Road, track, off-road: first impressions of the new Cayenne Electric
Experiencing the new Cayenne Electric
Three people standing beside the new Porsche Cayenne Electric
Six people share their first impressions of the new Cayenne Electric on a driving experience in Portugal
Fast factsSix people review the new Cayenne ElectricThey drove it in Portugal on road, track and off roadThey share their first impressions about how the car looks, drives and feels insideWhat does the new Porsche Cayenne Electric feel like when you experience it on road, track and off the beaten path? In Portugal, six drivers spent time with the new all-electric SUV to explore its performance, comfort, technology and everyday usability. From launch control and cornering stability to cabin design and smooth electric driving, these are the details that stayed with them most.1.⁠ ⁠What struck you first about the new Cayenne Electric? Ida Héritier The presence. It looks very sculpted and dynamic, but still grounded and substantial, which makes it incredibly striking on the road.Bella James The innovation and style of the car. It’s sleek and sexy while also being modern. Angel Fonseca Seeing the Cayenne available as a coupé was surprising and very beautiful in person. The design flowed nicely – it has lovely lines and a gorgeous interior.Julie Sariñana Its sleek design immediately caught my attention. As a current Porsche Cayenne owner, I was genuinely excited to see this new evolution in person. It felt even more refined, sporty, and effortlessly sexy than ever before. It has that unmistakable Cayenne presence, but elevated in a way that feels modern and forward-thinking.Moritz Taylor The first drive-by – watching the aero blades deploy – absolutely stole my car-guy heart.Puck Moonen How aggressive the rear looked! I really love the sharp lines, and obviously the amazing new colours as well.
Smiling man in driving seat of Porsche Cayenne Electric
After some track time in the new Cayenne Electric, photographer Angel Fonseca described it as a lot of fun Photo: Angel Fonseca
2.⁠ ⁠What surprised you once you spent more time with it? Ida Héritier That I didn’t need any introduction. Everything felt very intuitive, I could drive, adjust things and change navigation all at the same time and it just worked.Bella James The speed of the Cayenne Turbo Electric surprised me even though we were told it was that fast. Also, how smooth the car was generally while also having supercar performance.Angel Fonseca It didn’t drive like an SUV. The suspension is amazing. The car doesn’t feel heavy at all and its body doesn’t roll, so it makes it really fun to drive as you can really push it to the limit while having tons of fun. Julie Sariñana What surprised me most was how incredibly smooth and seamless everything felt. The drive was so refined, quiet and effortless, yet the power was there instantly the moment you wanted it. The acceleration is truly breathtaking. It reaches speed within seconds, unlike anything I’ve personally experienced before. It’s that rare combination of comfort and adrenaline.Moritz Taylor The blend of sporty performance and comfort is insane. The new design language hits me on every level.Puck Moonen How nimble it feels. For such a big and heavy car, it didn’t feel like I was driving an SUV at all. It’s a high-performance sportscar, packaged in a Cayenne you can easily take off road as well.3.⁠ ⁠What detail stayed with you afterwards?Ida Héritier The interior, for sure. It’s very clean and precise, almost architectural. Bella James I think that kind of speed stays with you forever.Angel Fonseca Having a car with such good off-road capability and then be able to be driven on track was very impressive.Julie Sariñana A few details really stayed with me afterwards. The Launch Control feature was unforgettable – hello, 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds! The staggering 1,156 PS on the Turbo model is equally impressive, especially knowing it’s paired with such control and sophistication. I also loved the sleek OLED driver display, which made everything feel so clear, intuitive and elevated. Every detail felt thoughtfully designed, from interior to exterior. Moritz Taylor 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds is faster than you can even imagine.Puck Moonen The active aero. Surprised when I first saw it, but upon experiencing launch control it made a lot of sense. It’s a rocketship!
