Porsche Cayenne Electric 2027 review: International first drive

You really do get what you pay for with the all-new Porsche Cayenne Electric and the more cash you splash the better the large battery-powered SUV gets.

Locked in for a quarter three Australian landing, the fourth-generation all-new Cayenne is a natural rival for the Lotus Eletre and the hybrid BMW XM, as well as traditional fast SUVs that include the Range Rover Sport SV and BMW X5 M.

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The middle-rung Cayenne S ($193,100 plus ORCs) ups that to 490kW, which is plenty for a brisk 0-100km/h of 3.8 seconds but if you can afford it we'd pay even more for the game-changing Turbo model that costs a substantial $259,900 plus on-roads.

Delivering an astonishing 850kW and 1500Nm of torque, the Cayenne that shares its PPE platform with the smaller Macan, can rocket from 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds making it as quick as the German brand's latest flagship 911 Turbo S coupe and sees it on par with some so-called hypercars.

No other SUV, not even the Lotus Eletre (2.95 seconds), comes close to matching the Cayenne Turbo's explosive performance off the line and, remarkably, the big Porsche SUV is no one-trick pony because it also raises the bar for thrills behind the wheel – but only if you tick a few boxes first.

To unleash the full potential of the battery-electric SUV you'll need to option both the Active Ride ($17,480) and rear-wheel steering ($3570), although we could probably do without our car’s carbon-ceramic brakes and pocket the $19,520 saving.

Frustratingly the Active Ride, that cancels body roll and reduces pitch and drive associated with hard acceleration and braking, isn't available on the base model which is a shame as it transforms the Cayenne into a car that drives like a much smaller, lighter sports car.

Highlights include, the accurate and precise steering and a decent ride considering the epic performance on top. The full 850kW power output is only ever available during either launch control or when you stab the 'push-to-pass' button on the rotary drive mode selector on the steering wheel, with 'only' 630kW available at other times, which is more than enough to see off most Ferraris.

Back off the pace and the Porsche is surprisingly relaxing, while the ride in its comfiest mode is supple enough to provide a decent impression of something far more luxurious. Just tyre noise caused by the wider rubber intrudes.

Off road, the same trick suspension blesses the Cayenne with far more off-road capability, providing better wheel articulation, while the height-adjustable air springs provide up to 245mm of ground clearance.

For those who live in the country, Porsche will even offer an Offroad Package ($5230) that adds a revised front and rear bumper for a better approach and departure angle, plus arches and side skirts finished in a more durable black plastic.

Towing is up to 3500kg, which is impressive for a fast SUV and on par with the combustion V8 twin-turbocharged Range Rover Sport SV.

While some might miss the sound of a combustion engine and find the switch to an EV daunting, Porsche has tried to take the pain out of the ownership experience.

Equipped with a large 113kWh battery (net) the base Electric can cover up to 642km, while even the Turbo can still drive up to 624km on the European WLTP test cycle.

Run low on juice and a 10-80 per cent charge at up to 400kW takes just 16 minutes, although on a less powerful 400-volt charging post found in Australia that figure drops to around 26 minutes.

Later on, post-launch Porsche will roll out its new inductive charging tech that can top up at up to 11kW at 90 per cent efficiency without any of the faff related to plugging in your car when you get home.

Even though the Cayenne is just 55mm longer than the current combustion version, the new architecture beneath sees it come with a wheelbase that's almost 130mm longer for more legroom, while headroom in the front and rear is generous and the rear boot offers up to 781 litres of space and is boosted by a decent 90-litre frunk for cables.

Upfront the Porsche SUV has one of the best cabins going, marrying plenty of proper physical controls with an intuitive large infotainment system, 14.5-inch digital instrument cluster and a new 14.9-inch passenger display.

Other useful additions are a new 3D augmented reality head-up display. For fit and finish the Cayenne is among the very best in its class.

Standard kit for Australian models includes 14-way electric heated and ventilated seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, a 360-degree camera, park assist, four-zone climate control and a Bose premium sound system.

The S version adds 20-inch aero wheels, Matrix LED lamps and a heated steering wheel.

Finally, the Turbo adds Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), the Turbo rear motor, larger 21-inch alloy wheels, HD matrix LED lamps, 18-way adaptive seats, a GT sports steering wheel and an uprated Bose surround sound system.