The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric is set to arrive in Australia during the first half of next year with prices starting from $167,800 before on-road costs, while the rapid 850kW Cayenne Electric Turbo flagship will set you back $259,900 plus on-roads.
Having already carved out a place as Porsche’s most versatile model, the Cayenne is now going electric, initially in two varieties: the Cayenne Electric and the higher-performance Cayenne Turbo Electric, both of which were revealed online overnight. In time, that lineup is set to expand with the introduction of a sleeker Cayenne Coupe Electric and potentially even more driver-focused variants.
The fourth-generation ‘E4’ Cayenne Electric is only marginally larger than the current petrol-engined large luxury SUV, which will continue on sale (unlike Porsche’s first battery-powered SUV, the Macan Electric, which replaced the original combustion-powered model), gaining 5mm in length to measure 4985mm long overall, along with a more substantial 128mm increase in wheelbase.
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That added length between the axles is to accommodate the 108kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery that gives the SUV a driving range of up to 624km (WLTP).
That will make Porsche’s third electric vehicle (EV) – after the Taycan and Macan – one of the longest-range EVs available in Australia, behind models including the new Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (750km) and the more comparable Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor (706km).
Part of how the new Cayenne EV achieves that range figure is down to its exterior design, which has been shaped to optimise its aerodynamics without losing any of the kerbside appeal that makes Porsche’s largest SUV so popular.
In contrast to the third-generation, petrol-engined Cayenne – due to be sold alongside the electric version until well past 2030, with updates – which has massive air intakes spanning the front bumper, the Cayenne Electric has a more muted appearance with active shutters on the bottom section of the front bumper that only open when needed.
The Cayenne Turbo gets a slightly different front-end with contrasting black elements beneath the LED Matrix headlights. Wheels vary between 20 and 22 inches in diameter and are styled to look good while also helping to boost range efficiency.
Even though the Cayenne takes up plenty of space on the road, those clever Porsche engineers have made it as slippery as possible through the air, and they have employed some clever tricks to help it reach its impressive range figure.
For example, the now-frameless doors feature glass that sits flush with the B-pillar, a design that also minimises cabin noise at highway speeds, while an active roof spoiler lifts up to improve downforce, too. The Cayenne Turbo Electric gains its own trick bit of kit: vertically stacked active ‘aeroblades’ that extend from the rear bumper to reduce drag.
This version also gets a more pronounced rear diffuser with a body-coloured centre section. Both models feature a thin lightbar that spans the full width of the car, wrapping around the rear wings and displaying the Porsche wordmark in individually illuminated letters.
Buyers will be able to choose from an even broader range of options than before when it comes to creating a more individual specification, including extended ‘Paint to Sample’ colours and the ‘Sonderwunsch’ program, where the only real limit is budget.
Performance plays a significant role in the Cayenne Electric’s appeal, and even the base model provides ample power thanks to its dual-motor setup. A 300kW output gets the electric SUV away from the lights quickly enough, while an Overboost (launch control) function ups output to 325kW, meaning 0-100km/h takes just 4.8 seconds (claimed). With 835Nm of torque on hand at any stage, this Porsche won’t feel sluggish.
However, it’s the Cayenne Turbo Electric that grabs the performance headlines with an uprated set of motors that generate 630kW as standard. Nonetheless, the driver can use the ‘Push-to-Pass’ button on the steering wheel to gain an extra 130kW for up to 10 seconds at a time.
But if that isn’t enough, Porsche’s drivetrain engineers have added an Overboost function that dials the peak outputs for launches to 850kW and 1500Nm of torque. This all hurtles the Cayenne from 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds. For reference, the 911 GT3 RS takes 3.2 seconds. Perhaps even wilder is that in a 0-200km/h race, the Cayenne will get there a whole second faster than the latest 911 Turbo S.
