Direct comparisons of equipment and performance for the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid are difficult. Touareg cousin aside, the only other hybrid SUV is the Lexus RX450h and, despite that car’s slightly cleverer drivetrain, the Porsche canes it in almost every other respect imaginable. The Lexus, as you might expect, is the more frugal – 44.8mpg versus 34.4 – with the commensurate benefit in CO2 emissions and taxation. And you have to go to the lavishly-equipped range topping Lexus to beat the Cayenne hybrid’s list price.
The alternatives come in the form of higher-performance diesels, such as the BMW X5 xDrive40d and Mercedes ML450 CDI, against which the Cayenne has admirable running costs (because of its low CO2 figure) but suffers a high price.
Range Rover Sports and BMW X5/X6s are the more usual rivals for the rest of the Cayenne range, with the general rule being that the Porsche is more expensive, as you might expect with the brand. The V6 diesel looks to be the weak link in performance terms, when V8s are available elsewhere, but the Cayenne Turbo has the beating of all bar the V8-powered M versions of the BMW X5 and X6.
Equipment-wise, the Cayenne comes nicely equipped with a gorgeous cabin, but as with all of these premium marques, there’s no end of expensive options that will affect the luxury, look and feel of your Cayenne. Choose carefully or the true ravages of depreciation might be felt. Otherwise depreciation is sound.
Servicing and running costs? Porsches are never cheap in this respect.
