2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric: interior, design and features review

Whenever a new Porsche model is revealed the world stops spinning for a second. The Cayenne once changed our views on SUVs and is likely about to do it again. The model has historically been offered almost exclusively with V8 engines of high power output and glorious rumble. Those days appear to be numbered as Porsche unveiled a fully-electric Cayenne lineup. The ICE variant continues to be sold alongside it, but we’re unsure if another petrol generation will ever be launched.

We got to see the new Porsche Cayenne Electric in person and we can share some first-hand impressions. The model was the base version (albeit a richly spec'd one), whereas a more powerful Turbo version will also be available to order. The model is bigger and more powerful than before but also weighs significantly more.

All versions come standard in AWD and even this base version offers 442 hp and 616 lb-ft, resulting in an acceleration to 62 mph in just 4.8 seconds. Those numbers sound great but the initial price tag of $128,700 is significant and you can quickly end up on the wrong side of €150,000 by adding just a few extras.

Porsche Cayenne Electric 2025 -

Exterior

Porsche refrained from making drastic design changes. The Cayenne Electric looks like a continuation of the current ICE version rather than a revolutionary new model. The real changes hide beneath the surface, where everything is new.

From the front, immediately noticeable are the cooling flaps on the lower part of the bumper, which will open and close depending on the needs of the vehicle. They first appeared in the facelift of the current 911 GTS, 992.2 generation. Now, they are even more pronounced in the Cayenne and take up a bigger part of the front.

The lights are modern and stray further from the original Porsche round design. They have a simplistic housing and tiny LED strips to light up the road ahead.

The entire front end of the Cayenne is smoothed out to reduce drag, which sadly makes it less recognizable as a Porsche from the outside.

The front end of the Cayenne Electric

The side profile carries the typical Porsche SUV look with low narrow windows, bulky wheel arches sticking out and ever-so-slightly sloping roofline for better looks and aerodynamics.

There aren't many things of note on the side, but the wheels definitely stand out. The show unit had 315/35/R22 wheels and tires in the back and 275/40/R22 in the front, which look enormous even by today's standards. The design is simple and elegant but lacks depth, as the extra complications will likely lead to worse aerodynamics.

The charging port opens electronically and hides its panel door inside the body of the car. The Cayenne Electric supports DC charging with up to 400 kW, which means that in ideal conditions charging from 10 to 80% will take only 16 minutes. Type 2 home chargers of up to 22 kW are also supported, taking close to 6 hours for a full charge.

Side profile accents of the Cayenne Electric

The rear end of the new Cayenne seems to be rather controversial among Porsche enthusiasts and we understand why. There aren't many details in the back, making the Cayenne look less exotic than it is and blend more into traffic, which many customers don't want.

It appears Porsche wants to stay clear of the typical Cayenne buyer image, who gets it to show off, and attract more sophisticated clientele with the electric version. This rear doesn't carry any of Porsche’s traits or even a big logo, just a couple of fake vents and a fake diffuser, which all account for a somewhat generic look.

The rear of the Cayenne Electric

Interior

As we mentioned, the biggest changes are beneath the surface. The interior of the Electric Cayenne is completely reworked, except for the steering wheel, which is carried over from other models.

Behind the wheel is an eye-scanner sensor, which will serve to detect driver drowsiness. It looks bad and sticks out but the idea behind it is noble.

The gauge cluster display of the Cayenne Electric is entirely digital and has touchscreen controls on each end. On the left you control the lights, whereas on the right you can turn the traction control off, regulate damper stiffness, raise the air suspension and look at the camera system. All of these controls are crucial in certain situations and it's good Porsche gave them separate buttons instead of incorporating them into a screen.

To the left of the steering wheel you can find the start/stop button, which is not made from the type of nice materials that make you feel special every time you start the car. Instead, a very cheap plastic is used and the size of the button is significantly smaller. The gear lever follows the same principle but on the right side.

Gauge cluster accents in the Cayenne Electric

Those two elements aside, the overall quality of the interior is fabulous, with nice and soft leather being used virtually everywhere, as well as superb build quality with no squeaking or unnecessary movement.

The seats are comfortable, yet supportive. The pink color used for the interior highlights the design features but more subtle colors will also be available.

Wonderful quality inside

In the middle of the dashboard is a huge curved display, which is the highlight of the front row. It is a masterpiece of technology and we'll get back to it in a bit.

Underneath the display are some quick temperature setting buttons that once again have great feedback when used, but for the extended A/C controls you have to open up a menu on the screen.

What is very clever about the usage of this curved display is the leather mat in front of it to rest your hand on as you use the touchscreen. This allows you to have more precise gesture inputs, which would be especially beneficial while driving, but will also ease your life while stationary.

Underneath the display area is a deep pocket, which can be used for hidden storage.

Center display area

Stemming from it is the center console, which is significantly deeper than in the ICE model and can fit both large cups and bottles, as well as simply big objects if you remove the cup holders. You also get a ventilated wireless charger for your phone and if you don't want to look at that conundrum of pockets you simply slide over the armrest forward and are left with an elegant console.

Armrest area

The front passenger gets their own display. It has almost the same capabilities as the center one but can be used by the passenger without distracting the driver. It is long but narrow to prioritize video playback.

The rear seats are as spacious as in the regular Cayenne. Based on equipment options they can be electrically adjustable and come with seat heating and ventilation. The rear passengers also get rear sunshades and air conditioning controls for added luxury.

Rear passengers enjoy luxury

The Cayenne Electric will be offered with an electrochromic roof, which also opens and tilts.

Storage and practicality

The trunk of the Cayenne Electric is huge and provides 27.6 ft³ of storage. Fold the rear seats and that number jumps up to 56.1 ft³, allowing you to transport all kinds of bulky items.

There is a deep pocket underneath the main trunk floor, which adds practicality.

In the left corner of the trunk you’ll find the buttons to control the front seats and raise or lower them without having to go around the car. You can also lower the suspension for easier load of heavy items. In the same vicinity you find the button to fold in/out the tow hitch.

Practical trunk

A wonderful practical addition thanks to the electric powertrain is the frunk (front trunk), which allows you to store items in the front, just like you would in a Porsche 911. With a volume of 3.18 ft³ it is among the larger frunks in the industry too.

Tech

As this Cayenne Electric is a pre-production model some of its functions didn't work properly or weren't active at all, so we’ll cover only what was functional at the time. The gauge cluster was set to display a certain readout and couldn't be changed.

As much as we appreciate safety systems, we know some current assistants might be annoying or even dangerous in some situations and therefore it is useful that they can be disabled relatively easily. In the top left corner you'll find quick buttons to disable the traffic light recognition beeping and for others you’ll need to delve deeper into the menus like in the video we have below.

You can adjust various settings in the different drive modes to suit your driving style and even raise or lower the rear spoiler from inside, without needing to reach the speed where it automatically activates.

Customization options for the different modes

Ambient lighting is a big thing on the new Cayenne Electric but unfortunately we couldn't change its modes to fully experience it.

Both the center display and the passenger unit allow for the same commands and you get a plethora of features and information to be displayed. There appears to be a lack of groundbreaking tech and unnecessary gimmicks. Instead you get a usable and simple infotainment with great qualities overall.

The two front screens are not that different

We cannot wait to get our hands on a fully-functional model once Porsche starts production, but so far we can see the potential of the Cayenne Electric and hope for its best performance on the market!