However, Porsche is keen to point out that this Cayenne isn’t just about going fast in a straight line; it should be great in the corners too. All versions come with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and adaptive air suspension that can alter both ride height and stiffness.
The Cayenne Turbo Electric is fitted with the Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) limited-slip rear differential, and both models can be ordered with rear-axle steering that turns the back wheels by up to five degrees, shaving one metre from the turning circle at low speeds.
There will also be a dedicated Off-Road package available, and this version is what will give the Cayenne Electric its maximum towing capacity of 3500kg. In addition to the fitment of reprofiled bumpers to maximise approach and departure angles, the package allows the Cayenne to raise itself to 245mm of ground clearance at up to 35km/h and remain at 215mm at up to 80km/h. It also has a wading depth of 550mm.
While the Cayenne Electric may be able to use up its energy in the form of impressive performance stats, how it recuperates energy and recharges is almost as impressive. Thanks to learnings from Porsche’s Formula E race program, the Cayenne Turbo Electric is capable of achieving up to 600kW of energy recuperation through its motors.
The forces are so great that engineers reckon the average driver with only use the friction brakes for three per cent of all braking, with the rest done through only the motors as they send energy back into the battery.
Furthermore, the Cayenne Electric is equipped with rapid charging ability thanks to the 800-volt electrical architecture. Porsche says its peak DC fast-charge rate of 400kW means that it can add as much as 323km of driving range in 10 minutes, and that a 10 to 80 per cent recharge can be done in 16 minutes at the appropriate charger.
Even at 400-volt chargers, the Porsche can chug down electricity at up to 200kW. There are 11kW AC charge ports on either rear wing, and there will be the option of upgrading these to 22kW.
Soon after launch, buyers will also be able to charge their Cayenne Electric without plugging in. A new wireless charging system will be offered that lets owners drive over a weatherproof charging pad. Once they exit the vehicle, it automatically detects the pad, lowers the car down on its air suspension and initiates charging. However, the Porsche Wireless Charging (PWC) system is yet to be confirmed for Australia.
Porsche’s engineers say that while past efforts in this field haven’t proven to be popular or successful, this latest system has almost the same efficiency as plugging in with a domestic wallbox and poses no risk to people or animals underneath. Its 11kW charge rate means that charging times using the system are almost identical to what you might get from plugging in with a cable.
The Cayenne Electric’s screen-heavy interior is packed with tech and wrapped in the sort of quality materials that set Porsche apart from many of its competitors.
Along with being one of the few companies to still offer drivers a perfectly round steering wheel, there’s a 14.25-inch curved OLED driver’s instrument display that owners can configure in numerous ways, including having mapping navigation front and centre.
An additional colour head-up display can be added, but the innovative central infotainment touchscreen is what’s sure to turn heads.
Called the Flow Display, this touchscreen curves outwards at the base where it meets the centre console. Although it’s only 12.5 inches across the diagonal, it looks larger and is supported by what designers call the Ferry Pad – a padded place to rest your hand when using it.
Wireless smartphone mirroring is on hand with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and there’s greater integration of both through the instrument display than before. An extra passenger-facing multimedia touchscreen is optionally available that enables them to use the infotainment system independently of the centre screen.
Rear-seat passengers benefit from generous levels of headroom and legroom, with the outer rear seats providing lots of support. These are electrically adjustable, including the angle of the seatback, and there’s temperature control and USB-C ports in the back too.
Continuing the practical theme, the five-seat Cayenne Electric offers a big 781 litres of boot space, which can increase up to 1588L when you lower the rear seat backs, while the load level can be dropped via the air suspension to make loading bulkier items that bit easier.
There’s extra storage space under the bonnet, too. Simply swipe your hand across the front with the key in your pocket and it electrically unlatches the bonnet, which then rises on struts to reveal a further 90L of storage space.
The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric and Cayenne Turbo Electric are now available to order, ahead of first Australian customer deliveries by the middle of next year.
MORE: Explore the Porsche Cayenne showroom
