The 2017 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid ranks 1 out of 22 Luxury Midsize SUVs. The 2017 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid emulates everything you expect from Porsche: affluence, elegance, and performance. It's both sporty and posh, but there's isn't much room for your belongings in the back, and its fuel economy is lower than what you might expect from a plug-in hybrid.
Pros Stylish and comfortable interior Agile handling Quick acceleration Feature-rich infotainment system
Cons Small cargo space Poor fuel economy for a hybrid
The 2017 Cayenne gets Porsche's latest (PCM 4.0) touchscreen infotainment system on every trim level, improving functionality. Limited Edition Cayenne and Cayenne S E-Hybrid Platinum models also join the range, bringing the trim level count up to eight. The Cayenne Diesel has been discontinued due to the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal.
Pros Truly impressive handling for a crossover SUV Wide selection of strong engines available Exquisite interior and build quality Plenty of customization options
Cons Relatively small cargo capacity for the segment Quite a few optional features should be standard given the price tag
The Cayenne is a spicy-hot mix of luxury, off-road ability, and sports-car performance—just what you’d expect in a Porsche SUV. The base model has a 300-hp V-6; the S makes 420 hp and the GTS makes 440 hp, both from a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6. There's also the S E-Hybrid. All have an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. A leather-lined cabin and infotainment with navigation make it a comfortable road tripper. The Cayenne is easy to hustle around curves and equally ready for family duty. The EPA rates the Cayenne S E-Hybrid at 46 MPGe in combined driving while depleting the battery charge and using the electric motor. As a more conventional hybrid, the Porsche is rated at 22 mpg combined. That won’t rattle the worldview of many Tesla owners, but it’s substantially better than other Cayenne models.
The ultimate Audi crossover is convincingly sporty and properly useful.
Pros Suave and tech-savvy cabin, sporty and comfy ride, more useful than Audi sedans.
Cons Pricier than the more pragmatic Q7, distracting touchscreens, less fun to drive than Audi sedans.
The Audi Q8 is a luxurious, comfortable SUV but it isn't as sporty as its looks suggest, nor is it as practical as a Q7.
Pros Imposing looks Indulgent interior Advanced technology
Cons Numb handling Limited versatility Unproven ride comfort
Audi's Q7 is undoubtedly a practical three-row SUV, but maybe you find it to be a bit plain Jane when compared against sleeker rivals such as the Land Rover Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne.
Pros Comes well-equipped with many standard features Comfortable ride and seats for all passengers High-quality cabin Front and rear seats offer all-day comfort
Cons Less practical than the related Q7 New infotainment system can be distracting to use Throttle response is too slow in the default driving mode Limited interior storage space
