Not long after the turn of the new millennium, Porsche, a brand renowned for producing driver-focused sports and racing cars, unveiled plans for a new model so far away from its usual field of expertise that some people believed the announcement was a joke.

If you were to walk into your local Porsche dealership in the year 2002, you would have been greeted by a colourful collection of two-door coupes and convertibles. Models such as the Boxter and the 911 Targa, Turbo, Coupe and Cabriolet would have been positioned in pride of place for buyers looking to fulfil a desire for style and performance. If you were to return just one year later, though, there would be a new model to consider. The new car was neither a coupe nor a cabriolet and certainly not what many would call a sports car - the latest model had four doors, would comfortably fit 5 adults and, most shockingly, was an SUV - called the Porsche Cayenne.

Twenty years later, the idea of a Porsche showroom without an SUV feels odd, and for good reason. When Porsche launched its first Cayenne, it shocked the world. Some were in awe, others grumbled in protest, but once the reviews started landing in magazines, it was suddenly apparent that Porsche had designed and engineered something very significant. The Cayenne was so significant that within the following decade, almost every other manufacturer previously renowned for producing sports and performance cars also decided to have a stab at the new sporty SUV market. BMW unveiled the X5, Land Rover launched the Range Rover Sport, and Audi revealed the Q7, and from that point onwards, as you will likely know, the rest is history. Today, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley and even Rolls-Royce have a performance SUV on offer, and there is no denying that Porsche did it first.

Read more about the history of the Porsche Cayenne here.

On a quest for a good value Porsche (or two!)

For a recent YouTube video, I wanted to see if it was possible to get two Porsches for the price of one.

For the same price as a 911 GT3 RS, I discovered that you could purchase a 911 Carrera T (992) and a Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid with some change left over. I expected to be impressed by the 911 Carrera T, and I was. While I was sure the Cayenne would also be impressive, I didn't really account for the fact that it would feel just as special as the 911 in its own way.

Powertrain and economy

The Cayenne E-Hybrid combines a 25.9 kWh battery, a 130 kW electric motor, and a 3.0L petrol V6 engine. Individually, the electric motor can power the Cayenne independently for 50 miles without any need to awaken the petrol powerplant. The battery can be charged by the engine whilst in use or plugged in and charged in 2.7 hours with an 11 kW charger. The 3.0L V6 on its own produces 304 PS (300 HP) and 420 Nm of torque. When the two power sources combine, the output is pushed up to 470 PS (463 HP) and 650 Nm of torque. The result of the power is a 0-62 sprint in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 158 mph, all of which goes via an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox.

The reward for the combination of petrol and electric drivetrain is 176.6 mpg and approximately 430 miles of driving until needing to re-fill and recharge.

Driving Dynamics

Almost 25 years of evolution and refinement have been very kind to Porsche's Cayenne, and the result of the development is nothing short of exceptional. When Porsche decided to enter the SUV market in the new millennium, it was imperative that the new large car handled like a Porsche should. The 2024 E-Hybrid has brought that mantra forward to the present day, and as a result, despite weighing a considerable 2,500 KG, the driving dynamics of the Cayenne E-Hybrid are very impressive, thanks mainly to state-of-the-art aluminium multi-link suspension and (optional) height-adjustable air suspension.

The Cayenne drives like a car half its weight. The steering and chassis allow for spirited speeds along undulating country lanes where many lighter and lower cars would falter. The clever computer and stability management systems can be felt doing what they need to do, but never at the expense of engagement. 6-piston calipers with 360mm brake discs up front and 4-piston calipers with 358mm discs at the rear complete the task of bringing all two and a half tonnes of metal to a stop.

Prices and options

Before any options are ticked, the Cayenne E-Hybrid has an on-the-road retail price of £84,800. Whilst the standard equipment list is comprehensive, beyond driving dynamics, the other thing Porsche has refined for more than a quarter century is the ability to squeeze a few extra coins out of the customer through some admittedly superb optional extras.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid I have on test features no less than 24 optional extras, totalling £35,243, on top of the £84,800 retail price.

A few options worth highlighting on the model I've tested are the Paint to Sample colour (Goodwood Green) at £7,536.00, massaging-heated and ventilated front seats at £1,425.00, a Burmeister 3D High-End Surround Sound System at £4,620 and adaptive cruise control and lane change assist which together total £1,731. Porsche knows that each sale is likely to result in a list of optional extras in accordance with personal preferences, which can very quickly transform an £84,800 into one costing £120,043.00 (as tested).

Comfort and convenience

Porsche's years of refinement are also apparent in the departments of comfort and convenience. The driving position is typically Porsche and very comfortable thanks to the 14-way adjustable seats (another optional extra upgrade).

Legroom is ample in all seats, as is boot space, which is 627 litres with the rear seats up and 1,563 with the rear seats folded flat.

For additional comfort, technology and driver convenience, in-built navigation, smartphone connectivity, dash cam recording, soft-close doors, a powered tailgate, park assist, lane assist, surround view cameras, and traffic sign recognition are all standard equipment.  

Unnoticeable excellence

When testing cars, motorcycles or tech, I always like to take note of things that stand out. Features that make me realise their existence. More often than not, the things I notice are negative points such as noises, discomfort or annoying nuances with tech systems. In my few days with the Cayenne, however, I noticed very little, and that in itself is worthy of praise. For daily driving, the ride is comfortable, supple and quiet. The noise-insulated glass and upgraded sound system allow for an uninterrupted audio experience, and in the times when the car is powered exclusively by the EV motor, the silence is almost surreal. As far as I could find, the infotainment system was intuitive, as were any necessary adjustments for driving position and preferences. The Cayenne E-Hybrid is a car that perfectly fulfils almost all requirements and eventualities, just as it was designed to do back in 2002.

Towing, camping and muddy stuff

It's no secret that while the Cayenne is marketed as an all-road, all-eventuality vehicle, most buyers will never actually need to opt for the 'off-road' mode. It's worth mentioning, though, that the Cayenne is very off-road capable, with the only limiting factor to a bit of aggressive greenlaning being the sports tyres fitted as standard. For buyers wishing to occasionally divert from the tarmac and explore the lesser travelled road, plenty of additional extras are available to help boost the experience, including roof bars, bicycle racks, a ski carrier and even a roof tent. The Cayenne also has an impressive braked towing capacity of 3,500 kg.

The complete package

As an overall package, the Cayenne E-Hybrid would sit rightfully near the top of the shortlists for anyone considering an SUV in this category. Competitors models likely include the BMW X7 and Range Rover HSE. For style, convenience, and overall dynamic performance, the Cayenne E-Hybrid might just be the pick of the bunch.

words by John Marcar
photographs by Henry Faulkner-Smith