Over the years, Porsche has given both its Cayenne SUV and its electric vehicles an engaging driving experience and the kind of luxury appointments befitting of the Porsche crest, and we expect the Cayenne Electric to follow that same pattern. Boasting technology borrowed from Formula E racing and making the Cayenne Turbo Electric its most powerful production vehicle are clear signs that Porsche is doubling down on the Cayenne Electric’s performance chops, too.
Most current Cayennes trade some extra harshness in their ride quality for better handling, so we’ll have to see how well the Cayenne Electric’s standard adaptive air suspension can handle the extra weight of its battery. Like the Macan Electric, the Cayenne Electric’s battery is mounted in the floor, keeping its center of gravity low. That low-mounted weight should help limit the body roll that makes SUVs less willing to change direction and thus, less fun to drive.
Porsche has made on-road performance a focus of its gas-powered Cayennes in recent years. While the Cayenne Electric has some adjustable suspension and electronic traction management features that help with off-pavement driving, it’s designed to be most at home on paved roads. The Cayenne Turbo Electric adds a standard torque-vectoring rear limited-slip differential, which directs power to the wheels that have more traction and should help in both on- and off-road situations.
Like the Macan Electric and Taycan before it, the Cayenne Electric offers a dizzying array of options, but we’re most excited about the new Wireless Charging System. Anyone who’s had to fumble with a heavy cord or finicky charging port in less than favorable weather can certainly relate. An acceptance rate of 11 kW is right in line with the kind of charging speeds available through traditional plug-in AC charging, and as long as you have a clear spot to install it, it’s hard not to love the idea of simply parking over a pad to charge.
Range estimates are still to be announced, so we’ll have to wait to see how competitive they are with other midsized luxury electric SUVs on that front. But the Cayenne EV’s DC fast charging specs are right at the forefront of what’s on sale now. Going from a 10 to an 80 percent SOC in under 16 minutes, as Porsche claims, is stunningly quick, and a 400-kW maximum acceptance rate allows it to use some of the most rapid DC fast chargers currently available.
