the model's powertrains were also upgraded. The base version wears one 3 liter V6 gasoline enginewith output of 353 hp and a maximum torque of 500 Nm (Furthermore 14 horsepower and 50 Nm from the previous version facelift)while a step up we find the Cayenne S which is equipped with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 gasoline engine, which produces 474 hp and 600 Nm of torque.
The range is completed by three plug-in publications. The two of them wear the 3-liter of the basic version, as in our car (Cayenne E-Hybrid) o which for the occasion produces 304 hp, while in the version S E-Hybrid reaches 353 PS.
To the performance of the thermal set is added that of the electric motor, which in the new generation increased from 100 to 130 kW. Thus, for these two versions, the combined power is set at 470 and 519 hp, while the maximum torque at 650 and 750 Nm, respectively. At the top of the range we find the also rechargeable version Turbo E-Hybrid, with performance figures reaching 739 hp and 950 hp respectively Nm of torque!
But how does “our” motor group respond in practice E-Hybrid; It is truly impressive, how the 2,500 kg of construction accelerates from a standstill, with 100 km/h reaching in just 4.9 seconds, and the car's top speed reaching 254 km/h.
The electric motor undoubtedly has an important role in the excellent performance of the car, which can move purely electrically at speeds of up to 135 km/h. The official electric range reaches 66-74 km and in the city 90 km. In practice, 70 electric kilometers are easily an achievable reality, so that most of the daily commute is easily covered.
From now on, once the battery is exhausted, the consumption varies within perfectly reasonable limits, in our case we saw during the test values from 7.2 to 10.8 lt./100 km, with an average value of 8.7 lt.100 km., a number that can clearly skyrocket if one decides to move at a competitive pace.
The heart of the hybrid system is the 25.9 battery kWh (21.8 useful kilowatt-hours), which can be charged within 2.5 hours on a 9.6 charger kW or in 2.2 hours in an “11” charger wallbox. As with most plug-in hybrid vehicles, DC fast charging is not provided.
On the road
Leaving aside the electrified part of her Cayenne, the interest is naturally found in the road characteristics of the car. The driver, when he is in a… fighting mood can choose from the small perotary control on the steering wheel on the steering wheel one of the Sport and Sport Plus programs which accordingly shape the response characteristics of the controls, the 8-speed automatic transmission and of course the engine.
The sound of the last one in the liturgy is also more warlike Sports Plus, where the car unfolds all its road talents. In this case, where the Cayenne of the test was wearing the extra air suspension (charged at 2,815 euros), the suspension becomes considerably firmer (but not disturbing) controlling the body's already limited inclinations even more effectively. Correspondingly, the gearbox changes are clearly faster and if the driver wants absolute control, he can choose the desired ratio through the paddles behind the steering wheel rim.
Steering is direct but also rich in information, the grip of the car impresses, with the beastly tires (285/45 R21 front, 305/40 R21 back) to contribute to the high adhesion margins of the construction, while also the brakes rise to the occasion, being efficient and resistant to hard use.
In conclusion, the rechargeable hybrid Cayenne E-Hybrid it is an extremely friendly car for daily commuting and at the same time economical to use. In addition, if its owner wishes, it will transform into a vehicle that will offer him strong doses of adrenaline.
The whole is extremely refined, compared to previous generations of the model, while the specific version E-Hybrid, not only is it a balanced choice, as far as the part of the offered performances is concerned, in relation to the environmental imperatives of the time, but it also represents the most affordable version of the model. With price 121,150 eurosis on the Greek market about 18,000 euros cheaper than the basic version and by far more affordable than the top Turbo E-Hybrid of 197,320 euros._M.S.
PHOTOS: THANOS ILIOPOULOS
FOR PERFORMANCE//CONSUMPTION//CHARACTER GUIDE
AGAINST OXI TOP ELECTRICAL RANGE
Porsche Cayenne E Hybrid
SYSTEM MOVEMENT: b/K + the/K >MOBILITY (b/K): 2.995 K.from. >POWER (b/K): 304/5.400-6.400 hp/rpm >TORQUE (b/K): 420 Nm/1.400–4,800 rpm. >POWER (the/K): 176 horses >TORQUE (the/K): 460 Nm >COMBINATION POWER: 470 horses >COMBINATION TORQUE: 650 Nm >movement: To them four wheels >KIVOTIO: Automatic 8 relationships >SUSPENSION FRONT/BACK: Multiple links >BATTERY: 25,9/21,8 kWh (gross/net) >ΜΗΚ.xΠΛ.xΥΨ.: 4.930×1.983×1.696 mm. >TAXION: 2.895 mm >LUGGAGE SPACE: 545-1.563 liters >WEIGHT: 2.500 kg >0-100 KM/H: 4.9 min. >FINAL SPEED: 254 km/h >AVERAGE FACTORY CONSUMPTIONEFFICIENCY: 1.5-1.8 lt./100 km > CO. EMISSION2: 33-42 g/km >ELECTRIC AYTONOMIA FACTORY: 66-74 km >CHARGING 0-100% (AC): 140 minutes (11 kW) >PRICE: 121.150 euro