Updating its third generation in 2024, the Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid delivers the usual efficiency gains and way more driving enjoyment than you thought possible!

What’s Good: Completely belies its size and weight to drive well. Quick reacting front-end, little body roll, intuitive driving behavior. Beautiful!

What Could Improve: I wish Porsche weighted up the steering more in the Sport plus driving mode. And it’s down on cargo space, considering its size.

My Conclusion: You get a SUV that provides comfort for four adults and 53 MPGe. You also get sharp steering, fast responses and great handling. Mega SUV!

OVERVIEW

Porsche updated its third generation Cayenne for 2024 and delivered three plug-in hybrid versions, which Porsche calls e-hybrid. This base Cayenne hybrid gets the exact same battery pack and electric motor as the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo e-hybrids, but less muscle from the V-6. You also get 44 miles of EV driving range according to my own testing and a 53 MPGe overall.

Powertrain

And that fuel economy number comes from a total of 463 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft of torque. The single, twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 contributes the most horsepower to that final number, 300. The electric motor contributes as much as 174 horsepower. But electricity wins on torque. The motor contributes as much as 339 lb.-ft, the most the 3.0-liter offers is 309 lb.-ft. How about that!

A 25.9 kWh battery pack supplies the energy for the electric side of this plug-in hybrid powertrain. And, when fully charged, it provides enough juice to chug the e-hybrid along for 29 miles, according to the EPA. According to my own test, it will do so for 44 miles.

And that’s in rain or snow or whatever. After channeling through an eight-speed automatic transmission, power goes to all four wheels. Every single 2024 Porsche Cayenne includes standard all-wheel-drive.

Of course, Porsche included several drive modes to adjust the powertrain as you choose, including an EV mode. But my personal favorite quickly became sport driving mode. The fast-reacting transmission quickly downshifted and kept the Porsche party moving nice and quickly. And, when things calm down, the V-6 runs so smooth and quiet, you barely hear it running.

Chassis

Mercedes-Benz and BMW both offer a plug-in hybrid version of their equivalent sized SUVs to the Cayenne. And for less money, both provide the same or better performance in a lot of categories. When it comes to chassis, however, the Cayenne stands alone with its brilliant driving behavior.

Part of it comes from the optional equipment of my test car. It had the rear-axle steering, a $1280 option and a $2390 air-suspension. But all Cayennes also get adjustable shock absorbers, and—critically—an army of vehicle dynamics engineers that care quite a lot about dynamic performance. I tip my hat to them.

Despite weighing 5348 lbs., the Cayenne keeps body roll to a minimum, responds quickly to my inputs, delivers close to neutral chassis balance, and holds the road impressively well. In short, it’s fun.

Fun! People typically reserve that world for other car categories. But here, the intuitiveness of the drive and the ease of reaching the lateral limit—not to mention the generous amounts of electric torque— makes the Cayenne an entertaining partner around your favorite back roads. It’s a joy.

And one that settles down nicely when the driving gets more everyday mundane. It’s perfectly comfortable in the everyday. And more fun than anyone would expect otherwise.

Details and Inside

Considering the fact that it’s nye impossible to get any Porsche Cayenne hybrid under six figures, the interior needs to feel upscale. Thankfully, it does. A 12.6-in screen displays the digital instrument cluster. And a 12.3-in center display showcases all pertinent information at the top of the center console. You do also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless phone charger too. That goes with plenty of usb-c ports sprinkled throughout, and the occasional cigarette lighter style plugs for the old school among us.

Porsche wrapped the standard heated front seats in leather but getting them to ventilate as well costs an extra $850. If you pay $3280 for the premium package, Porsche also heats the second row seats and adds a BOSE sound system and panoramic moonroof, among other things. Those second row seats also offer enough space and comfort for adults for longer trips, no problem.

The Cayenne e-hybrid comes up a bit short in cargo space, however. You get 26 cubic feet behind the second row, adequate, but that only increases to 55 cubic feet with them folded. That’s behind the competition. The BMW X5 xDrive50e, for example, provides 71 cubic feet of space with the second row folded.

in conclusion

You pay a premium for the Porsche name. And you pay a price in limited cargo space. Yet, the Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid delivers such a pleasing drive, that all those nit-picky things quickly fade into a distant memory as you smile from ear-to-ear.

Yes, you can enjoy driving a plug-in hybrid. And yes, you can enjoy driving a bigger crossover SUV. Indeed, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid delivers on the most important trait in the enthusiast world.

COMPETITORS

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e
BMW X5 xDrive50e

SPECIFICATIONS

2024 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid: 5-door, 5-seat, crossover SUV
Base price: $99,195
Price as Tested: $113,145

Powertrain: Turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 plug-in-hybrid
Engine Power: 300 horsepower between 5400-6400 rpm
Engine Torque: 309 lb.-ft between 1400-4800 rpm
Electric Motor Power: 174 horsepower at 3200 rpm
Electric Motor Torque: 339 lb.-ft between at 2690 rpm
Total System Power: 463 horsepower
Total System Torque: 479 lb.-ft
Transmissions: eight-speed automatic transmission
Drive: all-wheel-drive

Fuel Economy in MPG and range
53 combined MPGE
22 combined MPG
All electric range: 29 miles

Dimensions
Length: 194.1 inches
Width: 78.6 inches (incl. sideview mirrors folded)
Height: 66.8 inches
Wheelbase: 114.0 inches

Weights and Capacities
Curb weight: 5348 lbs.  
Interior volume: NA cu ft
Cargo volume (seats up/folded): 26/55 cu ft

Calculated weight to power (lbs./HP): 11.6:1
Mfr’s claimed 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
Mfr’s claimed Top Speed: 158 mph
Government classified size: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

Options: leather interior black/Bordeaux red, $4190; premium package, $3280; air suspension, $2390; power front seats (14-way), $1300; rear axle steering, $1280; front ventilated seats, $850; trailer hitch, $660