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.
With a claimed top speed of 187 mph, Bentley boasts that the Bentayga is the fastest SUV in the world. The claim is made possible by a twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12 that makes a mighty 600 hp; an eight-speed automatic drives all four wheels. A 542-hp 4.0-liter V-8 is also available. The interior can be configured to seat four or five, and only the finest leather will cosset those lucky posteriors. Options include 22-inch wheels, rear-entertainment tablets, and a 1950-watt, 20 speaker audio system.
Pros V-8 burble, tidier handling, less expensive yet still decadent.
Cons Still heavy, V-8 doesn’t enhance its looks, cool tech costs extra.
The 2018 Bentley Bentayga takes what you think you know about physics, comfort, and speed, and quickly sets a new highwater-mark for each.
Pros Decadent interior Supreme speed from W-12 Fastest SUV on the planet Abundant options Beautifully crafted interior and exterior
Cons Another level of expensive Unbelievably thirsty at the pump Smaller interior than you may be expecting All colors don’t look good
