NOTE: Pricing based on data collected March 2011. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
Porsche introduced the Cayenne S Hybrid in model year 2011 as an all-wheel-drive (AWD) luxury hybrid. The mid-size SUV seats five and gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg, compared with the conventional Cayenne’s combined 18 miles per gallon (mpg). The Cayenne S Hybrid combines a supercharged 3.0-liter, 300-horsepower V6 engine with a battery-powered electric motor. The Cayenne S Hybrid is a full hybrid that can sustain all-electric speeds of 86 miles per hour for a little over a mile under certain conditions; it also has idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Improvement Score
The Cayenne S Hybrid achieves only 14 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with the conventional Cayenne S, among the lowest reductions of all models on the Scorecard. In comparison, the Lexus RX 450h AWD manages to accomplish a 31 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with its conventional counterpart. By sacrificing efficiency for acceleration, the Cayenne S is clearly a “muscle” hybrid. In addition, the smog-forming emissions performance of the Cayenne Hybrid is among the worst of all hybrids on the market earning it an EPA air pollution score of 6 out of 10. In comparison, the Lexus RX 450h rates an 8 on the EPA’s scale. These two factors give the Cayenne S Hybrid an Environmental Score of 3.7. Hybrid technology and modern emissions control systems offer the unique quality of providing a “no compromise” vehicle that does not trade smog-forming emissions for global warming emissions, and vice versa. The Environmental Improvement Score of the Cayenne S Hybrid could be greatly improved if Porsche focused two-mode hybrid technology on maximizing fuel economy, and made an effort toward reducing smog-forming emissions akin to other hybrid manufacturers.
Scorecard Environmental Improvement Score methodology
Hybrid Value
Porsche is charging $3,300 for the Cayenne S Hybrid’s drivetrain. Although that is less than half the cost of its twin, the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, in the luxury SUV class, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid delivers higher emissions reductions for a lower premium. The Cayenne S Hybrid earns a Hybrid Value of “Good” despite the small reduction in global warming emissions due to its relatively low hybrid premium. Porsche needs to deliver better fuel savings from its hybrid system to achieve a higher Hybrid Value rating.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
Luxury vehicles are defined by their features, and the Cayenne S Hybrid is no exception. Porsche is already synonymous with luxury. Porsche did not layer any additional features on its hybrid beyond the base model Cayenne S, unlike the Touareg Hybrid ($8,250) and Cadillac Escalade Hybrid ($7,150). However, Porsche could have hybridized the 3.6-liter V6 version of the Cayenne to give consumers a more fuel efficient option, rather than hybridizing the higher-powered Cayenne S. Though the Forced Features rating of “None” is a step in the right direction, Porsche needs to focus on improving the emissions performance of its hybrid system in order to make the Cayenne S Hybrid a truly attractive alternative to the conventional model, or to better performing luxury SUVs.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
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Additional Info
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