2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe review

2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe

The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is an interesting prospect as not only one of a handful of large sloped-roof premium SUVs, but also one of the few that offer that body style with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Serving up a combined 346kW and 650Nm from a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine and electric motor, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe promises to blend performance with practicality, while also providing fuel-saving benefits.

But is it a case of too many ingredients spoiling the recipe? And is this a niche no one is asking for? Let’s find out.

How much is a Porsche Cayenne?

Porsche’s large SUV line-up kicks off from $138,700 before on-road costs, but that’s for the base Cayenne SUV.

Opting for the more stylish Cayenne Coupe raises pricing to $146,700, while opting for the plug-in version – like I have here – brings costs up to $160,300. All prices are before on-road costs and options – which every Porsche demands a handful of, so expect a step up from these starting points.

Buyers can spend all the way up to $297,200 for the Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe, which swaps the petrol V6 for a V8 to deliver a seismic 544kW/750Nm output.

However, the base Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe has ‘just’ 346kW/650Nm from the 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 and single electric motor combination.

And as far as entry-level variants go, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe justifies its Porsche badge easily, though more on that in the driving section a little later.

In terms of rivals, there really aren’t that many plug-in hybrid premium large SUVs available, but buyers might cross-shop with a BMW X5 or Range Rover Velar.

The BMW X5 50e M Sport will set buyers back $149,900, while the Range Rover Velar PHEV can be had from $132,153, and both offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain that offers up a short all-electric driving range like the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe.

If buyers are more swayed by the coupe-like styling rather than the PHEV powertrain, maybe a Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe should be on the consideration list.

For around the same price as the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe, though, buyers will only get to a GLE450 grade priced at $159,900 and serving up 280kW/500Nm from a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol engine.

When spending this sum of money for a large premium family SUV, buyers might be more swayed by badge cred than value, but it’s still good to know what you are getting for your spend.

In the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, buyers are treated to 20-inch wheels, gloss-black exterior highlights, dual-exhaust outlets, keyless entry, push-button start, a head-up display, silver-coloured exterior badging, automatic headlights, dual-zone climate control, a fixed panoramic glass roof, rear privacy glass, front sports seats with heating, and rear sports seats.

New in the Cayenne update introduced late last year is a revised exterior design that includes the standard fitment of matrix LED headlights, as well as a massive 12.65-inch curved digital instrument cluster.

Opting for the E-Hybrid nets buyers body-coloured wheel arches, quad exhaust outlets, black-backed tailgate badging, variant-specific badging, and a pre-climatisation function.

However, being a Porsche, this test car is fitted with a litany of optional extras adding an another $46,720 to the asking price – or more than 25 per cent of the base cost of the car.

And while some of these options, such as the $800 adaptive sports seats and $600 Porsche logo puddle lights, are reasonable enough, there are other items like the $10,510 22-inch wheels and $5970 sports exhaust that seem a tad excessive.

There are also a number of items that you would expect from a model starting at $160,000 such as a heated steering wheel, carbon interior inlays, branded headrests, painted exterior mirrors, a Bose sound system, and interior ambient lighting that probably should be included at this price.

Other options not included on this car, but really should be standard on a model in this price range, include ventilated front seats, soft-close doors, stainless steel pedals, and a full-leather interior.

However, keep in mind that this is all part of the Porsche buying experience.

These expensive and not-so-expensive options do not detract from the car or the driving experience, because you still have a large plug-in hybrid SUV that will ferry the family around in comfort and style, and can turn up the wick for when the roads get twisty.

As it stands, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe justifies its price because of its badge, and the pedigree and history it brings in building sports cars for over 93 years.

While true, this is a large SUV and not a sports car, and in the driving section I’ll detail exactly how capable the Cayenne Coupe is dynamically.

How big is a Porsche Cayenne?

Measuring 4930mm long, 2194mm wide with mirrors or 1983mm without, 1674mm tall and with a 2895mm wheelbase, the Cayenne Coupe is firmly in large SUV territory, which means plenty of space for five occupants and a capacious boot.

