2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Is Pricey, but It Can Get a Whole Lot Costlier

A quick look at the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid spec sheet reveals that this SUV is a very capable machine. The internal combustion engine peaks at 6,000 rpm with an output of 591 hp. The 590 lb-ft of torque starts being available at 2,400 rpm.

But to enhance and "greenify" the powertrain, an electric motor developing 174 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque jumps in to make the giant feel even more zippier. That's how we get a posh family hauler or grocery-getter with a total power output of 729 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque.

You might have noticed that the hp and torque numbers don't add up. The SUV doesn't develop 765 hp and 929 lb-ft of torque. That's because the peak power of an internal combustion engine is available at a higher rpm. In contrast, the electric motor doesn't need to reach the maximum number of spins possible to give you its entire output. Thus, they do not and cannot synchronize.

The advantage of a plug-in hybrid vehicle is that it combines two solutions into one. It's a duality that cannot be achieved by pure gas-powered or all-electric cars. If used right, a PHEV is an excellent solution for minimizing your impact on the local environment without any tradeoffs when doing longer journeys.

Use it wrong, and you only accelerate the growth of your carbon footprint and the wear and tear of the vehicle. PHEVs are usually heavier because of the added hybridized tech. Spirited driving without a charged battery translates into replacing tires or brakes more often, increased gas costs, and an overall higher maintenance cost.

But if you know you can use the zero-tailpipe emission side of a PHEV properly, then the most powerful Cayenne ever made might just be the right choice for you.

Swanky from the get-go

Before we reveal our wildly expensive build, we must underline that the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is already a pretty pricey mid-size SUV. The electrified two-row unit with a V8 mechanical beating heart under its hood has a starting cost of $146,900 sans tax and freight.

Although few people would choose something like this, here's what paying the base amount for one would get you:

• 21-inch Turbo-specific rims with all-season tires;
• 18-way adjustable front seats and heated rear seats;
• mirror trim and door handles painted in the exterior color;
• silver window trim;
• eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic gearbox (enables the driver to switch seamlessly from auto to manual);
• twin dual-tube exhaust tips finished in stainless steel;
• adaptive air suspension with Porsche's active suspension management system (which refers to dampers filled with fluid boasting an electrically actuated valve that can either restrict or increase the flow of oil inside them, resulting in a firmer or softer suspension);
• Torque Vectoring Plus (an option suitable for spirited drivers who put their vehicles to work – it automatically applies certain levels of braking force to the rear wheels and allows the rear differential lock to activate when tight turns or muddy terrain are detected);
• power steering plus that automatically adjusts the weight of the steering depending on speed (the lower the mph figure is, the softer the steering will be);
• 10-piston calipers and ventilated 16.5-inch brake discs at the front, and 4-piston calipers with 14.3-inch brake discs at the rear;
• HD-Matrix Headlights with nearly 33,000 LEDs and greeting/goodbye animation (the technology was approved for use stateside but can't be enabled from the factory yet because of the NHTSA's stricter requirements);
• Tinted glass for the rear windows;
• aluminum trim for the dashboard and door inserts;
• heated GT sport steering wheel;
• roof lining finished in Alcantara-like Race-Tex;
• side airbags for the rear passengers;
• pedals with stainless steel;
• retractable cargo cover;
• a comprehensive advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) suite that includes traffic sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert (warning for when reversing out of a perpendicular parking bay and can even stop the car in case the driver doesn't act on time after hearing the audio and visual warnings), lane change assist (that warns the driver about vehicles coming too fast from behind when attempting a lane change), park assist with reversing camera, lane centering function, and a speed limiter that reads traffic signs and can adjust the maximum traveling speed automatically;
• garage door or gate opener;
• keyless access and liftgate opening through a foot gesture;
• two-zone climate control with pre-conditioning function;
• ambient lighting throughout the car and an extra 12V socket in the rear console;
• a hard drive containing a 3D map display feature, advanced dynamic route guidance based on multiple traffic flow data (Porsche Connect Plus needed), and automatic route tracing;
• wireless phone charging;
• 14-speaker 710-watt Bose sound system;
• four USB-C ports (two in the front, two in the rear);
• a mobile charger cable that enables the battery to charge at 11 kW.

It sounds like a lot of standard equipment because, well… It is! However, don't forget you're getting all this in exchange for an MSRP of nearly $150,000. Add tax (7.5%) and shipping, and the SUV with no other options or dealer markup will result in an acquisition price of almost $160,000. No matter how you put it, that is a lot of money.

But we're talking about Porsche's Cayenne here. You know things can quickly be taken to the next level. And we did just that.

Optional extras become must-have equipment

When money holds little value to someone, splurging becomes a regular shopping activity. We avoided worrying about getting the best bang for our buck and enjoyed the German automaker's new configurator.

First thing first, color! You can't go wrong with the $13,150 Paint to Sample option. It holds a selection of 52 colors. Java Green really piqued our interest initially, but that seems more fit for the Coupe version. It was just a bit too bold. After rummaging through the available options, we landed on Shiraz Red Metallic.

