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Porsche has applied a heavy update to its Cayenne SUV in a bid to keep the flagship 4x4 fresh before it begins the transition to electric power. The German company more famous for its sports cars has confirmed an electric Cayenne will arrive in the next few years, and the brand has refreshed the petrol- and hybrid-powered versions that are filling the gap until the electric model is revealed. We put it to the test.
Fresh design features
In essence, the new Cayenne is much the same as its predecessor, so both SUV and ‘Coupe’ have much the same basic silhouette as before. However, the new car is set apart by new bumpers, a tweaked bonnet and modified front wings, as well as some new paint colours and alloy wheel designs. Beyond that, the most important external upgrade is the new automatic LED headlight system.
Inside, however, the changes are much more significant. Porsche has fitted a new curved digital instrument display from the Taycan, and there’s a new start button, too. The gear selector has also changed, adopting the toggle-switch form seen in the 911 sports car and moving away from its traditional position on the centre console to the dashboard.
That move has freed up space for a new climate control panel, which looks more modern than before, even if the glossy black plastic means it attracts fingerprints with irritating ease. But perhaps more interesting is the optional new passenger display, which effectively puts a second touchscreen in the dashboard on the passenger side. Through that display, which is specially made so the driver can’t see it, the passenger can access most of the features found in the central touchscreen, as well as video and TV streaming capabilities.
Spacious family transport
Although it feels as though much about the Cayenne has changed, much has also stayed the same. Yes, there’s a new dashboard, but it’s just as solidly built as before, and all the switches, buttons and panels feel as premium and as robust as they ever were. It’s a classy place to be, with plenty of leather and some really tactile metal and plastic trim, and it’s roomy, too.
As before, the Cayenne is available in a choice of two body styles – the standard SUV and the sportier Coupe shape – and though both are spacious, the SUV is the more practical choice. With around 700 litres of space and a more useful boot shape, the SUV is enormously practical, and it has slightly more rear headroom than the Coupe. That means although four adults can sit in comfort in either car, taller rear-seat passengers will have a little more clearance in the SUV.
Choice of engines
Once again, the Cayenne – both the Coupe and the conventional SUV models – will be offered with a choice of powertrains, all of which will have some form of petrol engine. Diesel engines dropped off the Porsche radar some years ago, but there will be a few hybrid versions of the Cayenne to choose from.
However, around half of those new variants are not expected to launch until later in 2023, so for now we’re left with just three different powerplants. The ‘basic’ option is a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 353hp, but there’s also an E-Hybrid model that pairs that engine with a 176hp plug-in hybrid system. The 470hp total power output is impressive, but arguably more important is the new, bigger battery, with 25.9kWh of capacity. That means a fully charged Cayenne E-Hybrid will cover around 80km without using a drop of petrol – at least according to the official economy test. In the real world, you’re looking at about 50-60km, but that’s still a useful amount, particularly if you only live 20km from work.
As a result, the E-Hybrid can be hugely economical for those whose lifestyles suit the powertrain, but for the rest of us it’s still a compelling option. The power output is plentiful, and the V6 engine is smooth and sporty in equal measure. But for the sportiest version of the updated Cayenne available so far, customers will have to choose the S model. Now fitted with a V8 petrol engine, rather than the old V6, the S has 474hp, with which it can get from 0-100km/h in less than five seconds. It sounds great, and it’s startlingly fast.
Same brilliant driving experience
The Cayenne has always been one of the best premium SUVs to drive, and the new model is no different. Admittedly, Porsche has tweaked the suspension in a bid to make the car more comfortable, and while the engineers’ efforts have not been entirely in vain, the difference is small. The Cayenne always was pretty comfortable, and most customers won’t notice the very minor improvement.
However, the really impressive part of the Cayenne’s driving experience is the handling, and keen drivers will be pleased to note the new model’s search for comfort has made no difference to the road-holding. The hybrid models’ brakes feel a bit strange, but otherwise the Cayenne is exemplary, with sublime steering and an uncanny ability to remain almost completely flat in corners – particularly in the sportier driving modes. For such a big car, it’s remarkably good fun.
Top of the class
Like its predecessor, the new Cayenne is easily the best road-going premium SUV on the market, merging impeccable quality with fabulous road manners and some brilliant engines, as well as ample space. The S model is a particular highlight, what with its new V8 engine, but the E-Hybrid is the car that will suit most buyers. Impressively powerful, potentially cheap to run and, at just under €100,000, much cheaper to buy than its siblings, it’s the obvious choice for Porsche customers in Ireland.
When is the Cayenne going electric?
Porsche has promised to introduce a new electric Cayenne sometime around 2025, and although that car will be an all-new model designed from the ground up, Porsche says the electric car will be offered alongside this now-current Cayenne. As a result, it’s thought this version could soldier on until around 2027 or later.