{"id":37626,"date":"2020-09-29T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T21:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37626"},"modified":"2021-06-01T23:15:17","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T14:15:17","slug":"why-chose-cayenne-hybrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/why-chose-cayenne-hybrid\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Chose the Cayenne E-Hybrid: What Sealed the Deal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The other day, I wrote about how our Cayenne E-Hybrid was delivered<\/a>. Since then, my husband has written about why we chose a hybrid model in the first place<\/strong>. I\u2019ll share our impressions of its performance, ride comfort, and fuel economy once we\u2019ve had a chance to put more miles on it.<\/p>\n

At First, We Were Looking for a Base Cayenne<\/h3>\n

Things moved quickly, and before we knew it, we had bought a Cayenne E-Hybrid. I\u2019d like to explain how it happened, why we chose a Cayenne\u2014and why we went for the hybrid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As I briefly mentioned in my previous article about taking delivery of our Cayenne<\/a>, buying a hybrid had never been part of the plan. If we were going to buy a Cayenne, I thought we\u2019d go for the standard base model.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The reason was simple: after three years with a Panamera Turbo, I knew just how exhilarating the power of a Turbo could be. For our next Porsche, I\u2019d decided to choose either the base model or an S.<\/strong> We also test-drove both the base Cayenne and the Cayenne S, and found the base model better suited to our needs. We figured we could get the S\u2019s powerful engine note and character from another car.<\/p>\n

However, as I looked through the available base Cayennes for one with the options I wanted, I found that many had conventional coil-spring suspension, and some didn\u2019t even have PASM. I\u2019m the kind of driver who prioritizes how a car performs above all else. I\u2019m relatively indifferent to exterior and interior details, but I care a lot about whether a car has options like these.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So I asked the dealer if I could test-drive a Cayenne with coil-spring suspension<\/strong>. They didn\u2019t have a base Cayenne available, but they did have a hybrid Cayenne with coil springs, so they offered to let us try it.<\/p>\n

Test-Driving the Cayenne Hybrid<\/h3>\n

To be honest, I hadn\u2019t planned to choose a hybrid, which weighs nearly 300 kg more<\/strong>. I was concerned it might feel sluggish compared with the other versions.<\/p>\n

When we arrived, I wanted to pay close attention to the ride, so\u2014unusually for me\u2014I climbed into the back seat and asked our sales representative, H, to drive. I asked him to take us over as many road ruts and rough patches as possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As soon as we got moving, I blurted out, \u201cSo smooth!<\/strong>\u201d Even from the back seat, I could tell how smoothly the tires began to roll. The car had a fluid, almost velvety feel, and paired with the quiet electric motor, it delivered a level of luxury you don\u2019t usually associate with a Porsche<\/strong>. (I don\u2019t think of a Porsche as a \u201cluxury car\u201d\u2014to me, it\u2019s a high-performance car.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in stop-and-go city traffic, the rear seat stayed composed as we crossed uneven patches and bumps. Of course, with an SUV\u2019s tall body, it wasn\u2019t as flat and settled as a Panamera, but I thought the rear-seat ride was impressively smooth.<\/p>\n

In fact, I wondered if the rear seat felt even more settled than it had in the Cayenne S Coupe with air suspension I\u2019d driven before.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can only speculate about why. The hybrid model has a 138 kg battery mounted at the rear, and that may have played a part. SUVs are generally designed to carry heavier loads in the back, so their rear suspension is often on the firm side. With only a few people on board, that can sometimes make the rear feel bouncy or unsettled.<\/p>\n

But the battery\u2019s weight seemed to work in the Cayenne\u2019s favor, giving the rear seats a notably composed ride<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Partway through the drive, I took the wheel myself. I eased onto the accelerator, and the tires began to turn with the same gentle, progressive feel. It was the same exceptionally smooth rolling sensation I\u2019d noticed from the back seat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After just a few dozen meters, the difference was even clearer. The electric motor was remarkably quiet, and the way it delivered torque was excellent.<\/strong> In E-Power mode, the Cayenne had no trouble keeping up with city traffic on electric power alone. It never felt frustratingly slow.<\/p>\n

Even merging onto the highway was easy on electric power alone. Of course, press the accelerator firmly past the resistance point around the middle of its travel, and the V6 engine wakes up\u2014even in E-Power mode. The power to go from 0 to 100 km\/h in a flat five seconds is always there when you need it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As I drove, I kept thinking, \u201cWhat is this thing?<\/strong>\u201d I\u2019d imagined the strange disconnect between speed and accelerator response that I associate with Japanese-market hybrid cars, but this was nothing like that.<\/p>\n

Modern European diesel engines have impressive low-rev torque, but even that fades into the background next to an electric motor. The E-Hybrid feels refined, yet completely natural to drive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next page \u2192 The Cayenne\u2019s Tiptronic transmission and how it works with the hybrid system\u2026<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

The Tiptronic Transmission and Hybrid System<\/h3>\n

One more thing deserves a mention: the Cayenne\u2019s Tiptronic automatic transmission works beautifully with the hybrid system.<\/strong> I\u2019ve always thought highly of the eight-speed Tiptronic in the latest Cayenne. Its smoothness and quick shifts, in my view, are on a par with the latest BMW automatics.<\/p>\n

