New cars: 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid SUV

The New York Times

The new Cayenne SUV will have you asking: “Can one really lust after a hybrid?” Built on a platform shared by the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7, it has a power­train that “allows drivers to switch off the gas engine and run on pure electricity while cruising down the highway, er, autobahn at up to 97 miles per hour.” Still, not all the technology is new—power is stored in nickel-metal hydride batteries instead of “next-gen lithium-ion” cells.

Car and Driver

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This second-generation SUV “looks a lot less bulky and ridiculous than it used to.” The hybrid version is “remarkably good,” with a 333-hp, 3.0-liter V6 mated to a 52-hp electric motor/generator. The all-wheel-drive performs well off-road, and high-speed highway steering is “amazing for a truck.” Inside, improvements include “leather swaddling just about everything.”

Automobile

While interior upgrades abound, “our favorite” is actually the improved seating, “with excellent bolstering and support.” Sure, upgrading to this hybrid version will cost you a $4,000 premium—but it’s worth every penny. The Cayenne is “the hybrid that you’d never know was a hybrid,” delivering all the high performance and drivability you expect from Porsche.