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Car and Driver prototype drive of Porsche Cayenne EV

Leftlane said:
Porsche has always been absolutely insane with their options pricing - on one hand, you can order it just the way you want it, but on the other, it is not unusual to add 50%+ to the base price once optioned up. One tester I just read optioned his Cayenne EV up to $253k...
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My preferred Cayenne EV spec came to $196K. I could get a well-spec'd and pretty-good EX60 for well under half that, or a nice Gravity at less than two-thirds of the Cayenne's MSRP.
 
Leftlane said:
Porsche has always been absolutely insane with their options pricing - on one hand, you can order it just the way you want it, but on the other, it is not unusual to add 50%+ to the base price once optioned up. One tester I just read optioned his Cayenne EV up to $253k. Configurators are fun to play with but Porsche has taken pricing to the next level. I’ll predict now that the Cayenne EV totally bombs and will probably get cancelled - they can’t give the Macan EV away and they do not get good reviews from owners at all.
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To be realistic most every option Porsche offers is something above and beyond what is available, in any way, versus other cars; things like special colored stitching or full active suspension. I just went on the Porsche configurator and could not surpass $243K and this includes every stupid thing like custom leather owner's manual wallets with your initials.

About a week ago I put a deposit on a Cayenne EV. My build costs $126,890 so $15,540 of options. If you look you will see it is pretty loaded up except it doesn't have a hitch because they seem to not have them available for USA yet which will kill the deal if I can't have that on day one.
 
babylou66 said:
To be realistic most every option Porsche offers is something above and beyond what is available, in any way, versus other cars...
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Agreed - I'm wondering if "good enough" will be OK, or will I regret making a sensible and friendly purchase like the EX60 Volvo when I could've had better/nicer.
Or a Gravity with great hardware and doubtful software, including useless-to-us navigation, vs. a car like the Cayenne EV with outstanding hardware, stable software, and top-shelf navigation. How much is that worth?
 
I forgot to mention I got a 3% discount and was the first order. Build is slated for April.

FYI, I got forced into the Cayenne EV. I wanted a Lucid Air but basically impossible to carry a load of bicycles. Ordered a Gravity for wife's daily that I could use for my biking trips but she didn't like the cupholders (yup) and went with a Caddy that didn't come with a hitch. Caddy has poor handling so not for me. Gravity just not my style. Then I ordered a Polestar but man they have so many issues so I opted out. Was about to buy a Mach E but the damn frame cracks when carrying bikes with a hitch. Not enough rear headroom in Ioniq 5. Midsize Lucid without all the issues would be perfect but it doesn't exist. Also considered BMW iX, Mercedes & Tesla. I bought a Volvo EX30 as an interim vehicle.
 
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prgarg said:
That's actually comparable to a loaded GGT. I thought the Cayenne would come up much higher.
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Just keep in mind that $126,890 is for the Cayenne EV with:
  • almost half the hp of a loaded GGT; up to 435 with launch control vs. 828
  • standard, non-leather interior; leather costs an extra $3,890
  • no rear seat heating
  • much smaller frunk
  • no third row
  • less interior cargo space
It is not the Cayenne Turbo EV that starts at $163,000 and is closer in performance to the GGT.

My loaded GGT cost $122,150 with:
  • 828 hp
  • Tahoe leather
  • rear seat heating
  • nice size frunk for frunking or cargo
  • third row when needed
  • plenty of interior space for bikes and beach gear

I'm not knocking the choice made by @babylou66 , just providing some clarity for the forum record.
Each buyer purchases based on their needs and preferences.

I configured a Cayenne Turbo to closely match my GGT; cost of $184,000.
I'd be spending $62,000 more and I'd still be losing the leather interior I love, a 3rd row, nice frunk space, and some interior space.
 
I’d be curious about the specs for a $126k Cayenne EV versus a loaded Gravity GT. I imagine the power, range, etc isn’t even close to the Lucid. Usually with Porsche you have to go to the top spec to start with, and then lard on options.

Edited to say that msaunders was typing a much more detailed response at the same time as me.
 
msaunders9430 said:
Just keep in mind that $126,890 is for the Cayenne EV with:
  • almost half the hp of a loaded GGT; up to 435 with launch control vs. 828
  • standard, non-leather interior; leather costs an extra $3,890
  • no rear seat heating
  • much smaller frunk
  • no third row
  • less interior cargo space
It is not the Cayenne Turbo EV that starts at $163,000 and is closer in performance to the GGT.

My loaded GGT cost $122,150 with:
  • 828 hp
  • Tahoe leather
  • rear seat heating
  • nice size frunk for frunking or cargo
  • third row when needed
  • plenty of interior space for bikes and beach gear

I'm not knocking the choice made by @babylou66 , just providing some clarity for the forum record.
Each buyer purchases based on their needs and preferences.

