Can You Really Drive A Posh SUV Off-Road? Testing The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV

In the Green Lane, our motoring editor Jeremy Taylor tests the mettle of the latest electric cars and hybrids. So, how does the £140,600 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV hold up? His verdict, as he takes it to task in the Peak District? ‘The ugly duckling has finally become a swan.’

Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV Review

Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV

The Review

The Peak District was Britain’s original National Park and when wintry weather threatens England it’s also one of the first regions hit by snow. The notorious Snake Pass in Derbyshire climbs to almost 1700ft – a high-altitude route that often leaves motorists at the mercy of blizzards and ice.

While an SUV boast extra ground clearance and all-wheel drive, many people still struggle to get a grip in such slippery conditions. Thankfully, the latest Porsche Cayenne is the perfect vehicle for tackling the very worst without demanding too much of a driver.

The E-Hybrid’s eight-speed automatic transmission now features the ingenious InnoDrive. This clever system combines with satellite navigation to analyse the road ahead and keep the Porsche on the straight and narrow. With adjustments to speed and by optimising gear shifts, anyone can drive like a real pro.

Whether you choose to drive a £140,000 Porsche in treacherous conditions is another matter. The Cayenne E-Hybrid is pricey but perfectly blends space and pace, mating a V8 petrol engine with a plug-in battery for impressive performance.

Capable of up to 45 miles on battery power only, the Cayenne can glide silently through the Peak District’s prettiest villages. That’s more than enough to travel from time-warp Tissington to glorious Chatsworth, and possibly back again, if you go easy on the accelerator.

Inside, the classy cabin is a blend of high-tech info-tainment screens and luxurious leather trim. Even the front seat passenger has a display that won’t distract the driver as they watch a movie – locals will tell you some scenes from Harry Potter were filmed here in the Peaks.

If you prefer a pure EV then Porsche has more good news – deliveries of the first Cayenne Electric are due in the UK in the next few months. Various high-performance versions start at £83,200 and offer up to 398 miles on a single charge.

And because this is a Porsche, the spiciest Cayenne ever will be even quicker than the brand’s iconic 911 coupe. In top-of-the-range Turbo S form, this extreme sports utility vehicle packs an astonishing 0-62mph time of just 2.5 seconds.

The 1,145bhp power output is even more than the two hottest SUVs currently on the market, the Lamborghini Urus and the Aston Martin DBX707. The hybrid model I drove in the Peaks will stay on sale alongside a petrol version but Cayenne Electric has an ace up its sleeve – wireless charging.

Porsche will sell an inductive charging plate that rests flat on the garage floor. Park a Cayenne above and the batteries will charge without the need to plug in! This genius system is a first for a production car and could spell the end of annoying charging cables for good.

Introduced in 2002, the original Cayenne faced a barrage of criticism as the first Porsche that wasn’t a true sports car. It wasn’t a looker either. Since then, as the nation’s love affair with SUVs has blossomed, the ugly duckling has finally become a swan, a beautifully built five-seater that’s also great for tackling the rough stuff.

In Summary

Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV

Price: £140,600

Power: 739hp

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 and electric motor

0-62mph: 3.7 seconds

Top speed: 183mph

Streaming: Californication, by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Rating: ★★★★

Find out more about the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV at porsche.com