Porsche’s third-generation Cayenne hybrid gets more juice, performance

The 2019 Cayenne E-Hybrid conquers winding roads with aplomb, entertaining and rewarding its driver as any Porsche should. Although the 911 or 718 sportsters may be the choice of purists, the plug for Porsche’s plug-in SUV comes down to this: it can fit four — or even five, in a pinch — and venture on or off the highway. And let’s not forget that this premium SUV’s 7,716-pound tow rating means weekend warriors can use their electrified Cayenne to trailer their track car.

Porsche’s overhauled plug-in Cayenne fits right into the brand’s electrification strategy. The summer arrival of the 2019 Cayenne E-Hybrid comes a half-dozen years after Porsche put the motoring world on notice with its limited-edition 918 Spyder hypercar. Then came the plug-in Cayenne E-Hybrid in 2015. Just last week Porsche took the wraps off its stunning 671-horsepower 2020 Taycan sedan. Nope, after the diesel debacles many automakers have experienced, it shouldn’t come as a shock that the folks in Stuttgart are embracing clean electrons.

We had a blast sampling Porsche’s new E-Hybrid in and around Eugene, Oregon where the all-wheel-drive machine delivered a smooth, quiet ride without a trace of flabbiness. The crisp, responsive handling was enhanced by the move to staggered wheels and tires. (The choices start with the standard 19-inchers and go all the way to 22s. Porsche offers 18 wheels with the E-Hybrid.)

You don’t have to squint to detect the 918 Spyder’s DNA. The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s brake calipers are painted acid green like the 918 hypercar’s. The new Cayenne’s instrument panel was inspired in part by the 918. The customizable screens convey information about the batteries’ state of charge, navigation status, climate control settings and the tune playing on the...