2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo / Turbo S E-Hybrid
Overview
We’re long past the point where Porsche purists are whining about the existence of the Cayenne SUV. But if you happen to think the SUV from Zuffenhausen isn’t capable of revving your pulse as high as its two-seaters, we invite you to get behind the wheel of a Cayenne Turbo. Yes, it’s a practical SUV, but it’ll pin you to the seat and go around corners with physics-defying speed. It’s a beast with upper-class manners. The entry-level model is powered by a twin-turbo V-8 engine that makes 541 horsepower while the upgraded Turbo S E-Hybrid adds an electric motor to the mix for a combined 670 ponies. Handling capability is equally impressive, especially given the Cayenne’s size and weight. It’s a thrill to pilot one of these big brawlers down a twisty road—which is the same trait we love about the Cayenne’s sports-car stablemates. The cabin is pretty posh too, and there’s room to haul four adults and their cargo—something you simply can’t do in a 911.
What’s New for 2023?
Besides switching from Jet Black Metallic to a new Chromite Black Metallic paint option for 2023, the Cayenne Turbo carries over to the new year unchanged.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
$137,350
Turbo S E-Hybrid
$172,750
Although the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid is an impressive package with more power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency than the Cayenne Turbo, it’s significantly more expensive, with a price jump of more than $35,000. By comparison, the 541-hp Turbo model, which can still hit 60 mph in less than four seconds, is the better value—relatively speaking. With the savings, opt for the Sport Chrono package, which adds a Sport Plus Mode for additional performance, and the Assistance package, which contains important safety features including adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system that gives you a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the SUV. It makes parking and maneuvering in tight spaces much easier.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo is so powerful and so much fun to drive, it’s easy to forget you’re piloting an SUV. Its precise steering, adjustable air suspension, and responsive engine combine to make it feel more like a large sports sedan. And the all-wheel-drive Cayenne doesn’t just handle like a vehicle half its size, it also offers a compliant ride and high refinement. It’s exceedingly quick, too. The Cayenne Turbo is powered by a 541-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. In our testing, it went from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Turbo S E-Hybrid’s power and performance are even more extreme. It uses the same twin-turbo V-8 from the Cayenne Turbo, but enhanced with a 134-hp electric motor sandwiched between the engine and its responsive eight-speed automatic. The total output is an impressive 670 horsepower, and speeds as high as 83 mph are possible without the gas engine ever switching on. The system also can operate in a battery-saving mode that only burns gas, or the two systems can work together, and its operation is exceedingly smooth. Its battery pack can complete a full recharge in about 2.5 hours when connected to a 240-volt, 30-amp source, and the SUV has a pure electric range of more than 20 miles. Did we mention it can sprint to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds at 121 mph? It’s one of the quickest SUVs we’ve ever tested.
More on the Cayenne Turbo SUV
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The E-Hybrid version provides the best fuel economy with an EPA rating of 42 MPGe combined. The Cayenne Turbo model is rated 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Rivals such as the BMW X5 M and the Jaguar F-Pace SVR have slightly better ratings. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, the Cayenne Turbo delivered an impressive 25 mpg. For more information about the Cayenne Turbo’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Futuristically luxurious, the interior of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo is as visually impressive as the SUV’s performance is thrilling. Build quality is exceptional, and the cabin is completely customizable since Porsche allows you to individually select everything from the interior trim to the seatbelt colors to the surface materials. There’s also an endless list of optional luxuries, which are hard to resist, including more supportive sport seats, massaging front seats, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and four-zone climate control. All Cayenne Turbo models come with a heated steering wheel and heated front and rear seats. The slick gauge cluster is similar to Porsche’s 911, with an analog tachometer flanked by two 7.0-inch screens that display selectable information, including navigation maps. The driving position is perfect, and interior space is generous. Although a third row is not offered, the Cayenne Turbo seats five comfortably, and its adjustable back seat provides plenty of head- and legroom. Cargo volume is also ample, although some competitors such as the BMW X5 M and Mercedes-AMG GLE53 offer more. There are 27 cubic feet of space behind the Cayenne’s rear seats and up to 60 cubes with the rear seats folded flat. Every Cayenne includes a power-operated liftgate.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Cayenne Turbo gets Porsche’s latest and simplified infotainment system and features a responsive and easy-to-operate 12.3-inch touchscreen mounted in the middle of its dashboard. With a configurable home menu and many personalized settings, the system is easier to use than previous versions, which we have complained about in the past. Every Cayenne Turbo has Porsche Connect Plus, which includes a 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. We recommend the optional Burmester audio system that pumps 1455 watts through 21 speakers, although it’s pricey. The optional rear-seat entertainment system attaches two 10.0-inch displays to the back of the front seats.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
A long list of driver-assistance technologies is standard on the Cayenne Turbo, including forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, and front and rear parking sensors. A handful of other active driver aids are optional, including a night-vision system, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. For more information about the Cayenne Turbo’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking Available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology Available lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
At four years or 50,000 miles, the limited warranty and powertrain coverage are competitive in this class, and the 24-hour roadside-assistance program spans the same amount of time. Porsche also includes the first scheduled maintenance visit; BMW’s complimentary scheduled maintenance program is considerably longer.
Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Hybrid electrical components/battery warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED
$194,650 (base price: $163,150)
POWERTRAIN
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve 4.0-liter V-8, 541 hp, 568 lb-ft; permanent-magnet synchronous AC motor, 134 hp, 295 lb-ft; combined output, 670 hp, 663 lb-ft; 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 17.3-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc/16.1-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero Corsa PZC4, F: 285/40ZR-21 (109Y) N0 R: 315/35ZR-21 (111Y) N0
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 114.0 in
Length: 193.9 in
Width: 78.1 in
Height: 65.9 in
Passenger volume: 107 cu ft
Cargo volume: 23 cu ft
Curb weight: 5623 lb
C/D
TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.2 sec
60 mph: 3.2 sec
100 mph: 7.8 sec
130 mph: 13.4 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 1.9 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 2.3 sec
¼-mile: 11.5 sec @ 121 mph
Top speed (mfr’s claim): 183 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 149 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.01 g
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/city/highway: 17/16/18 mpg
Combined gasoline+electricity: 44 MPGe
EV range: 11 miles
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED
$137,810 (base price: $125,850)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 244 cu in, 3996 cc; Power: 541 hp @ 6,000 rpm; Torque: 567 lb-ft @ 1,960 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink; Brakes (F/R): 16.3-in vented, tungsten-carbide-coated disc/14.4-in vented, tungsten-carbide-coated disc; Tires: Pirelli P Zero Corsa PZC4, F: 285/40R-21 (109Y) N0 R: 315/35R-21 (111Y) N0
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 113.9 in
Length: 193.9 in
Width: 78.0 in
Height: 65.8 in
Passenger volume: 107 cu ft
Cargo volume: 27 cu ft
Curb weight: 5148 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 3.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 9.0 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 15.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.7 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.8 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.1 sec @ 115 mph
Top speed (drag limited, mfr’s claim): 177 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 150 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.00 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 16 mpg
75-mph highway driving*: 25 mpg
Highway range: 590 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 17/15/19 mpg
More Features and Specs
