Porsche Cayenne 2015 SUV Review Details

If someone predicted Porsche would be one of the brands leading the cost on plug-in hybrids back when Chevrolet launched the Volt in 2010-just as Porsche was debuting its first-ever production hybrid using the Cayenne-that person should be dealing futures on Wall Street. By replacing that SUV with this 2015 Cayenne S E-Hybrid plug-in, Porsche presently has three plug-ins, more than any other car maker. Of course, one of those three is the 918 Spyder, which isn’t exactly mainstream production. But still.

To have the Cayenne to plug-in status, Porsche basically grafted inside the Panamera E-Hybrid’s high-voltage battery, electric motor, and power electronics, upping the lithium-ion battery capacity to 10.8 kWh on the sedan’s 9.4. Otherwise, the powertrain is identical, through the Audi-sourced supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 for the Aisin eight-speed automatic. Torque is routed to all four wheels via a limited-slip center differential with a rear-biased (58-percent) torque distribution.

The residual car is similar for the recently revamped Cayenne, with a few exceptions. The 282-pound battery, consisting of 104 individual cells, consumes the space normally reserved for an extra tire. Versus other Cayennes, the $77,395 E-Hybrid has two additional buttons on its center console. Selecting “E-Charge” prioritizes replenishing a depleted battery so future electric driving is achievable. This increases fuel consumption by about 20 percent, in line with Porsche. In “E-Power” mode, though, the Cayenne moves solely on the single electric motor at speeds up to 78 mph. This ability is mainly aimed at European markets, where it enables buyers to prevent congestion fees in particular cities. Americans will be able to utilize this silent-running mode to sneak standing on friends or, at the minimum, valets.

Each time a Cayenne starts, it’s in E-Power mode by default, assuming there's enough juice in the battery. Porsche claims that charging with a 240-volt hookup takes about three-and-a-half hours with all the standard 3.6-kW charger; an optional 7.2-kW unit can reduce that to 90 minutes if you have admission to a high-voltage feed.

Driving in a city will make it tough to desire more power compared to electric motor manufactures. Maximum acceleration with any 416 gas-and-electric horses should return a zero-to-60-mph sprint well below six seconds, and a quarter-mile will pass in just over 14 ticks, according to Porsche. No too shabby for any two-and-a-half ton ute.


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