The driver and front passenger have access to electronically adjustable seats that are easy to get into the right position thanks to additional adjustability afforded by the optional seats, while the driver also has a tilting and telescoping steering wheel column.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the seats in my time with the Cayenne, though, which felt a little too firm and flat. I would have liked to see more bolster around the sides and support in the upper-back region, which is something hopefully alleviated by the no-cost comfort seat option.

Maybe it’s just me, but for a large, comfortable, and premium SUV like the Cayenne Coupe, I want a seat that is more plush and less racy, but of course, your mileage will vary.

And while the seats weren’t all that comfy, the driver ergonomics are.

All the touchpoints are suitably premium, including the thin-rimmed steering wheel, knurled metal switches, and soft-touch door handles.

I will say, the cabin is a little unimaginative with the swathes of black leather and piano-black finishes, but the optional carbon-fibre inlays do a lot to break up the monotony. Of course, Porsche’s customisation program means you can opt for a variety of different colours and finishes.

Storage options in the front are plentiful, with large door pockets able to accommodate water bottles, two cupholders, a little central storage cubby, a wireless smartphone charging tray, and more space under the centre armrest.

The cabin feels light and airy because Porsche has repositioned the gear shifter to the dashboard, just behind the steering wheel, which makes the interior feel much more open.

The glasshouse also plays a part here too, with small windows next to the side mirrors aiding visibility, as well as a generous panoramic glass roof.

Don’t be dissuaded by the sloped roof either, because room in the second row is generous, whether fitting two car seats like I did or even for full-sized adults.

In the rear, amenities include bottle holders in the doors and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders – all finished in a quality manner befitting a Porsche.

The rear seats can feel a little claustrophobic, though, given the thick C-pillars and shrunken rearmost window, but head, leg and shoulder room don’t suffer because of the body style.

As is the case with most models, the middle seat in the back is a touch tight, but buyers can opt to have their Cayenne in four-seat configuration at no extra cost.

I primarily used the car with my family, though, and I found the rear doors to be a little too large with the Cayenne Coupe needing a little more space either side to open wide enough to put the kids in or pull them out.

While not a deal-breaker by any stretch, it is something to keep in mind if parking around your school, childcare, or garage is tight.

Open the boot, and there is 434 litres of volume, which sounds decent, but puts the large Cayenne behind smaller medium SUVs when it comes to boot capacity.

The length of that floor is not that generous, so when carting around a full-sized pram like me, I had to position it horizontally as the boot would not close when positioned vertically.

The boot floor does lift up, but because of the high-voltage components for the hybrid system, there isn’t any extra storage.

Still, fold the rear seats down and the Cayenne Coupe’s boot capacity expands to 1344L, making it a little more practical for lugging around large and awkward items.

Does the Porsche Cayenne have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Fitted with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the Porsche Cayenne has functionality for both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In my time with the car, I found the connection to my Google Pixel Fold phone rock solid, never dropping out or needing to be reconnected regardless of location.

The infotainment system has functionality for satellite navigation, digital radio, and Bluetooth streaming.

And one of the most useful features is found with the in-built satellite navigation, which can overlay an area over the map that shows you how far you can travel on electric-only power, meaning you can plan ahead and ensure you have enough juice to make it to the next charging location.

The software for the infotainment system feels fast, fluid and snappy, switching functions without any hiccups.

And – I feel like this doesn’t get enough of a mention in reviews – the layout and user interface are designed in an easy to understand and intuitive manner, so there is hardly a learning curve and all functions are exactly where you’d expect them to be.

The infotainment is customisable, so you can place your most used functions front and centre for easy access.

The Cayenne Coupe comes with Porsche Connected Services, which will contact emergency services in the event of a serious collision, as well as allow owners to remotely monitor vehicle data from a smartphone app.

There is also a Connect Care software suite that features a breakdown call function, as well as vehicle diagnostics to alert for any maintenance or repair needs.

Is the Porsche Cayenne a safe car?

Porsche’s third-generation Cayenne has no official ANCAP crash-test rating.

In fact, ANCAP is yet to crash-test any Porsche model including the popular Macan mid-size SUV or perennial 911 sports car despite featuring ratings for less popular models like the BMW iX.

The current-generation Cayenne does feature a crash-test rating from Euro NCAP, where it achieved a maximum five stars, but testing was done on a wagon body style and not a Coupe.

