Porsche, the king of engineering precision, is not just introducing a new electric vehicle in 2026 – it’s completely redefining performance in the SUV class. And while the Taycan still stands as the pioneer of the brand’s electric future, the new Porsche Cayenne Electric is quietly taking the floor under its wheels.
Porsche continues to pave the way for electric vehicles. And while we've occasionally heard whispers about slowing down electrification, this is certainly no sign of retreat. On the contrary, they've introduced the new generation of the Cayenne, which now also comes as a fully electric SUV. And as if that weren't enough, Porsche Cayenne Electric is the most powerful serial Porsche in historyIronic, considering that it was an SUV that first reached this limit.
There will be two versions available: basic Porsche Cayenne Electric and more brutal Cayenne Turbo ElectricThe names remain the same as for internal combustion engines – even if “Turbo” sounds like a relic of the past in electric cars. But Porsche customers apparently don’t mind.
When you go for bread with 1,139 horses
The basic Cayenne Electric develops 408 hp, or 442 hp in mode Launch ControlEnough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, which is quite respectable for an SUV weighing almost three tons – although even an old Audi S3 can do that these days. The turbo version opens up completely new doors.
The moment you press the button for Launch Control, Turbo Electric releases what 1,140 horsepower (1,156 PS / 850 kW) and 1,500 Nm of torque. 0–100 km/h takes just 2.5 seconds, and it takes just 7.4 seconds to reach 200 km/h. With these numbers, the Cayenne is no longer just a “fast SUV” – it’s a true hypercar. Porsche says it can do the quarter mile in under ten seconds. And if you’re tempted to hit the drag strip, consider a roll cage.
Breathtaking filling. Well, almost.
Porsche remains one of the few manufacturers that actually delivers what it promises. The chassis of the new Porsche Cayenne Electric is based on the PPE platform known from the electric Macan, which means 800-volt architecture and fast charging up to 400 kWUnder optimal conditions this means: from 10 to 80 % in just 15 minutesIn tests, even less – just 14 minutes and 54 seconds.
That's more than twice as fast as the BMW iX and almost as much as you need for coffee and a toilet. Welcome to the future.
But then there is also a less bright side – alternating current (AC) chargingPorsche is still installing 11 kW charger, while 22 kW would be the logical standard. With such a large battery (113 kWh), 11 kW is slow progress – especially if you leave the car at a public charging station in the city. The reason? The supplier. An explanation we've been hearing since 2020. But at some point, even the most loyal Porsche enthusiasts get the movie.
Daily usability: an SUV that can think
Technologically, the Cayenne is not only a leap forward for Porsche, but also for the class. The basic version is equipped with Active Suspension Management, Turbo with additional Torque Vectoring Plus system, optionally with the Active Ride active suspension, which is already proven in the Taycan and Panamera. All this means more controlled roll, less vibration and more elegance – even when driving at speed.
And while you won't mistake it for a 911 in terms of design, the Cayenne Electric retains some of the brand's classic features. Well, almost. The teardrop-shaped taillights are anything but Porsche. More like a polarizing design experiment. Many will want the clean lines of the Taycan's rear.
Inside, Porsche still knows how. Despite the increasing number of screens (14.3-inch OLED in front of the driver, curved infotainment, optional 14.9-inch for the front passenger), the user experience is still ergonomic. Buttons are not extinct, switches are still there – and rightly so.
Spaciousness and practicality? Worthy of a premium SUV
The trunk measures 553 liters in basic size, and with the bench seat folded (also electrically adjustable), we reach a cataloged 761 liters. But the truth is, you will drive most of the time in the first layout – and it is more than spacious enough for everyday use.
They provide additional practicality towing capacity up to 3,500 kg (with Offroad package) and an extremely low loading height – thanks to the adjustable air suspension.
Prices and the European context
Porsche has not yet officially revealed prices for the European market, but based on the American figures, we can realistically expect:
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Cayenne Electric from approximately 105.000 €, realistically configured around 130–140 thousand
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Cayenne Turbo Electric from around 165.000 €, with a few additions quickly over 200.000 €
And this is where the paradox occurs: the Taycan Turbo S – which is lower, less spacious and with a less modern infotainment architecture – costs at least as much in the same equipment. 40–50 thousand moreIronically, the Taycan was Porsche's first foray into electrics. But now the Cayenne Electric is taking away its meaning.
What does the internet say? First impressions after the Cayenne Electric reveal: “Wow, but… why this?”
The internet has spoken – and as always, it's not holding back. The first comments under YouTube videos and posts on Reddit, Xu and car forums make it clear: The new Cayenne Electric is not without drama. First time: charger. Yes, DC is fast – great, great, bravo. But AC? Again 11 kW. Once again: 11. In 2026. People are rightly asking why someone who just paid 160 thousand should then spend 2 hours watching Netflix at a public charging station because the Porsche can't deliver the 22 kW that you already get in the Peugeot e-308. “The BMW iX has been able to do this for three years,” one writes. “This is no longer a flaw, this is stubbornness.” Seriously.
Then comes design – especially the rear. What was supposed to be Porsche lighting elegance now looks like “an MG taillight that melted in the sun,” as one forum user muttered. “Why the teardrop?” asks another. “Why not the one-bar design that even the Chinese know how to do?”
And speaking of the Chinese – of course the internet didn't forget to mention that for this price you get Xiaomi SU7 with 900 HP, HUD projector and massage in the rear seats, while the Cayenne Turbo Electric still offers hard plastic inside the trunk. Felt? “Only in the press kit,” someone writes cynically.
Another favorite of the early comments: Taycan is now dead. Brutal, but the internet has a right to its hyperbole. If the Cayenne drives faster, charges faster, offers more space and is even cheaper… who will be a reasonable Taycan buyer now? “Porsche is shooting itself in the foot,” says one. “Taycan has become a sentiment, Cayenne an upgrade.”
And then there's this: those shiny piano black details on the exterior. Everyone hates them. Everyone. “The most expensive micro-scratch base in the world,” says one. “I hope we get a Porsche ‘Scratch Edition’ with the plastic already destroyed so I don’t have to wait a month,” writes another.
In short, The internet is excited – and furious at the same timeSome are talking about a “game changer”, others about “the best and most frustrating Porsche of all time”. But hey, that’s typical of the Stuttgart brand – they do something brilliant, and then in true German fashion, they mess up somewhere.
Conclusion: Porsche invented a new paradox
The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric is technically stunning, user-friendly and capable like few SUVs. But it inadvertently misses an important question: What now with the Taycan?
When one car offers more space, more technology, more power and better fuel economy – for less money – you start to weigh things differently as a buyer. The Cayenne may not evoke the same emotions as the Taycan Turbo GT. But in many ways it is a better buy. Which means that Porsche has inadvertently created its own competition.
With one hand, he created the most powerful production car in its history. With the other, he may have begun a silent farewell to the model with which the electric story began in the first place.
Would you choose the Taycan or the Cayenne? Write your opinion below – even Porsche reads the comments sometimes. And if you're going to take the Cayenne through an automatic car wash – consider a wrap. Piano black is not your friend.
