Earlier this year, Porsche launched the all-electric Cayenne, the EV counterpart of the very SUV that saved the brand from financial ruin decades ago. Producing a colossal 1,156hp, the Cayenne Turbo Electric holds the crown as the most powerful car you can buy in India today. Better yet, at Rs 2.28 crore, Porsche’s hyper-SUV delivers ballistic performance without a hypercar price tag. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are two reasons to buy it and two reasons to look elsewhere, based on our time behind the wheel.
Reasons to buy Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric
Immense power on tap
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric produces 1,156hp and 1,500Nm from its dual-motor setup and claims a supercar-rivalling 0-100kph time of 2.5 seconds. Put your foot down in launch control, and the Cayenne Electric propels ahead like a fighter jet. In our experience, power is brilliantly deployed with minimal wheelspin, and the Cayenne Turbo Electric surges ahead with the surroundings blurring around you. Acceleration performance is consistent throughout, and the EV tops out at over 260kph in just over 13.2 seconds.
Tech-laden and spacious cabin
Inside, the Cayenne Turbo Electric is a tech-laden affair with a unique-looking 14.5-inch curved OLED touchscreen in the centre, a 14.25-inch OLED driver’s display and an optional 4.9-inch passenger screen. The feature list includes 14-way powered and cooled seats (upgradable to 18-way with heating and massage functions), a Bose sound system (upgradable to a 21-speaker Burmester sound system), a panoramic sunroof with optional electrochromic transparency, four-zone climate control, an air purifier, a powered boot lid, powered rear sunshades, a 360-degree camera and more. Moreover, Porsche’s long list of optional extras adds even more features and kit.
Tech aside, the interior overall feels luxurious, and the over 3-metre long wheelbase means that there’s plenty of space at the back. Seat comfort is good, and unlike other EVs, you’re not seated too knees-up. Additionally, the SUV can carry a good amount of luggage with its 747-litre boot and 90-litre frunk.
Reasons not to buy Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric
Loss of front-end grip under acceleration
With the massive power comes a trade-off in terms of traction, especially at the front. If you spec the SUV without Active Ride Control, it squats rearwards, and with no engine weighing down the front axle, front-end traction is lacking. Under acceleration, the front of the Cayenne Electric tends to yaw left and right, which isn’t reassuring.
Un-Porsche-like handling
Despite its mind-bending 1,156hp output, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric falls short of classic Porsche handling dynamics. This is primarily due to its massive 2.7-tonne kerb weight and standard mechanical setup. On its standard air suspension, the hyper-SUV displays a surprising amount of body roll through fast corners. The absence of optional extras on the test car, like Porsche Active Ride Control to counteract body movement and rear-axle steering for low-speed agility, further dilutes its sharpness, making the vehicle feel noticeably heavy and prone to brake fade under repeated hard driving rather than delivering that signature direct, razor-sharp Porsche agility.