Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid has the winning edge in SUVs
It’s got faster performance, improved electric-driving capability, more balanced road manners for relevant times and a slightly smarter-looking outfit
The latest Porsche Cayenne continues its hybrid ambitions in a manner that should further satisfy potential punters of luxury SUVs.
It comes as no surprise why the Cayenne has become a bread-winning model for Porsche in Thailand despite the brand’s established image with sports cars like the legendary 911 Carrera.
After all, the Cayenne is a large SUV offering high levels of practicality and features a high-riding body that so many people these days have come to like.
And like how so many other luxury brands are experiencing, the SUV body style is said to account for more than 50 per cent of annual sales for Porsche in the country.
Then there’s the fact that the Cayenne has a plug-in hybrid version to choose from which can enjoy preferential excise taxation given out by Thai authorities.
Relatively low are the rates that the semi-electric Cayenne is even cheaper than some basic counterparts powered by conventional petrol engines.
Sure, there’s the smaller Macan mid-size SUV to choose from that should actually be the core-selling model for Porsche.
But as it has yet to go hybrid, even on a global basis. About 6 million baht (US$0.19 million), the Macan is not much cheaper than the Cayenne to really lure luxury car buyers with money to spare.