The Porsche Cayenne was one of the early adopters to jump on the Sport SUV bandwagon around the turn of the century. The German automaker truly took this recipe mainstream, and there was no looking back. So here we are in 2022, and you can choose from 19 different flavors of the third-generation Cayenne, and sitting right at the top of the hill (almost) is the Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Sure, the Cayenne Turbo GT may be a more hardcore iteration of the SUV, but you may find it hard to believe that the Turbo S E-Hybrid, is in fact the most powerful model in the Cayenne range. So it begs the question, why would you want a Hybrid with your Cayenne Turbo S? The answer is simple, to give you the flexibility in terms of having access to some green miles with the option to let that V-8 loose when the time is right.

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2022 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SE Hybrid Performance And Capability

Porsche is not a stranger to Hybrids. The German marque proved that pure EV range is a possibility when they showcased the Hybrid technology over a decade ago with their 918 Spyder Hypercar. That tech has eventually trickled down to other Porsche models like the Cayenne.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid is available in two body styles. You can either have it as a regular SUV or a sporty Coupe. Regardless of the body style you choose, the underpinnings supporting the same are identical. Let's start with the engine. It builds on the performance credentials of the Turbo and packs a 4.0-liter V-8 engine with 541 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque.

Throw in an electric motor that provides an additional 134 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and the result is a combined output of 670 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with All-wheel-drive comes as standard.

The 0-60 time is a blisteringly quick 3.6 seconds and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid has a top speed of 183 MPH, making it faster than the models lower down the range like the Cayenne S, Cayenne GTS, and the regular Turbo.

This electric motor sits between the V-8 engine. An electronic actuator situated between the two powerplants switches seamlessly to provide power, based on the driving mode.

Speaking of driving modes, you can choose between

• E-Power
• Hybrid-Auto
• Sport
• Sport +

The top speed in EV mode is 83 mph and just under 20 miles of pure electric range is available from the 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery that sits beneath the cargo area. It charges via a 7.2 kW onboard AC Charger and when connected to a 240-volt 30-amp source, you can top up the battery in just under two and half hours. The regenerative braking puts some juice back into the battery. The combined mileage is an EPA-rated 42 MPGe.

As the Turbo S sits pretty high up in the Cayenne range, a lot of options that would be optional extras are part of standard fitment here. Out of the box, you get

• Anti-slip Regulation (ASR)
• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC)
• Electric roll stabilization
• Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+)
• Rear-axle cross-axle locking
• Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB)
• Power Steering Plus
• Sport Chrono package

The flexible three-chamber air suspension, which includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), allows for a wide range of driving dynamics between standard Porsche sportiness and exceptional cruising comfort. The optional rear-axle steering ($1,620) should help you easily maneuver the Cayenne's heft and also provide improved stability at higher speeds.

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Exterior Design

Styling-wise, the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid adopts the same ethos as the rest of the current Cayenne range, which can be a good or a bad thing. For the average Joe, it may be difficult to distinguish the Hybrid models from other Cayennes, but the subtle E-Hybrid badges with acid green accents on the fender and the tailgate are an easy giveaway.

But perhaps the easiest way to tell the Hybrid model apart is by the acid green painted brake calipers. But if you don't want to shout about driving a Hybrid, Porsche will happily delete the Acid green accents at no extra cost.

That aside, the basic body shell in either SUV or Coupe Turbo S E-Hybrid is identical to other Cayennes. Some fancy-looking four-point LED DRLs and big air blades for better breathability liven up the front end and an integrated spoiler along with a full-length light bar breaks up the tailgate.

You'll be happy to find proper exhaust pipes grace the rear. 21-inch AeroDesign wheels wrapped in all-season tires come as standard, but you can get them with bigger 22-inch rims as well with the ability to customize them further with different finishes.

As with any Porsche, you can choose from a vast array of optional extras and packages to further customize your Porsche and make it your own. The optional Gloss black package ($6,230) or Carbon-fiber package ($8,370) on various trim pieces on the body and the Sport Exhaust system ($3,220) should add a dash of sportiness to the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid's exterior.

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Interior Quality And Technology

As you'd expect from a Porsche, everything you see and touch shouts luxury. Be rest assured that stuff is well screwed together. This is a luxury vehicle after all and there is no shortage of some pretty high-quality materials throughout the cabin.

There is a good mix of analog and digital in this cabin and even the buttons that are now touch-sensitive, do offer haptic feedback, very handy indeed. Also, in typical Porsche tradition, you'll find the starter knob to the left of the instrument console which has the 911-style tachometer in the center, flanked by two 7.0-inch displays. The Sport Chrono Pack also gets you the analog clock that sits on top of the dash.

There are numerous ways in which you can spec your Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid. Stuff like 18-way front seats with integrated headrests and memory function, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, and thermally insulated glass all-around are all part of standard fitment. Massaging front seats with ventilation, ambient lighting, and four-zone climate controls are optional niceties that you can also consider.

