Porsche is one of the first brands to do so; back in the early 2000s, they introduced their first true non-sports car offering, the Cayenne, which was an SUV as defined by the famed Stuttgart brand. Over the years, the Cayenne has established itself as the top seller for Porsche globally, being a mix of the Porsche DNA and the practical needs of the premium SUV buyer.

Modern times have shifted the needs further; SUVs now also need to be sustainable and fuel-efficient. Integrating electrified technology in performance brands is trickier than most because brands like Porsche need to be more mindful about not spoiling the essence of their cars which is driving dynamics.

The market now leans towards plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and Porsche recognizes this by offering the new Cayenne with its own PHEV E-Hybrid technology which I was recently able to sample.

Starting with the looks, the Cayenne (along with every other Porsche) takes its design cues from the iconic 911. In the Cayenne’s case, it has, over the years, properly integrated the look into the overall SUV body style, admittedly the first few generations were clumsy mixes, now the Cayenne looks proper and well blended. I won’t say it looks pretty, but rather it pretty cool how they’ve managed to keep the Cayenne looking like a 911 SUV without much changes, just tweaks here and there to keep the look updated.

Inside, you get what you expect from a premium SUV offering. It has loads of soft touch materials, and the leather used on the seats, steering wheel, panels, and touch points are of the high-end type. It really is plush, the new Cayenne is joining the multiple display screen trend, with the digital instrument cluster, infotainment, and even a front passenger screen that more or less mirrors the infotainment. I do like the fact that, despite the screens Porsche didn’t succumb to the minimalist look, opting to still integrate a tactile and useful physical button cluster for the climate control system conveniently located just above the gear lever.

Other than the above-mentioned features, you also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and cooled front seats that are automatically adjustable, wireless charging, and a lovely Bose sound system that is so loud and clear I could hear the music from the outside of the car. Rear occupants get an air conditioning display screen, automatic window shades, and plenty of space. It must be said that the larger proportions of the Cayenne lead to a very decent amount of cargo space as well, I also like the air suspension buttons in the trunk that allow you to lower the ride height for easier loading and unloading of cargo.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid has a 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline V6 that together with the battery pack put out a massive 460 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all-four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Full electric range is also substantial, a total of 90 kilometers if fully charged. Safety is a top priority for all premium automakers and the Cayenne has a boatload of features like, Lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Nobody really expects a big SUV to drive like a sports car, but anything with a Porsche badge is expected to drive well regardless of form and I’m delighted to report that the Cayenne is a real Porsche. Immediately, the steering has feel, the brakes are engaging, and the chassis and air suspension combination help the Cayenne feel sporty. I first found it funny how this car can be spec’d with the Sport Chrono package, allowing for lap time recording, but the more I drove the more I realized if you really wanted to you could take this car to the track and it will likely perform decently. It even comes with Sport Response, which you can toggle by pressing the middle part of the drive modes wheel, that gives you 20 seconds of extreme performance. According to Porsche, it preps the turbos, downshifts the transmission, recalibrates the hybrid to deploy more energy, firm up the suspension, and there are even electronic engine struts that are stiffened to keep the engine upright under hard acceleration. You really have to hand it to Porsche to put all of these things in a family SUV.

On the more normal side of driving, the Cayenne E-hybrid operates differently from other PHEVs. Instead of using the electric charge up to a certain battery level, the Cayenne will prioritize depleting it for much better fuel economy. In the city, I was able to average 20 kilometers per liter, mind you I left it in auto mode allowing the car to think for itself without my ruining things. However, because you can use up all the battery once it’s gone, the engine kicks in and my average dropped to 11 km/L which, for a 460 horsepower V6, still isn’t bad. Besides, anyone who can afford a Cayenne has a proper garage with a wall charger, allowing them to top up the battery and get the best fuel efficiency numbers possible.

I’m not the biggest believer in air suspension, but in this case it really helps. The Cayenne’s ride is absolutely comfortable, and it becomes stiff in the sportier modes. Moreover, the whole car stays level no matter the situation, it is an SUV you want to drive, not be driven in. It feels engaging in a smooth sense, the power delivery isn’t violent, it comes in a manageable wave, but the sense of speed is muted at the same time. Wafting along at 100 km/h feels like 50 km/h, even the engine is somewhat silenced even at high revs, which I don’t mind since it’s an SUV and not a sports car.

Expectations for brands like Porsche are always high, heavy is the head that wears the crown and with the Cayenne I can say that it is more than what you expect, you aren’t just buying a Porsche badge, but an ownership experience that comes with all that heritage.