In Porsche, important update of the third generation of the Cayenne, from 2018. In the range, two body styles and six versions, including four plug-in hybrids. Power between 354 hp and 739 hp, prices starting at €117,464
The Cayenne is Porsche’s most commercially successful car (in 2023, the SUV accounted for 30.85% of the German brand’s sales, a figure that corresponds to 95,608 cars, out of a record total of 309,884 units sold…), and the secret behind the success of a manufacturer that adopted the format in 2002, to create a new business line that ended the dependence on the 911 or the Boxster – and, above all, provided access to a source of income that changed the course of the company, guaranteeing it money and future. At the time, it should be remembered, the manufacturer sold less than 30,000 sports cars per year!…
In 21 years of Cayenne, three generations have been produced and almost 1.3 million units have been sold. In this final stretch of 2023, an important update of the SUV presented in 2018, with the modernization of the car benefiting all relevant areas, from design (exterior and interior) to mechanics, from chassis to equipment. The update also benefits the Coupe, presented only in this model edition, but also very successful, as demonstrated, for example, by the fact that it accounts for (almost) 70% of Cayenne sales in our market.
In the new range, already on sale, Cayenne with 354 hp (SUV for €129,115, Coupe for €133,116), or Cayenne S with 475 hp (€165,374 and €170,746). And three plug-in hybrids, which share the electric system with a 130 kW (176 hp) engine, powered by a lithium-ion battery with 25.9 kWh capacity (21.8 kWh usable), instead of the previous one, with 17.9 kWh capacity, mounted in the PHEVs introduced in the third generation of the SUV, which consequently assumes 100% electric driving modes with greater autonomy! The onboard charger power increases from 7.2 kW to 11 km, with charging times reduced from 3h22m to 2h18m.
The three PHEVs are the E-Hybrid with 470 hp (€117,462 and €120,537), the S E Hybrid with 519 hp (€127,381 and €131,688), and the Turbo E-Hybrid with 739 hp (€190,174 and €193,741). This SUV, the most powerful and fastest in the catalog, is also available in the GT package, but only in the Coupe variant (€224,079).
In Catalonia, at the dynamic debut of the new Cayenne on the Iberian Peninsula, an opportunity to experience only the three least powerful versions. In the basic version, the 3.0-liter turbo gasoline engine gains 13 hp and 50 Nm, providing a maximum of 354 hp and 500 Nm, enough performance for 5.7 seconds in the 0-100 km/h and a top speed of 248 km/h. In the S variant, a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo with 474 hp and 600 Nm, instead of the previous 3.0-liter turbo V6 with 441 hp and 550 Nm, 4.7 seconds in the 0-100 km/h and a top speed of 273 km/h (compared to the previous 5.2 seconds and 265 km/h).
In the E-Hybrid, the combined output is 470 hp and 650 Nm (4.9 seconds and 254 km/h), but the most outstanding fact is the increase from 44 km to 74 km in the EV driving program’s autonomy, according to the parameters of the European WLTP homologation. And, according to this standard, the average consumption is reduced to less than half, from 3.2 l/100 km to 1.5 l/100 km, while CO2 emissions, also considering the average values, decrease from 72 g/km to 33 g/km! On the other hand, in terms of performance, there are marginal improvements, with an additional 1 km/h in top speed (254 km/h) and 0.1 seconds less in the 0-100 km/h acceleration (4.9 seconds).
Porsche Driver Experience
In the modernization of the Cayenne’s interior, the Taycan was adopted as the model to follow, with the introduction of the Porsche Driver Experience in the range in 2019, with the electric sedan (the brand also used this intelligent panel digitization formula for the third generation of the Panamera, which it recently presented). The system combines monitors for instrumentation (12.6”), multimedia equipment (12.3”), and front passenger (10.9”) – the third one is optional, has the same type of touch control as the second one, and is positioned above the glove compartment.
The changes in the interior extend to the console between the front seats, starting with the relocation of the gear selector to the dashboard, to the right of the steering wheel. The system still has paddles to shift gears. The decision freed up space for the inclusion of new controls for the climate control, physical or haptic (i.e., touch-sensitive). Also making its debut in the Porsche’s best-selling model is the start button to the left of the steering wheel, shared with the 911, which also includes the driving mode selector.
In the hybrid versions, there are programs that optimize the system’s operation (Hybrid), also for maintaining minimum energy levels in the battery, and activate EV (Electric) driving, up to a maximum speed of 135 km/h, excluding only the Normal mode, which is present in all Cayenne models (Off Road, Sport, and Sport Plus). By pressing the Sport Response Button in the center of this rotary control, the engine, transmission, or suspension are prepared for 20 seconds of maximum acceleration capacity. Optionally, the Porsche Driver Experience with head-up display is available.
(Very) optimized chassis
Porsche has also optimized the SUV’s chassis! Cayenne, Cayenne S, and Cayenne E-Hybrid share a new version of the PASM suspension with electronic damping control: the system combines steel springs and two-valve dampers, allowing for more capable and autonomous control of both compression and extension, resulting in improved ride comfort and agility in corners due to the minimized body movements. The S E-Hybrid and Turbo E-Hybrid feature active air suspension with two chambers and two valves per damper, a system that also increases steering precision and responsiveness, and is sensitive to the selected driving mode, resulting in noticeable changes in behavior in Normal, Sport, or Sport Plus modes. All versions come with all-wheel drive as standard, while torque vectoring plus, rear axle steering, and active stabilizer bars are only available on the top-of-the-line versions.
Not surprisingly, Porsche has also increased and improved the equipment of the Cayenne. The most relevant novelty is the HD-Matrix LED system, which greatly enhances the lighting potential (more than 32 pixels per front headlight), with positive impacts on comfort and driving safety, important qualities in such a powerful and fast SUV. The top-of-the-line version has 740 hp, 60 hp more than its predecessor, goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 295 km/h! Additionally, it can travel up to 73 km in EV mode, only 5 km less than the PHEV with greater autonomy (S E-Hybrid). In the GT package version, only available in the Coupe configuration, the performance is even more exciting (0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 305 km/h). These are explained, for example, by the specific aerodynamics, the titanium exhaust with central tailpipes, wider tires, lowered air suspension (10 mm), and carbon fiber roof, rear deflector, and diffuser. The brake discs are PCCB ceramic and have red calipers.
The most powerful version in the history of the Porsche SUV was not available for testing in Catalonia, Spain. Therefore, to start the conversation, we selected an E-Hybrid and prioritized the Electric mode to confirm the increased range promised by the battery with higher capacity (77 km to 90 km, depending on driving), which only stops when all stored energy is consumed. Used moderately (meaning without excessive accelerations), it allowed us to cover several dozen kilometers! The electric motor shuts off whenever we activate Sport or Sport Plus mode, not waking up even when we release the accelerator pedal, allowing the Porsche to move freely. In the Hybrid mode, there is much more action, especially when exploring the manually controlled sequential function with paddle shifters on the eight-speed gearbox (Tiptronic S is available on all models in the range).
This formula also enhances the sporty driving of the Cayenne with the 354 hp V6, air suspension, and wider rear tires (22-inch wheels)… The new all-wheel-drive SUV surprised us with its agility, stability, and precise chassis, exceptional steering and superb brakes, and responsive engine. Finally, we tested the S with the 475 hp V8. Once again, optimal dynamic performance, with the firmness of the damping never compromising comfort or smoothness of the ride, and the dimensions and weight not affecting the sporty performance. Imagine the value of the more powerful models in the range!…