In the hybrid, those strengths really come into their own. The Cayenne E-Hybrid\u2019s electric motor works through the transmission. By contrast, our Nissan Note e-POWER NISMO, for example, has no conventional transmission and effectively runs with a single gear, so there\u2019s no real concept of shifting.<\/p>\n

In the Cayenne, the electric motor sends power to the wheels through the eight-speed Tiptronic.<\/strong> That means the gears still shift up through first, second, and so on, even when the car is running on electric power alone. And the already-smooth Tiptronic shifts become smoother still.<\/strong> The changes are virtually imperceptible\u2014a trick made possible by the motor\u2019s ability to control its output instantly.<\/p>\n

The shifts are genuinely seamless, making the car a pleasure to drive around town.<\/p>\n

You might expect a noticeable jolt when you press the accelerator and the engine joins the motor, but the Tiptronic does an impressive job of smoothing out this sudden change in torque.<\/strong> The engine revs rise slightly as the transmission precisely modulates the torque and delivers power to the wheels.<\/p>\n

The way the engine, Tiptronic, and electric motor work together is exceptionally smooth. Unless you\u2019re watching the tachometer, you\u2019d hardly notice when the engine starts or stops if you\u2019re simply focused on driving.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The final deciding factor was the Cayenne Hybrid\u2019s performance.<\/strong> Its top speed may be lower than the S\u2019s, but it\u2019s quicker from 0 to 100 km\/h. It produces 462 PS and a staggering 700 Nm of torque from just 1,000 rpm\u2014and costs \u00a51.24 million less than the S.<\/p>\n

In town, you can take it easy in E-Power mode. Switch to Sport or Sport Plus, and the Cayenne transforms.<\/strong> The contrast between its relaxed and sporty sides is among the most dramatic I\u2019ve experienced in a recent Porsche.<\/p>\n

The electric motor goes from helping improve fuel economy to boosting performance.<\/strong> The 3.0-liter V6 turbo\u2019s note takes on a clearer edge, and as the revs climb, the motor\u2019s assistance feels almost like having a second turbo kick in.<\/p>\n

The most noticeable difference compared with the S is the strength of the mid-range torque<\/strong>. Acceleration from around 3,000 to 5,000 rpm feels seriously strong\u2014and, frankly, fast. It\u2019s less about outright power and more about the way the torque comes on, which gives the car a distinctly sporty feel. That said, the S does have the edge in engine sound and the feel of the engine at high revs.<\/p>\n

Rather than \u201cE-Hybrid,\u201d perhaps \u201cE-Turbo\u201d would be a better description. I\u2019d heard that Porsche\u2019s hybrid systems are designed to enhance performance more than fuel economy<\/strong>, and after experiencing the Cayenne E-Hybrid\u2019s performance, I understand why. Even in a Cayenne, you can feel the technology\u2019s connection to the 918 and 919.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Next, I wanted to find out whether the Cayenne\u2019s extra 300 kg or so<\/strong> would hurt its handling, so I tried changing lanes while pushing a little harder. I deliberately made the kind of lane change that might unsettle a driver in an SUV from the same class. But the maneuver was over in an instant, with the Cayenne gliding sideways so smoothly that I could only think, \u201cWait, what?!\u201d<\/strong> It felt as if the car had plenty of capability in reserve.<\/p>\n

H, who was riding in the passenger seat, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThat kind of maneuver in an SUV from another brand would make you feel a little uneasy. But the Cayenne doesn\u2019t seem bothered at all, does it?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

He was right. And considering this Cayenne is considerably heavier than the standard model, there was very little to criticize. On a racetrack or a tight, winding road, I\u2019d expect the extra weight to make a difference. But on public roads, the handling wasn\u2019t merely good\u2014it was more than satisfying.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I persuaded the dealer to let me test-drive the Cayenne Hybrid twice, and those experiences finally convinced me to buy one. I\u2019m completely impressed by how well the E-Hybrid system is calibrated. For our family, which plans to use the car mainly for city driving and longer trips with the family on board, it felt like the perfect version to choose.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a future article, I\u2019ll share more impressions now that we\u2019ve taken delivery, including the differences between coil-spring and air suspension, the Porsche Connect app, fuel and electric range, and our charging setup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The other day, I wrote about how our Cayenne E-Hybrid was delivered. Since then, my husband has written about why we chose a hybrid model in the first place. I\u2019ll share our impressions of its performance, ride comfort, and fuel economy once we\u2019ve had a chance to put more miles on it. At First, We Were Looking for a Base Cayenne Things moved quickly, and before we knew it, we had bought a Cayenne E-Hybrid....","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":19858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=19832","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,43],"tags":[189,240,242],"class_list":["post-37626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-testdrive","category-aboutcayenne","tag-porsche-cayenne","tag-tiptronic","tag-air-suspension","en-US"],"yoast_head":"Why We Chose the Cayenne E-Hybrid: What Sealed the Deal? - Porsche Owner's Blog from Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover why we chose the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid: smooth ride, effortless electric driving, strong performance, and the features that sealed the deal.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/why-chose-cayenne-hybrid\/\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/why-chose-cayenne-hybrid\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why We Chose the Cayenne E-Hybrid: What Sealed the Deal? 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