The SUV cars are clearly the trendsetters in the German car market. Almost every third car is now ordered from new cars in this segment and there is no end in sight for a long time to come. This is also clearly noticeable in the sports car manufacturer Porsche. The Cayenne, which is almost five meters long, is ahead of the classic 911 and the Boxster / Cayman in sales statistics. As a plug-in e-hybrid - charged with a capacity of around 11 kWh - it can cover a short distance of between 20 and 30 kilometers, depending on the environmental conditions and driving style.
A look at the long price list gives an idea of which equipment treasures can still be raised in this Porsche. Starting with a mundane front panel made of stainless steel, through the comfortable noise and heat protection glazing to the exclusive seating in various natural leathers, everything is conceivable here and can be implemented without any fuss. Upwards, no wishes are left unfulfilled and so the affluent clientele can usually create a car that is equipped to their own needs.
The buyers can also be seen in this segment and one wonders why this heavy SUV now has to be additionally equipped with a hybrid drive that makes it 160 kg heavier and can only drive a short distance of a maximum of 30 km electrically . In contrast to the previous model, the current electric motor has 95 hp and a top speed of 125 km / h. The built-in petrol engine is a V6 unit with 333 hp - both engines together achieve a system output of 416 hp. This enables sporty driving performance such as a sprint to 100 km / h in less than six seconds or a top speed of around 250 km / h on the motorway.
Many plug-in hybrid models are almost never seen at the charging stations; they usually charge the relatively small battery again via a recuperation system and are then used when necessary. If external charging is to be used, this can be done via the household socket in around 4 hours. The whole process can ideally be monitored and controlled via an app. This allows you to use very nice gimmicks, for example querying the location, preheating the car in winter or monitoring preset speed limits when someone else is driving the Porsche.
Drive or assisted drive?
We then approached the most innovative area: the seemingly unlimited assistance systems in the Porsche, which are supposed to form the bridges between traditional driving and the announced autonomous driving systems in the future.
The systems come into play in many dangerous situations. A common system in all vehicle systems is the lane change assistant, which draws attention to approaching vehicles in the blind spot of the mirror: an effective medium for avoiding collisions on motorways.
In well-marked lanes, the lane departure warning system makes a humming noise when crossing the lane markings and reminds you not to leave the lane you are using. Most interesting for the driver is the adaptive cruise control. It automates the driving speed by orienting itself towards the vehicle in front. In the speed range between 65 and 30 km / h, it maintains the distance, accelerates and brakes automatically without the driver having to intervene. This is very relieving for the driver on motorway and long-distance journeys.
Ample dimensions and space
The exterior dimensions of the car are generous and the differentiated assistance systems are a blessing for the driver, especially when parking and leaving. There is also ample space for five people in the interior. The front seats can be individually adjusted so that all wishes are met and there is also plenty of space on the back seat.
The payload can be varied and comprises a proud load volume between 580 and 1.690 liters.
The driver's cockpit
For those who love analogue buttons, rotary and toggle switches, a real paradise of operating elements and switching options opens up after entering: starting with the setting options on the seats, through the side door elements and the fittings, to the oversized center console.
This control panel is extended by the well-equipped multifunction steering wheel and the selector switches behind it, shift paddles for the 8-speed automatic converter and the digital multifunction displays. If this is not yet fully utilized, please look up at the central headliner or at the central display in the center console with the surrounding control buttons. To get to the point with a quote from the legendary Werner films, we modify Master Röhrich's best-known quote: “Tell me Werner, does it have to be that there are so many buttons?” Not really, but if you like it, can let off steam here and try out many individual settings before starting driving.
Calm before the storm
How does a hybrid car weighing more than 2 tons achieve a DIN consumption of 3,4 liters of super? Quite simply: when the battery is charged, the Cayenne starts electrically and, under ideal conditions, drives around 30 kilometers purely electrically up to a speed of 125 km / h. Then the V6 kicks in, and if you gently stroke the accelerator pedal, you can make gasoline consumption bearable at moderate speed. And this is where the laboratory fairy tale ends.
The driver will have very different demands on the car. The electric motor has the function of relieving or firing the gasoline engine. While driving, the petrol engine switches off if no power is required, for example when coasting or at a traffic light. However, if the power is called up during kickdown or long motorway journeys, for example, the consumption values are in a completely different range. In our various test drives, we were able to estimate the readings between 8 and 16 liters. The charging station does not necessarily have to be used in practical operation, as the energy recovery takes place during recuperation and the batteries are charged relatively quickly during braking.
In terms of driving behavior, the hybrid model is a real racing SUV among comparable off-road vehicles, very appealing handling, high agility over the entire speed range, sporty 8-speed converter transmission and powerful despite its high weight.
Therefore, it has everything for the expected driving pleasure. With the integrated level control system, many unevenness can be overcome in the terrain - the only question is who is moving his dignified Porsche through the terrain with this vehicle width.
The questions about fuel consumption and environmental friendliness are justified, because outside of the norm in hybrid operation, the Cayenne consumes a good 120 liters of super per 10 kilometers even at a constant 100 km / h on the motorway. If the full range of acceleration and top speed is used, it can easily be 16 liters. If you let things get down to business here, you often drive to the limit, accelerate hard and brake hard, and charge the battery properly at the same time. In this way, it can then be charged within about 400 kilometers. The all-wheel drive works in a balanced way and the chassis makes a harmonious impression in all situations. Equipped with the optional air suspension, the comfort is above average, the possibility of lowering the car for easier entry or raising it for the terrain are clear quality advantages.
Prices and equipment features Porsche's pricing policy is very special. Sports car manufacturers can pay a lot extra with the extensive price list alone, so driving comfort, leather upholstery options and additional assistance systems are always associated with surcharges. However, there is a little delicacy to be found in the price list: The 100-liter fuel tank is available at no extra charge. From the base price of 86.133 euros, our final test car price is well below the six-figure range.
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