I configured a Cayenne Turbo to closely match my GGT; cost of $184,000.
I'd be spending $62,000 more and I'd still be losing the leather interior I love, a 3rd row, nice frunk space, and some interior space.
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Good point... I missed that
 
From a range perspective, the 386 rated miles with my 21/22 wheel setup is just one mile less than the best rated miles of the Cayenne EV (387).
However, when you look at charging speeds, efficiency, etc. there are subtle aspects to consider.

Hopefully, some Gravity owners will add a Cayenne to their stable and keep us informed over time, like the R1S owners.

This ev ownership is so much more fascinating than ICE ownership.
 
Leftlane said:
Porsche has always been absolutely insane with their options pricing - on one hand, you can order it just the way you want it, but on the other, it is not unusual to add 50%+ to the base price once optioned up. One tester I just read optioned his Cayenne EV up to $253k. Configurators are fun to play with but Porsche has taken pricing to the next level. I’ll predict now that the Cayenne EV totally bombs and will probably get cancelled - they can’t give the Macan EV away and they do not get good reviews from owners at all.
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I’ll take that bet. Cayenne EV will be very successful. The Turbo EV is a bargain compared to the current ICE Turbo GT. As for the absurd $253k price, the only way you get that high would be to option the exclusive custom exterior colors and custom interiors. A fully optioned Turbo with all meaningful items (not including a bunch of custom colors, carbon trim add on’s, etc.) comes to about $195, which is about $30k above base Turbo and same as adding full options on a Lucid GGT.
 
What’s the market for $150-$200k electric SUVs? Now split that between Cayenne, Gravity, Escalade, upcoming Range Rover, Mercedes, BMW….

There just aren’t enough rich people around who are wanting to make the switch to electric for their family haulers. I absolutely love my Cayenne GTS , but brand new it was $101k (I paid about $60k certified). The market runs out of steam quickly at these prices and Porsche will be one of the most expensive options out there with a less than great ownership experience with the Taycan and Macan.
 
Cayenne EV comes with leather seating surfaces as standard just not leather everywhere like on dash or console sides which is not offered by nearly all other vehicles. Cayenne EV range has independently been tested at ~350mi @ 70 mph. Same tests with Gravity ~345 mi so no difference. Acceleration for base Cayenne is 4.5s 0-60. So yeah if that ain't fast enough for you then so be it.
 
Leftlane said:
I’d be curious about the specs for a $126k Cayenne EV versus a loaded Gravity GT. I imagine the power, range, etc isn’t even close to the Lucid. Usually with Porsche you have to go to the top spec to start with, and then lard on options.

Edited to say that msaunders was typing a much more detailed response at the same time as me.
Click to expand...
I know Porsche is bragging about the range and charging speed of the Cayenne. But I'm unclear if you have to buy the top spec Turbo to get that? Or does the lower spec version still deliver both? If the base Cayenne offers it, then I'd expect the base Cayenne probably wins a bit on handling/driving dynamics, but the Lucid wins on power and ergonomics. Neither has an advantage in driving dynamics or power that I consider to be all that meaningful for me, so my personal equation comes down to whether I value the packaging of the Lucid over the potentially better software stability of the Cayenne. Lucid has ~6 months of time to improve the software before a Cayenne could potentially be in my driveway, so it's not clear to me that Cayenne will win on software.
 
TahoeMichael said:
...Lucid has ~6 months of time to improve the software before a Cayenne could potentially be in my driveway, so it's not clear to me that Cayenne will win on software.
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I hope Lucid will rapidly improve Gravity's software too, but they've had four years to work on the Air, and it's still a bit rough. Additionally, HERE maps will never catch up with Google.
 
DeaneG said:
I hope Lucid will rapidly improve Gravity's software too, but they've had four years to work on the Air, and it's still a bit rough. Additionally, HERE maps will never catch up with Google.
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If I understand Lucid's strategy properly, the Gravity's software stack is what their 3rd vehicle will also be using. So they better get cracking if they want to be ready for that! I'm in the camp that believes the mid-market will be even less tolerant of software glitches than the luxury market is.
 
TahoeMichael said:
I know Porsche is bragging about the range and charging speed of the Cayenne. But I'm unclear if you have to buy the top spec Turbo to get that? Or does the lower spec version still deliver both? If the base Cayenne offers it, then I'd expect the base Cayenne probably wins a bit on handling/driving dynamics, but the Lucid wins on power and ergonomics. Neither has an advantage in driving dynamics or power that I consider to be all that meaningful for me, so my personal equation comes down to whether I value the packaging of the Lucid over the potentially better software stability of the Cayenne. Lucid has ~6 months of time to improve the software before a Cayenne could potentially be in my driveway, so it's not clear to me that Cayenne will win on software.
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Cayenne EV base & turbo have same battery but different motors. Charging speed is the same. Range might be slightly different due to motors and maybe different.
 
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