With the Taycan, Porsche was able to inject soul into an electric vehicle. For their second EV, the Macan Electric went its own way. For their third all-electric vehicle, the Cayenne Electric, Porsche knocks it out of the park, delivering everything the Cayenne was known for, and elevating it with electrons.

EXTERIOR

The Porsche designers gave the Cayenne all-new sheet metal, taking full advantage of the new electric-only platform, but shaped by the necessity of its powertrain. Despite having a sharper, more muscular stance than the outgoing combustion model, the Cayenne Electric has one of the lowest drag coefficients in the SUV segment. It’s longer, with a matching increase in wheelbase.

Then there’s the new front fascia with the needed grille work to handle battery cooling. A new rear lighting signature and gloss black body accents cap off a chiselled athletic appearance.

The 2027 Porsche Cayenne Electric uses its 113kWh for performance and efficiency, with over 600 kilometres of real world range, and over 400bhp on tap. (Photo: Rory Daley)

INTERIOR

The interior of the Cayenne Electric is just as refreshed as the exterior, but retains the key elements that made it such a standard of luxury and comfort. From the soft-close doors to the rear tailgate, everything in the SUV is powered and can be operated effortlessly and automatically. Stitched leather graces every conceivable surface, while the spacious cabin is completed by unquestionable build quality, making it feel special.

Leading a new clean tech-forward design is the Porsche Driver Experience — a triple display setup anchored by the Flow Display, a curved infotainment screen for ergonomic accessibility. On either side are two more OLED screens — 14.25-inch for the driver and 14.9-inch for the passenger — which can be optioned. The new system runs fast, smoothly, and looks sharp on the screens while delivering all the connectivity and control methodology expected from a modern vehicle. It can now run third-party apps and can even be tailored to the occupants’ moods.

The sense of space, luxury, and comfort is not lost on the rear passengers, who can also enjoy the massive stereo system because of the low noise floor afforded by its electric drivetrain, powered seating, multiple USB ports, and the panoramic sunroof with its variable light control system that alters its opacity at the touch of a button in a variety of patterns. Storage solutions are plentiful, keeping practicality.

The Porsche Driver Experience elevates an already impressive interior in the Cayenne Electric.(Photo: Rory Daley)

ON THE ROAD

With luxury and comfort easily sorted, the Cayenne Electric can be enjoyed on the daily commute and handle the standard SUV duties effortlessly. The 113kWh battery gives a real-world range of over 600 kilometres, helped in part by a regenerative system taken from Porsche’s electric motorsport endeavours. DC Fast charging is exactly that, with a maximum of 390kWh. Where the Cayenne has always had its bread and butter is its driving experience, and the move to electrons has enhanced that too.

Dual motors provide all-wheel drive, and a total output of 402bhp, with an extra 34bhp available on overboost, and up to 616lb/ft of torque. To say the Cayenne Electric drives well is an understatement. Steering is direct, as rear steer adds another level of dexterity to the vehicle.

Get going from the launch control — make sure to manually engage SPORT+, and the Cayenne shrinks around the driver as it blasts to its terminal velocity. The air suspension, and its four modes, can deliver comfort and cornering confidence, never feeling too harsh, but retaining Porsche’s sporty nature. Should one miss the aural pleasure of a combustion engine, there’s a V8 rumble available as well.

Cutting-edge technologies like the panoramic sunroof with its variable light control system adorn the 2027 Porsche Cayenne Electric in abundance. (Photo: Rory Daley)

VERDICT

The Cayenne Electric has done its job very well, enhancing the nameplate. Its character has not been fundamentally altered, just elevated in the shift to electric, including the driving dynamics. The Cayenne Electric feels every bit the premium product it is, from whichever seat is occupied.