Porsche’s E-Hybrid

Our family’s Cayenne is the Cayenne E-Hybrid model, and after recently driving the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid as well, my spouse and I often say, “The more we drive Porsche’s E-Hybrid models, the more we love them. If we buy a Cayenne or Panamera in the future, it will definitely be a hybrid model.”

So today, my husband has written about why Porsche’s E-Hybrid models are so amazing. Please have a look.

Porsche Hybrids Are Fast

Porsche hybrids are fast.

Looking at Porsche’s website and brochures, they describe it as “hybrid technology derived from racing circuits” and “incorporating technology from the 919 Hybrid that competed in the WEC.”

However, when people hear “hybrid,” they often imagine an “eco-focused hybrid car” that lacks power and where the throttle opening doesn’t quite match the speed or engine RPM.

I used to think the same way: “I don’t get why anyone would buy a hybrid Porsche. Even if it uses technology from the 919 Hybrid, it’s still just an ‘eco’ hybrid, right?”

But after buying the Cayenne E-Hybrid, that prejudice completely disappeared. I now feel Porsche uses hybrid technology not for fuel economy but for speed and power.

In fact, the E-Hybrid models are fast. Really fast. Looking at the data, the Cayenne S does 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, while the E-Hybrid does it in 5.0 seconds. Plus, thanks to the motor’s characteristics, maximum torque is delivered instantly, so it feels even quicker.

A friend who used to drive a Cayenne GTS Coupe told me, “I drove both the E-Hybrid and the GTS, and I think the hybrid feels faster.” (Of course, this is subjective, but the E-Hybrid really does feel that quick.)

Also, overtaking acceleration on the highway is superb. Put it in Sport mode and press the accelerator firmly, and the boost meter on the dashboard jumps up, effortlessly accelerating the over-2-ton body.

This acceleration is beaten only by the Turbo, but it easily outperforms most sports sedans. Even in busy city traffic on Osaka’s Midosuji Avenue, the response when you want to safely and quickly move ahead and change lanes is outstanding.

When you press the accelerator firmly, the engine kicks in instantly, the motor assists with power, and you surge forward in an instant. I find myself admiring this car every time.

Porsche Hybrids Are Affordable

Porsche’s E-Hybrid models are cheaper compared to other trims. For the Cayenne, it’s about 1.27 million yen less expensive than the S, and the Sport Chrono Package comes standard. Moreover, used hybrids are even more affordable—almost unfairly cheap (laughs).

Probably, the high performance of these hybrids isn’t well understood by the public, so they’re not very popular. But I want to say loudly: “Hybrid is the best buy.” No matter what other Porsche owners think, choosing the hybrid is the right decision.

If you’re considering a Cayenne or Panamera and have already decided on the S or Turbo, that’s fine. But if you’re unsure about the grade, I absolutely recommend the E-Hybrid. If I were to buy a Panamera or Cayenne next, I would definitely choose the hybrid model.

Porsche Hybrids Offer a Comfortable Ride

The biggest feature of the E-Hybrid is its ride comfort—or more precisely, its refined driving feel.

First, since it starts off powered by the motor, the very first rotation of the tires is incredibly smooth. This isn’t about whether the suspension is air or coil springs; it’s the smoothness coming from the drivetrain itself.

The ride is mellow and glides along smoothly. This feeling is the same in both the Panamera and Cayenne and is distinctly different from the gasoline models.

Also, the motor pairs very well with transmissions like the PDK and Tiptronic S. The motor’s ability to instantly control torque plays a big role here. Shift shocks are minimal—almost nonexistent—providing a high-quality ride.

Moreover, the control when you want to accelerate sharply in town is excellent, instantly delivering torque to the wheels without any awkwardness. There’s no jerkiness from kickdown or waiting for turbo lag at all.

In my opinion, the main reason for this comfortable ride is the heavy battery mounted in the rear. This gives the rear a strong sense of stability and a very composed behavior.

Especially with the Cayenne, which is an SUV with a high center of gravity, the rear can feel a bit light and bouncy when there are no passengers in the back seats. But the hybrid model uses the battery’s weight to improve ride comfort and delivers a refined driving experience.

Finally, since the battery and motor add about 300 kg, some might worry, “Doesn’t it lose that Porsche feel and become sluggish in corners?”

I used to think so too. But that’s not the case at all.

It’s fast enough and corners wonderfully without any awkwardness. I’ve also written about this in the Panamera E-Hybrid article, so please refer to that.

Who Shouldn’t Buy an E-Hybrid?

It’s not that you shouldn’t buy one, but if any of the following apply, another grade might suit you better:

• You prioritize engine sound, especially the sound at startup.
• You rarely drive short distances and mostly drive long distances. (While short trips can be done almost entirely on electric power if charged, on long trips the battery runs out, so fuel economy isn’t as good as you might expect from a hybrid. About 10-12 km/L for the Cayenne.)
• You don’t have a power source in your garage. (You can still drive without it, but having at least a 100V outlet means you can mostly drive on electric power for short trips.)
• You plan to take your Cayenne or Panamera to the track. (In that case, lighter is probably better.)

…That’s my husband’s view.

Adding to that, with the E-Hybrid, I like that for nearby shopping trips I can rely solely on electric power without using any gasoline. With a full charge, our Cayenne shows a range of 28–30 km (catalog states up to 44 km), so a round trip of about 20 km in the city is almost no problem.

Recently, I drove my husband about 25 km to his office in the Cayenne, trying the E-Power mode that uses only electricity without gasoline.

It was a warm day, I turned off the air conditioning, we cruised in the highway’s slow lane, and I consciously tried to recover electricity on downhill stretches. As a result, the battery lasted all the way back until we exited the highway near the interchange.

Because of this, our Cayenne E-Hybrid rarely uses gasoline in daily life. After about six months and roughly 7,000 km, we’ve only refueled about 4 or 5 times.

Currently, since we don’t need to fill the tank completely, we run it about half full and refill to half again when it runs low—but it rarely runs out (laughs).

If you’re considering a Cayenne or Panamera, I highly recommend the E-Hybrid for its comfortable ride, speed, fuel efficiency, and excellent cost performance.