The best premium hybrid: 2024 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid – Review
Hybrids are growing in popularity here in the Philippines for a myriad of reasons. There’s fuel efficiency, but most importantly, there is a no-coding policy for hybrids (well, at least until 2030). This means that not only do you save on the fuel pump, but you can also use your car anytime you want.
That is also the reason why more and more car manufacturers are introducing new hybrid models locally. It’s as if a whole new market has emerged, and the Philippines has truly embraced it. However, if you’ve noticed, aside from EVs, there isn’t a lot of premium brand offerings for hybrids (HEVs), well asides from Lexus, and well the Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 (its M-Hybrid Boost Technology passes local laws to be considered a hybrid), there really isn’t any other option. That is until Porsche Philippines finally decided to bring in the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid.
On a personal note, I have been curious to drive the Cayenne E-Hybrid for a long time now. I wanted to see what Porsche could do with its hybrid technology, both for performance and fuel efficiency. Regarding the performance aspect, I have no doubt that it will do well, considering it took a lot of its technology from the Porsche 918 days.
Exterior
Let’s start from the outside. Porsche has given the Cayenne a heavy facelift, well, at least on what they have done to the car. Unmistakeably, it’s still a Cayenne and is still a Porsche. So, whether you look at first-generation Cayenne or current-generation Cayenne, it still looks very familiar.
That’s not to say it’s a bad thing. It only means that the Cayenne, with its proven design language, will age well and not look old very quickly, unlike a lot of modern cars nowadays. It’s a recipe that works for Porsche with their 911, and it’s definitely going to work here.
Remember what I said about the E-Hybrid technology from the 918? Well, aside from the tech, the Cayenne E-Hybrid also has some iconic design cues from the 918, more particularly the lime green outline on the Cayenne and E-Hybrid badges and lime green brake calipers. Nice touch. The lime green might be wild to think about on paper, but Porsche has executed it very well here and does not look out of place at all.
Interior
When I said Porsche gave the Cayenne a heavy facelift, it’s the inside where you will find massive differences compared to past-generation models. Gone is the traditional turnkey starter, and replaced with (booo!) a standard start/stop button. The shifter is now mounted beside the touchscreen to free up space in the middle for the climate control and additional cubbyholes. While the start/stop button and shifter placements may not be ideal for Porsche purists, the material quality is still impeccable, and it is a great place to be in.
On the driver’s seat, you are presented with a 12.6-inch crystal-clear curved gauge cluster lifted directly from the Taycan. It’s heavily customizable and can show your maps, battery percentage, and other desired information. Should you want a certain 911 feel, you can also switch the display to show five different clusters akin to a 911.
The 12.3-inch Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system is responsive and intuitive to use, and various settings and options are easily accessible. It’s how an infotainment system should be, and other car manufacturers should take notes. Sit in the passenger seat, and then you have access to a third display with a privacy screen for the driver to avoid distractions. While some may find it a bit pointless, which is understandable, it is still quite fun for the passenger to have a certain amount of control, such as seeing the speedometer and having their own g-force meter. However, I could imagine fights between the driver and passenger as this display also gives the passenger power to switch music if they please. Speaking of music, the Bose Surround Sound system does a great job playing various music genres. It’s not perfect, but it caters to a wide range of music tastes and is a great all-arounder. This overall assortment of features and tech is what Porsche calls the “Porsche Driver Experience.”
Rear seats are also very spacious, and passengers can stretch out their legs and feel relaxed on a long road trip, even with various seat positions from the driver. There is gobs of legroom and decently sized storage areas for your phone or various items. The Cayenne e-Hybrid also has quad-zone climate control, and quad-zone ventilated seats so that everyone can adjust the temperature to their liking and comfort. One thing is certain, whether you are a driver or a passenger, everyone would be happy to be inside.
Driving and Performance
Start the Cayenne e-hybrid, and you are greeted by silence and serenity as long as you have enough charge on your battery. It will prioritize starting and driving on E-Power whenever possible. Its Plug-In Hybrid configuration makes this the ideal vehicle for any type of driving demands and situations. Electric in the city and a powerful internal combustion engine for longer journeys. Interested in power figures? Well, the Cayenne e-hybrid has a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 mated to an electric motor and makes a combined 463 hp and 650 Nm of torque. Zero to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds, and a top speed of 253 km/h. Incredible figures for a family SUV, alright.
An adaptive air suspension governs Footwork through Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). It is height adjustable, depending on the drive mode, and you can also adjust it to your liking and preference on the fly. Of course, if you leave it to its own devices, it will adjust accordingly, depending on your speed.
Around town, it’s as if what you’d expect out of a family SUV. Quiet, serene, comfortable, and relatively easy to putter around. Crystal-clear 360-degree cameras help you maneuver through tight spaces and parking spots. Should you run out of battery, the Cayenne E-Hybrid will remain at one percent charge and act like a regular hybrid vehicle. So no, it’s not like other PHEVs, wherein once your battery runs out, it will barely switch to electric. That said, maximum fuel efficiency is still achieved with a topped-up battery. However, I do wish that you could also adjust its regenerative braking to enable one-pedal driving as an option.
A great thing about the Cayenne E-Hybrid is the availability of two specific features for its hybrid system. E-Hold, and E-Charge. E-Hold holds the battery to a particular percentage when you turn it on, while E-Charge charges the battery using the V6 motor. This enables you to have control over your battery percentage so that you can use E-Power (EV mode) later on, at your preference. This is particularly useful during long journeys, especially when there is no charging station at your destination.
That said, this is still a Porsche, and that brand comes with a dynamic driving heritage. When the Cayenne E-Hybrid is switched to Sport+ mode, the suspension goes to its lowest maximum setting, the exhaust valves open up, and the transmission also shifts more aggressively. Handling is also very capable, which makes it very fun to drive on the twisties. However, its quiet NVH levels and leather-lined interior remind you that it is still primarily a great daily driver with a good sprinkle of sporty intentions. It definitely is no track day warrior or a focused performance SUV. There’s the Cayenne Turbo GT for that specific purpose.
Related: The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is now available in the Philippines
Verdict
The Cayenne E-Hybrid now gives premium buyers an electrified option for the higher-end spectrum of vehicles other than EVs. Its practicality, comfort, and performance ensure little to no compromise for both the driver and passengers. While we can’t divulge the price here, its new pricing concept, thanks to Executive Order No. 62 (S.2024) that covers the exemption of HEVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) from import duty, only makes this hybrid crossover an even more tempting proposition.
