Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid (2010) CAR review

The Porsche Cayenne caused controversy when it was launched, angering Porschephiles who believed that the Stuttgart sports car company shouldn’t be building such monstrosities. Of course the looks didn’t help the Cayenne’s case with traditionalists, but since the Mk1 Cayenne went on sale it’s proved to be a cash cow for Porsche.

Now there’s a new version of the big 4x4. Sleeker, lighter, and with a hybrid powertrain that makes it the cleanest Porsche ever sold, the Mk2 Cayenne aims to improve on everything the old car did so well (i.e. handling like it didn’t weigh 2.5 tonnes) while addressing what it didn’t (i.e. looking good and having the quintessential appeal of a Range Rover). Read on for CAR’s review of the new Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid.

So what’s changed inside and out on the new Porsche Cayenne?

Well the exterior certainly looks sleeker, and anyone who hasn’t banished the memory of pre-facelift Mk1 Cayennes from their memory will no doubt agree that the new styling is certainly an improvement. Granted that’s not saying much, but at least it’s less offensive than before.

However, the interior is a huge step forward over the old Cayenne – the plastics are no longer crap and the legroom in the back isn’t cramped. Instead it’s sumptuous and comfortable, and while the Panamera-inspired interior has led to the cabin being festooned with buttons, it does mean you don’t have to dive into constant sub-menu after sub-menu just to change the radio station. About the only thing out of place is the gearstick, a big chunky leaver that doesn’t get the same sleek knob as PDK-equipped cars. Why? Because it’s a regular automatic.

And what about this hybrid powertrain?

Let’s start with the numbers, as there’s a lot of them. Ignoring the Cayenne Diesel for now, the entry level petrol version of Porsche’s 4x4 comes with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6, good for 296bhp at 6000rpm and 295lb ft at 3000rpm. But the same engine in the Cayenne S Hybrid manages 328bhp (from 5500-6500rpm) and 324lb ft (from 3000-5250rpm), and then there’s the electric boost as well. The electric motor adds 46bhp and 295lb ft, and you end up with peaks of 374bhp and 427lb ft, the latter at a lowly 1000rpm.

Add in the eight-speed automatic, a stop/start system, clever thermal management of the engine and transmission, plus an aluminium-intense diet that’s cut an average 180kg from the kerbweight of the Cayenne and you end up with some very impressed figures. Like 6.5sec 0-62mph, plus a claimed 34.4mpg. The diesel guzzles less fuel (38.2mpg) but the electrified petrol powertrain means the S Hybrid achieves 193g/km CO2 (195g/km for the diesel). All of which makes this 2250kg SUV the cleanest car that Porsche currently sells.

It all works pretty well on the road, too. Lift off and the unused power from the V6 is diverted to charge the battery – and you’ll be surprised at just how often excessive energy is recuperated by the NiMH pack in the back. And because a trick clutch separates the drivetrain on the overrun, you end up braking to stop the Cayenne running away with itself, and that again helps to charge the battery. Plus a decent storage capacity means the Hybrid will almost always shut down the petrol engine when stationary. Then you’ll move off under electric power, and the Hybrid will also happily run in zero-emissions mode through 30mph zones. And when you are forced to use fossil-fuel mode, the eight-speed auto constantly shuffles cogs so you rarely use more than 2000rpm.

The system could work better though. Put your foot down and the electric motor rarely kicks in; only if you bury the right pedal through the kickdown step will you get any electrical assistance. There’s a Sport button, which encourages the electric motor to help out more, but it all seems a bit back to front. Surely the electric boost should help out as much as possible, lessening the work of the polluting petrol, while the Sport mode could increase the engine’s input when you’re in a rush. Plus the extra hybrid heft robs the chassis of the sharpness that is present in the Cayenne Turbo.

Verdict

Of course the Cayenne S Hybrid can’t match its claimed fuel consumption figures, but on test we still achieved 29.1mpg – our long-term diesel Range Rover Sport is hovering around 23mpg. Granted most of Europe will probably still opt for the oil-burning Cayenne, but it shows the technology can work.

The rest of the Cayenne is better than ever too, from the less offensive looks to the much improved interior. Whether you need it (or any other 4x4) over a big diesel estate is another question.