Woman standing in front of Porsche Cayenne Electric with sea in background
Bike racer Puck Moonen was surprised by the Cayenne Electric’s powerful performance but smoothness Photo: Puck Moonen
4.⁠ ⁠What felt most impressive from behind the wheel?Ida Héritier How it behaved on the track. You can really push it and, even though it’s such a big and powerful car, it still feels completely stable, almost glued to the road.Bella James I think the car has a real aura. It’s smooth, dominant, electric but also sounds good and feels like a rocketship.Angel Fonseca Thelaunch control, and being able to constantly accelerate without feeling any power loss, was a very refreshing thing to see from an electric car.Julie Sariñana What impressed me most was how confidently it carries all its power. It feels incredibly responsive and thrilling, yet still composed and smooth at every moment. There’s a sense of precision behind the wheel that makes driving it feel exciting but effortless. It gives you that signature Cayenne confidence, just on another level.Moritz Taylor The way this SUV attacks corners is absolutely insane.Puck Moonen Smooth delivery of power, but very stable when applying it too – 0-100 km/h in 2.5sec turned into a remarkably comfortable experience.5.⁠ ⁠What felt most relevant for everyday driving?Ida Héritier The ease of it. You don’t have to think about anything, it just fits very naturally into how you drive.Bella James The smooth ride definitely and the interior space.Angel Fonseca The most important thing for everyday driving is its smoothness, comfortable interior and spaciousness with both frunk and trunk space.Julie Sariñana Just how seamlessly luxury and practicality came together. It still has the spaciousness, comfort and versatility that makes the Cayenne such a great everyday car, but now paired with the quiet ease and smoothness of electric driving. It feels designed for real life, while still making every drive feel special. Moritz Taylor The luxurious interior gets me every time. And the fact that you can go from smooth cruising to full-on race car mode with just two clicks on the steering wheel. Honestly, it has everything you could ever want. Puck Moonen Personally, the comfort and the range. Everything feels so smooth and the regeneration is so powerful, the battery lasts really, really long.
Woman in desert landscape leaning on door of car
Designer Ida Héritier was impressed with the effortless performance of the Cayenne Electric Photo: Ida Héritier
6.⁠ ⁠Which part of the cabin or tech experience stood out most?Ida Héritier The way it picks up speed. It’s incredibly quick but feels very controlled and effortless at the same time.Bella James The level of tech was just right without being too overwhelming.Angel Fonseca The new Flow Display screen was really cool as it’s not too big but flows nicely with the whole interior. I love how it separates Apple CarPlay and your car settings all on one screen so you can do multiple things at once.Julie Sariñana The cabin experience stood out immediately. The OLED driver display felt incredibly modern and polished, with everything presented so clearly and intuitively. Beyond that, the entire interior felt elevated: beautiful materials, clean lines and that signature Porsche attention to detail. It felt luxurious but never overdone.Moritz Taylor The curved display without a doubt. Puck Moonen Everything was easily within reach and switching between music, navigation and drive modes was accessible and intuitive. The seats were very comfy too with loads of adjustment options.7.⁠ ⁠Did anything challenge your expectations of the Cayenne Electric?Ida Héritier Probably how balanced it feels. It has all that power, but still feels very calm and considered.Bella James The launch speed. Nothing prepares you for that.Angel Fonseca The Cayenne Electric blew my mind. It was unreal experiencing an EV with very different capabilities. Porsche has really hit the mark with this car.Julie Sariñana Nothing challenged my expectations. In fact, it exceeded them. If anything, it made me look at my current Cayenne Coupé differently and imagine what an upgrade to the new Cayenne Electric version could feel like. It still feels like the Cayenne I know and love, just reimagined for the future.Moritz Taylor Not at all. Going fully electric is absolutely the right move for a car like this. With the massive shift happening in driving right now, everyone should experience an electric car at least once – it’s something else. Porsche, you absolutely nailed this one!Puck Moonen Considering it's an EV and very heavy, I expected it to feel ‘lazy’ and slide in high-speed corners. But it was quite the opposite and really felt worthy of the racetrack.
Woman standing in front of Porsche Cayenne Electric with coast in background
Fashion and lifestyle creator Julie Sariñana currently drives a Cayenne Coupé Photo: Julie Sariñana
With thanks to Moritz Taylor, Ida Héritier, Bella James, Angel Fonseca, Julie Sariñana and Puck Moonen
Consumption and emission information Cayenne Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.8 – 19.7 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: . Cayenne S Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.6 – 19.4 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: . Cayenne Turbo Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 22.3 – 20.3 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: . Cayenne Coupé Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.3 – 19.1 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: . Cayenne S Coupé Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.0 – 18.9 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: . Cayenne Turbo Coupé Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.9 – 19.9 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: .
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