That test, completed in 2017 when the third-generation Cayenne was new, has since expired.

Still, with the front end of the Cayenne wagon and Coupe being similar, some of the crash-test results could carry over.

For reference, the Cayenne scored strongly in the adult and child occupant protection tests, notching a 95 and 80 per cent score respectively. The pedestrian protection test yielded a 73 per cent score, while the safety assist category was the lowest scoring at 62 per cent.

What safety technology does the Porsche Cayenne have?

Despite the lack of ANCAP safety rating, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe still comes with a long list of safety equipment – both active and passive.

There is autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane-change assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, and a surround-view monitor.

The Cayenne is also built with an active bonnet system, rollover detection, and 10 airbags covering both rows.

However, a big omission on the driver assist spec list is traffic sign recognition, which is offered to vehicles even a quarter of the price of the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe.

Regardless, all the safety systems in Porsche’s large plug-in hybrid SUV functioned well in my week with the car, and I’ll especially call out the adaptive cruise control that was smooth and compliant in all scenarios including heavy stop/start traffic.

How much does the Porsche Cayenne cost to run?

Like all new Porsches, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe comes with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, as well as an eight-year/160,000km assurance period for high-voltage components.

Disappointingly, Porsche’s warranty falls short of the industry standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre offering available to buyers of a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.

Scheduled service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

However, potential owners should take note that maintenance won’t come cheap with the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe, as each year will incur an $895 oil maintenance and $1500 inspection fee.

On top of this, every two years there will be a $350 brake fluid change charge, every four years or 45,000km the spark plugs need to be assessed for $830, every four years or 60,000km the transfer gear oil needs to be replaced for $495, and every four years or 120,000km the air cleaner filter needs to be replaced for $245.

This means, for the first five years, servicing costs for the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe will run you at least $2395, $2745, $3225, $3240, and $2395 each, totalling $14,000.

For reference, the plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW X5 will incur a $3450 charge over that same time period, the Range Rover Velar will be $2100.

As for a Mercedes-Benz GLE, maintenance will run you $7585 over a five-year period.

The Porsche is also more expensive to insure, costing $4547 annually based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

For reference, a BMW X5 50e will cost $3330, a Range Rover Velar PHEV is $2617, and a Mercedes-Benz GLE450 Coupe is $3658.

Is the Porsche Cayenne fuel-efficient?

Officially, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe seems quite frugal, returning a fuel consumption average of 1.9 litres per 100 kilometres, and an electric consumption average of 24.6kW/100km.

However, in reality, efficiency is a different story.

Keep in mind fuel economy figures for a plug-in hybrid are always a bit iffy because if you never charge the battery, fuel useage will shoot right up, and if your travels are under the electric-only driving range, you may never use a single drop of fuel.

In my week with the car, I was averaging 4.0L/100km, while my energy consumption was a staggering 35.8kWh/100km.

Keep in mind, though, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe tips the scales at just under 2.5 tonnes, making it a particularly heavy vehicle that weighs more than even a Ford Ranger Raptor dual-cab ute.

Of course, this extra bulk is because of a V6 petrol engine, 25.9kWh battery, and electric motor.

However, the advertised 86km of all-electric driving range was closer to 70km, managing my route from home to childcare to work, and reverse, for one day.

When stacked up against its on-paper figures, sure, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe might not seem all that efficient, but look at it another way.

In my week with the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe, its average fuel consumption is about the same as a plugless Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and one of them (the Toyota) can’t perform nearly as competently as the Porsche.

The caveat here, though, is that you have to remember to plug the system in to charge.

What is the Porsche Cayenne like to drive?

Porsches have always delivered on driving engagement, and a large SUV like the Cayenne is no exception.

Yes, it weighs nearly 2.5 tonnes (2425kg unladen, to be precise), and this mass can be felt especially around the corners, but the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is as sharp as any hot hatch in the bends.

For starters, the powertrain is deceptively tractable despite its complexity.

With a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine and electric motor hybrid set-up delivering a combined 346kW/650Nm to all four wheels, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is proper quick too, needing just 4.9 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h.

