Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric Review: The SUV That Doesn't Need Petrol to Scare You

Porsche told us the future of the Cayenne would be quiet. It didn't mention that it would also be faster than any Cayenne before it.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric has arrived in India at ₹1.77 crore (ex-showroom). It has no petrol engine and no exhaust note, and it is easily the most violent Cayenne Porsche has ever built.

What Does "Turbo" Mean on an Electric Cayenne?

The "Turbo" badge no longer refers to turbochargers. In this car it means two electric motors, one on each axle, making a combined 630 kW (857 hp).

Engage Launch Control and the car overboosts to 850 kW (1,156 hp) with 1,500 Nm of torque. That makes it the most powerful Cayenne yet. It reaches 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.4 seconds, and its top speed is 260 km/h.

Sport Chrono adds a "Push-to-Pass" function. One button press gives you an extra 130 kW for overtaking, like a video-game boost pad, except real and slightly terrifying.

Design and Styling

Our test car is finished in Monteverde Metallic, a khaki-green that adds just over ₹5 lakh to the base price. The body is galvanised steel and aluminium, and the bonnet, tailgate, doors and front wings are all aluminium to keep weight in check.

It rides on 21-inch RS Spyder wheels. The standard car gets Cayenne Turbo Aero wheels, which are designed to cut drag and add range.

The front end carries HD-Matrix LED headlights with over 64,000 pixels. They are camera-based, so the high beam can stay on permanently without dazzling oncoming traffic. They also play a small welcome animation as you walk up to the car. It's a show-off feature, but it works.

At the rear, the light bar and the "PORSCHE" script are finished in bronze-toned Turbonite. It's Porsche's way of saying this one is electric. With no tailpipes to hide, the designers gave the back end a light show instead.

Interior: Where the Money Went

Step inside and it is clear where much of the price has gone. Our car has two-tone leather in black and sage grey. The 18-way adaptive sports seats are heated and ventilated, and there is four-zone climate control.

The Extended Ambient Lighting system offers 30 colours through 76 LEDs in the windscreen base and door panels. It also shows information, including lane-change warnings, charge status and Launch Control readiness.

The dashboard is dominated by a 14.2-inch curved OLED display. Our test car also has a 14.9-inch passenger screen, so whoever is sitting next to you can watch a show while you concentrate on driving a two-and-a-half-tonne SUV.

Battery, Range and Charging

The Cayenne Turbo Electric has a 113 kWh battery under the floor. Its peak DC charging speed is 390 kW, which takes the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 16 minutes. Plug in for 10 minutes and you add more than 300 km of range.

AC charging is slower. With the optional 22 kW onboard charger fitted to our car, a full charge takes under six hours.

Also read: Porsche Announces Infotainment Retrofit Upgrade for Older 911, Cayman, Boxster Models

Ride and Handling

The suspension is adaptive air with five height settings. Active aerodynamics open and close vents on the move, and Porsche Torque Vectoring helps rotate the car through corners. The car weighs about as much as a small elephant, yet it corners as if it has forgotten it's an SUV.

Price in India

The ex-showroom price begins from ₹1.77 crore to ₹2.77 crore. Our test car has individual options, including the wheels, the head-up display and the second screen. With those fitted, it comes to just under ₹2.5 crore on-road.

Verdict: Is the Cayenne Turbo Electric Worth It?

That is a lot of money for an SUV with no engine noise. But the moment you floor it, it still feels like a Porsche, and a very quick one.

The Cayenne Turbo Electric shows that you don't need petrol to feel like you're getting away with something.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric: Key Specifications