The two prestige cars in question, the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover have both been around for a long time now, maturing through the years and model types until they are pretty much complete; it’s hard to see how they could get any better. So what better time than now for both manufacturers to add a jolt of hybrid electricity into the mix?
Yes, even at this level, electrification is key to the future of these big capable premium sport utility vehicles (SUV) and in the not-so-distant future, the chances of seeing fully electric versions seems very likely. But for now, buyers will have to content themselves with hybrid variants which will at least help reduce both local emissions and fuel consumption without affecting ability and performance and that’s a good thing.
Recently, here at MHH international, we did full blown reviews on both cars; The Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid PHEV here and the Range Rover P440e on this page: But how do they compare?
Cayenne
In most respects this car is the same as the standard car which comes with either a 3.0 litre V6 engine or a sporting V8. The E-Hybrid however uses the 3.0 litre V6 turbo as above but adds an electric motor. This has the benefit of boosting power when in angry mode to around 470bhp with a massive torque surge of 650Nm. The result? This model will sprint to 62mph in under five seconds; that’s pretty brisk for such a big vehicle that is also kinder to your local environment.
It’s a fully featured car that, despite its size, is actually fun to drive, just as a Porsche should be. It’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) so it’s easy to top up the battery back at home. Around town and in electric drive only, all is serene and, with care, up to 46 miles is possible on electricity alone: Don’t push it to hard and it could easily manage a local shopping trip without troubling the petrol tank. There’s a choice of modes: E-Power, Hybrid Auto, Sport and Sport Plus; the latter for when the driver feels the urge to crack on a bit.
Okay, it’s not the prettiest of the premium SUV models available; the Cayenne never has been, but it is clear and important that Porsche DNA and design lies at the heart of this impressive car. It is also fair to comment that, although the V8 is the choice of automotive thrill seekers, it is the e-hybrid Cayenne that is perhaps overall the most satisfying choice.
As you are probably aware, thanks to MHH International’s great reputation for exporting cars from the UK to global destinations like New Zealand and Kenya (VAT-free you’ll be pleased to note), the hybrid Porsche is available to buy as indeed are most models in the Porsche range, including the fully electric and rather marvellous Taycan.
Range Rover Hybrid
The hugely refined, capable and comfortable Range Rover series (from the legendary Land Rover empire) needs absolutely no introduction. It is arguably the best off-road task master ever made. It is no slouch on the tarmac road either. The Range Rover P440e is again, like its German rival, a plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) and it pips the Porsche on electric power only by achieving up to seventy miles on a single charge before the 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine has to kick in.
Overuse of the throttle may mean that this will reduce to around 50 miles but that’s still impressive, largely thanks to the 38.2kWh battery pack which does add to the weight, but this is a big, heavy vehicle anyway so nobody is going to notice. We are specifically mentioning the lesser powered P440e but there’s also a range-topping P510e version. Performance is sensational either way, the former zipping to 62mph in just 6.0 seconds while the latter knocks another half a second off. We think the P443e is the best for value and overall driving pleasure.
It’s a Range Rover so expect the finest interior, the most comprehensive array of safety technology and of course legendary off-road ability. It may look like a palace on wheels but it can get down and dirty with the best of them. Needless to say, MHH International can offer the same service for the Range Rover catalogue as it does for the Porsche vehicles.
The only thing we can’t help with is the decision of which SUV to choose. That’s entirely up to you, the buyer; but the one thing we can say is that whichever way the coin lands, you will certainly win.