And sure, a V8 will have more charm and character, but this V6 is still undeniably swift, and makes this Porsche SUV quicker than a lot of the hot hatch cohort too.

The test car was also fitted with an optional sports exhaust system, increasing the noise and burble on overrun, but the sound is severely muted from inside the cabin and doesn’t add much aural sensation, so maybe skip this one if you’re looking to stretch your optional equipment spend.

And while there is enjoyment in driving a 2.5-tonne family SUV fast in a straight line, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe also has another party trick up its sleeve with a plug-in powertrain.

Serving up 86km of claimed driving range from a full charge, it means – in theory – during the weekly commute, you can putter around on electric-only power, but on the weekend when an opportunity presents itself, you can have some fun with the petrol engine.

The changeover between petrol and electric power is seamless, with only the rumble and growl of the petrol engine cluing you in on what is happening under the bonnet.

It’s a smart system too, as even in E-Power driving mode (which prioritises electric power), if you poke the throttle for a sudden burst of speed to, say, overtake, the engine will kick in and thrust you forward without any delay.

In terms of PHEV models, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is as smooth as they come, balancing both petrol and electric power well and giving you what you’d expect in any situation.

And the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe isn’t just confined to the one E-Power setting either, with Hybrid (a mix of both electric and petrol power depending on the situation), Sport (firming up suspension and throttle response for the petrol engine), and Sport Plus (dialling everything up to maximum) also on offer.

Porsche also includes an Offroad driving mode, but in my time with the car, I wasn’t able to test the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe’s capabilities away from the blacktop.

Most telling from these various settings is the fact that steering feel is never adjusted, meaning the tiller feels the same from E-Power all the way to Sport Plus modes.

This is a testament to Porsche’s fine tuning, where the Cayenne’s steering is light enough to not be a chore around town, but communicative enough to be fun when throwing it around a corner.

However, the one area where the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe feels a little unpolished would be the ride comfort.

With steel springs and Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM) technology in tow, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe does a good job at soaking up the bumps and ruts of Melbourne streets, but the optional 22-inch wheels and 2.5-tonne weight really put the suspension to work.

I will say, most of the time, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe glides along smoothly and without fuss, but it’s those situations where there’s an unexpected dip or uneven road surface that can upset the cabin and occupants inside.

Ultimately, the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe has a foot in two camps as an electric commuter car and a petrol-guzzling performance SUV, and does a good job at each while also not excelling at either.

It’s also a Porsche, which means it is supremely capable of tackling a twisty road and offering a level of driver engagement not seen in this large SUV class of vehicle.

Can a Porsche Cayenne tow?

Though the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is a large, premium SUV, it features a surprisingly capable 3500kg braked towing capacity that matches the likes of heavy-duty workhorses such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

Keep in mind, though, with a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, towing at maximum capacity will severely drain the battery or increase fuel consumption by a large margin.

Still, a 3500kg braked towing capacity is more than enough for a decently-sized boat, horse float, or caravan.

Buyers will also need to option a trailer hitch for an additional $1850 if looking to tow.

Should I buy a Porsche Cayenne?

Is there a market for something like the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe? Yes, it very clearly carves out its own niche in the premium large SUV space, albeit it is a small one.

The model will undoubtedly find an audience due to its Porsche badge alone, but buyers thinking of getting one should be aware that underneath that there is still a capable, comfortable, and fun vehicle to be had.

Is it the best family car Porsche makes? Not by a long shot. Is it the most efficient? Nope. Is it the best-handling and fun-to-drive? No.

But the Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe is competent enough in all areas to make it at least worth a consideration – granted, of course, you can afford one with all the options you want.

How do I buy a Porsche Cayenne? The next steps.

Potential buyers looking to purchase a Porsche Cayenne should next head to the Porsche Australia website to spec out a model of their choosing.

Here, Porsche will list all available options and pricing, so you can see if your desired configuration falls within your budget.

From there, buyers can send the spec list to their nearest Porsche dealership, to speak to a sales consultant about delivery timing.

Otherwise, buyers can also browse Drive Marketplace Porsche cars for sale, and to stay up to date with all the latest news, click here.

The post 2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe review appeared first on Drive.

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