Recently, I wrote an article about the delivery of our Cayenne E-Hybrid, and my husband has now written about why we chose the hybrid model among the Cayenne lineup in the first place. I’ll share impressions on driving performance, comfort, and fuel economy after we’ve put more miles on it.

Initially, We Were Looking for a Base Cayenne

The decision to purchase the Cayenne E-Hybrid came about quite quickly this time, so I’d like to talk about how we got here, why the Cayenne, and why the hybrid.

As I briefly mentioned in the previous Cayenne delivery article, we had no intention of buying a hybrid model initially. If we were to buy a Cayenne, we planned to go for the base (standard) model.

The reason was that after owning a Panamera Turbo for three years, we fully understood the overwhelming power of the ‘Turbo,’ so we decided that next time, it would be either the base or S model. After comparing the Cayenne S and the base model, we found that the base model suited our needs better, and the powerful engine sound and feel of the S could be covered by other cars in our garage.

However, when looking at the stock base Cayennes, many had traditional steel spring suspension and some didn’t even have PASM. Since I prioritize driving performance above all else, I’m not too concerned about exterior or interior details, but I do care a lot about these options.

So, I asked the dealer, “Could I test drive a base Cayenne with steel springs?” They said there was no base Cayenne available, but there was a hybrid Cayenne with steel springs, so I was able to test drive that.

Test Driving the Hybrid Cayenne

To be honest, I wasn’t planning to choose the hybrid model because it’s nearly 300kg heavier, and I was worried it might feel sluggish compared to other grades.

On the day, facing the test car, I wanted to focus on ride comfort, so unusually, I sat in the rear seat and asked our sales rep, Mr. H, to drive while “trying to go over ruts and rough surfaces as much as possible.”

As soon as we started moving, I couldn’t help but say, “So smooth!” Even from the first roll of the tires, I could tell the difference. The rolling felt gentle and refined, combined with the quietness of the electric motor, creating a luxury car feel that’s quite unlike a Porsche.(I don’t think of Porsche as a ‘luxury car’ but rather a ‘high-performance car.’)

In stop-and-go city traffic, even when going over bumps and uneven roads, the rear seat movement was minimal. Of course, as an SUV with a higher ride height, it’s not as flat as a Panamera, but I thought the rear seat movement was quite low.

I even felt that the rear seat ride was smoother than the air suspension Cayenne S Coupe I had ridden before.

Why? I imagine it’s partly because the hybrid model carries a 138kg battery in the rear. Generally, SUVs are designed with heavy loads in the rear, so the rear suspension tends to be a bit stiff. This can cause the rear to bounce or sway when carrying fewer passengers.

However, this Cayenne seems to benefit from the battery weight, making the rear seat ride feel very composed.

Later, I sat in the driver’s seat and took the wheel myself. When I gently pressed the accelerator, the tires started rolling just as smoothly as the pressure I applied. It was the same incredibly smooth rolling sensation I felt in the rear seat.

After driving a few dozen meters, the difference became even clearer. The motor is very quiet, and the torque delivery is excellent. Driving in E-Power mode using only the electric motor to keep up with city traffic was effortless and frustration-free.

Even merging onto the highway, the motor alone provided enough acceleration. Of course, if you press the accelerator firmly past the pressure point in the middle of the pedal, the V6 engine wakes up, delivering power to reach 0-100 km/h in just under 5 seconds anytime.

I was amazed, thinking, “What is this…?” When I think of hybrids, I imagine the strange accelerator feel of Japanese hybrids that don’t correlate well with speed, but this was completely different.

While I also admire the thick low-end torque of the latest European diesel engines, it pales in comparison to the electric motor. The overall feel is so refined and natural to drive.