Choose from several themes to dress up your interior with everything from sporty blacks or red leather interior to a more traditional brown, grey or beige leather interior. The Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur options give you even more flexibility to design a cabin to suit your palette.

Further, depending on what shade of leather you choose, you get the option to apply wood, carbon fiber, or aluminum to various components and trim pieces within the cabin. A Race-tex headliner is standard while you can further add the stuff on the steering and grab handles.

On to the tech now. A slick 12.3-inch touchscreen takes center stage on the dash. You can pair up your smartphone effortlessly with the wireless Apple Carplay or wired Android Auto and with 4G LTE mobile WiFi hotspot support to stay connected to the web. USB C ports come in both rows, along with an online navigation module, voice assists, Bluetooth, and Aux-in connectivity, features that are all part of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) suite.

As for your tunes, Porsche offers a SIRUS XM Platinum Subscription plan for three months. A 710-watt 14-speaker Bose Audio is standard. But if that doesn't quite cut it for you, Porsche does offer the 1455 watts 21-speaker Burmester 3D Surround sound system ($5,810) for hardcore audiophiles.

The lithium-ion battery takes up some space under the trunk floor, the cargo room is tight at just 22.7 cubic feet. This is one area where the coupe loses out to the traditional SUV form further with just 17.6 cubic feet on offer. You can open up space for hauling more stuff as the rear seatbacks fold down conveniently in a 40:20:40 split.

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2022 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SE Hybrid Price And Availability

As I mentioned earlier, the Turbo S E-Hybrid pair carries a $35,000 price premium over the regular Turbo models. Of the two, while the coupe may look cool, it loses out on headroom and cargo space as opposed to the regular SUV. What you're looking at above is just the MSRP.

These figures could climb pretty easily if you aren't careful with those options. The Premium Package ($3,750) includes Four Zone Climate Control, LED Matrix LED Headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS+), Front seat ventilation, lane change assist, and ambient lighting. The Sport Exhaust ($3,220) system is a no-brainer.

The Lightweight Sport Package ($12,750) is available exclusively with the Coupe's four-seat configuration and it ditches the panoramic glass roof for a carbon-fiber roof, which saves 46 pounds. This package also comes with a multi-position spoiler that deploys up to 5.3 inches at speeds above 55 MPH.

Configure your Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid here.

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Safety

Being at the pricey end of the market sure does have its advantages and the Cayenne comes with a whole host of safety and driver assistance features as standard. Aside from the front, knee, rear, and curtain airbags, you also get Porsche Side Impact Protection (POSIP), and mounting points for a child seat on the rear seat.

Driver assistance features include braking assist. The Assistance Package ($6,250) will get you a 360-degree surround-view camera, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and night vision. Neither the National HighawayTraffic Safety Administration NHTSA nor the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), have crash-tested the Cayenne yet. However, EuroNCAP has awarded the Porsche Cayenne the maximum five stars for safety.

Main Competition

So, if you're shopping for a high-performance luxury SUV with plug-in hybrid capability, then your choices are fairly limited. British marque, Bentley recently took the plunge to introduce a PHEV variant of the Bentaya and Land Rover also debuted an all-new Range Rover Sport with a plug-in hybrid variant, a couple of months ago. Here's how they stack up against the Porsche.

The Porsche clearly has the edge in terms of sheer power figures, but both the Bentley and Land Rover pack bigger battery packs and as a result, a better all-electric range. The Cayenne offers up to 20 miles in EV mode while the Bentayga can travel up to 30 miles and the RR Sport will get you as far as 50 miles. The Bentayga Hybrid's entry-level model priced at $166,000 is similar to the Porsche. The Range Rover Sport P440e meanwhile is significantly cheaper at $105,550.

So to sum it up. Does the world really need a Hybrid SUV with 670 horses under the hood? Well, Porsche certainly thinks so. The electric powertrain does offer some flexibility in having emissions-free mobility for stints within town, but you really have to be a die-hard Porsche aficionado to pay the price premium over the regular Turbo. Check out the driven review of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid here.

FAQ

Q: Is the Porsche E-hybrid worth it?

There are limited options to choose from if you are currently in the market for a high-performance luxury SUV with a plug. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid offers 20 miles of all-electric range and at $171,300, it sits between the Range Rover Sport P440e and the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid.

Q: Is the Cayenne Turbo GT a Hybrid?

No, the Cayenne Turbo GT is not a hybrid and features a 4.0-liter gas-powered V-8 engine that produces 631 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque.

Q: Does Porsche hybrid charge while driving?

While driving using the gas-powered engine, and in e-Charge mode, the battery of the hybrid system charges automatically.

Q: How far can a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid travel in electric mode?

In pure EV mode, the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid can travel 20 miles.

Q: How much does a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid cost?

The 2022 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid costs $171,300 for the regular SUV model and $173,800 for the Coupe.