The name was probably inspired by a type of wine first made in a city that is over 4,000 years old. Today, it is part of Iran. The place is known for its carpets, flowers, and, of course, wine-making tradition. However, the type of grape used for contemporary Shiraz wine is not from the Asian country. It originated in France and is now very popular in Australia.

Next stop, rims. There are 22 options to choose from. The Neodyme finish seemed like it would fit excellently with the body color, but it was just too brave for our liking. So, we ticked the box for the 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels finished in Chromite Black Metallic. That's another $2,540 added to the total price. But we also added the locking wheel bolts for an extra $60.

We must now head inside the SUV. We're offered a bunch of choices here, but we picked the Club Leather option with a Barrique Red and Basalt Black combo. It costs $2,260, but it's high-quality milled Nappa-grade leather. We can't complain. Plus, it looks great in contrast with the body color and gives the cabin a much fancier look. It even opens it up a bit.

Choices, choices

Surprisingly, ventilated and massaging seats are an option on an SUV with a $150,000 price tag. Even worse, we must downgrade from 18-way to 14-way adjustable seats to add these functions. On top of that, four-zone climate control is required. But there's no way we would give up on such comfy additions, so we checked the boxes for an extra $3,650 added to the vehicle's cost.

The configurator takes us back to the exterior design, where we must decide whether it is enough to pay for an exclusive color or even more personalization is needed. The latter is the correct answer, so we chose the SportDesign Pack in high gloss black. That's another $5,590, but it gives the grille a much nicer look and adds even more of that special color we selected by painting it over some parts like the lower front bumper, the side skirts, and the diffuser.

For those people who want to off-road their plug-in hybrid Cayenne, the automaker allows them to install stainless steel skid plates ($1,150). But doing so cancels opening the liftgate with a foot motion. This is a heavy (5,664 lb curb weight) and expensive SUV. Chances are that nobody would take this to a muddy and bumpy track with the intention of testing its off-road prowess. Neither do we, so we're not touching it either.

But what we're going to add is the option to have the window trim, the roof rails, and the door handles in high gloss black. They contrast elegantly with the wheels, allowing the car's body to pop out. It also makes our Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid look a tad bit sleeker.

What would a posh SUV be without a panoramic glass roof, right? Of course we had to sneak that one in there, too! For just $1,560, who wouldn't, right?

Porsche also offers a selection of decals, but we only need the blacked-out logo and moniker from this submenu. At this point, our SUV cost a little over $180,630. We're not done with the options.

Now comes the fun part

We must select performance upgrades! This being a large and heavy vehicle, the Dynamic Chassis Control $3,590 option fits right in. It enhances the SUV's ability to resist lateral body movement during cornering, so it's a must-have.

This vehicle can sound the part, so we got the $3,220 sport exhaust system with dark bronze tips, the rear-axle steering feature for better maneuverability around town, and chose to have the brake calipers in high gloss black (which is not a performance upgrade, but that's where the German automaker put it).

We added the darkened headlight housings and the clear taillight design to make it even more stealthier. That reminded us that the matrix function could not be enabled from the factory in the US because the NHTSA chose to go above the industry standard and add more regulations.

For added cabin comfort, the thermally- and noise-insulated glass was another great pick. It means all the transparent surfaces are treated to minimize noise and not absorb heat or let in cold.

Up next, interior trim! Here, we chose carbon fiber combined with Neodyme. We also added the Porsche crest on the headrests, the heated GT Sport steering wheel, and decided that red seatbelts would look great.

Porsche also allows its clients to take personalization to the next step, and, as you can see in the photo gallery, we took advantage of that option.

Not done yet

It's 2023. Vehicles cannot come without at least a couple of safety systems. Thus, Porsche InnoDrive and the Night Vision Assistant were a must.

We also added the head-up display, the soft close doors, the air ionizer, the power sunblinds for the rear passengers, the front passenger display, the Burmester sound system, and the two screens for the kids sitting in the second row.

Our 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid costs $221,500, including the delivery fee. Assuming a 7.5% sales tax, as we did earlier, this SUV would end up costing $236,339 (freight is not taxable). That's a lot of money. But this SUV is also a lot of car.

If all this sounds like a bit of an overkill, don't forget that Porsche has the Cayenne E-Hybrid on sale too. It boasts a three-liter V6 instead of the four-liter eight-cylinder available on the Turbo model, but it still puts out a respectable 463 hp for a starting price of $91,700 sans tax and shipping. And it has the same battery plus motor solution as the Turbo!

We decided to give the X5 xDrive50e a shot as well because the slightly electrified V8-powered Cayenne felt a bit too pricey. A fully loaded plug-in hybrid X5 costs less than half. Give up on a couple of options, and it can even qualify for half of the total EV tax credit.

Ultimately, it's up to you and the budget for this expenditure. The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is certainly great, but doubts start to emerge when you realize that, for the same amount, one could buy two X5 xDrive50e SUVs and have some change left for a trip to Europe.