I am getting ready to order a new 2015 Cayenne. I am on the fence between the SE Hybrid and the Diesel. The cost configured, fairly loaded, is about $3k more for the SE Hybrid (after the $5,300 fed tax credit).

I know the diesels have done very well over the last few years and get great mileage (especially compared to the Range Rover Sport I currently drive). Guessing my mpg would be around 26 on the diesel and about the same for the Hybrid on longer trips (40+ miles). But the nice thing for the hybrid is the all electric (or mostly) for my many short trips of 15-20 mikes. I know gas mileage isn't the main reason to buy one or the other, but it is definitely a factor that attributes to total cost of ownership. I drive about 15k/yr.

I want to see what others think about the longevity of the SEH vs the Diesel. And which they feel is a better option.

Other minor factors I consider: higher maint cost on Diesel due to 5k oil services, slow 0-60 speed of diesel (7.4 vs 5.4). Green feel of SEH, potential battery issue/cost after several years, resell.

Appreciate any feedback.

 

I have two friends with a prius, one for eleven years and the other seven. Both running fine. So most likely the hybrid will be durable. I know diesels can last 250-300k miles.

Didn't realize though the hybrid was that quick.

With a porsche, maintenance will be high. Diesels have good resell value. Have you checked the boards for what others' experience is with the hybrid?

 

Actually check the Panamera board for their opinions on the hybrid since it is based on the same system.

 

I have read just about everything I can find...not a lot of info yet, even on the Panamera SEH. I read the Pan forum on this board and there are no bad reviews a few good ones...but not too much content overall.

 

Sounds like this is a new (or at least vastly improved) system, but there have been some complaints about the current Hybrid (getting hot and going into limp mode and other faults) as well as an apparent inability for dealers to actually resolve these issues. The current model also didn't get significantly better fuel economy over the plain S and can't touch what the diesel can do (especially if you don't want to drive it like a Hybrid).

It's a bit hard to judge though as the Cayenne SH has been a very poor seller since it's debut and that got even worse when the CD hit our shores.

While the SH is faster than the D in 0-60, the electric motor and batteries add a significant amount of weight and the general view is that it throws off the handling characteristics quite significantly. The diesel is a bit heavier than the base and S, but not as much and the effect is much less noticeable.

As I already mentioned, with the current SH the diesel far out performs it's fuel economy while letting you drive it normally. If you drive the SH like a normal car, you end up with about the same you would get from the S. The diesel, on the other hand, can be flogged and still get you 22MPG and driven "normally" can see high 20s and even low 30s.

Now all that said, they gutted the value of the diesel by not doing anything to it while they made massive performance improvements (and presumably some eco ones too) to the other motors.

I will say that while I believe Porsche's 7.4 number (and I haven't timed it to dispute it), all that torque in the diesel makes it feel much faster (though again, the S upgrades negate that "benefit").

 

Go Diesel. We have the new 2014 Q5 TDI (wife's buggy) and love it. 428 pounds ft of torque and 36+ mpg. As they say Japenese make great Electric cars as Germans make great diesels.

 

Thanks for the reply Gnat. I agree with your points. The current Hybrid (958) is the non plug in version and hopefully the new PEV will get a couple of miles better overall...but I am still thinking that would be mid 20s (26/27) on longer trips.

I have a data logger on my RRS and my last ten trips (pretty normal for me) were:
12, 66, 22, 8, 14, 90, 60, 24, 10, 30 miles (RT numbers). So over half of those would be all electric (no gas) and the rest ~50% electric / 50% combo EV/Hybrid. Here in Seattle we also have many plug in options (including 48 at our airport - I travel almost every week) and all through the city, etc.

So based on the above, I think my "gas" mileage will be close to 50mpg since much of it will be electric (if that makes sense).

Of course I could be completely wrong on how the system will respond in real world use.

CALGUY - my wife has the BMW 328D and gets ~42 mpg average (which is awesome). So that is why I am torn between the two Cayenne options.....

 

If you'll be in the position to take advantage of the pure EV mode, that will certainly change the overall equation a bit. Remember though that running in EV mode is not going to give you the performance and I'd love to know what the pure EV numbers look like.

I love my diesel and am glad I got it, but at least right now if I were buying a new Cayenne it would have to be the S. It won't match the diesel in MPG, but it now has about the same torque (and lower in the RPM range than the V8 did) and not too far from twice the HP. The lower environmental impact is why I've wanted to go diesel for awhile and why I jumped on the diesel when it came out, but it's gotta perform too

To me I'm buying any Porsche because I want a car that handles phenomenally well to the point of defying basic physics (great lump of metal behind the rear axle, a SUV than handles like a car, etc..). The Hybrid just doesn't appear to meet that goal for me due to it's extra weight (though I expect it still handles better than any other Hybrid SUV).

 

Yep, performance is important. I guess with the Hybrid I am hoping for the best of both worlds, economy for the 80% of the time I drive very mellow (EV/Hybrid mode) and power for the other 20%(full 416hp kicking in).

With the diesel I really only get economy.

 

Had my 6 series GC in for it's 15K scheduled maintenance yesterday and they gave me a practically new 328D as a loaner. Only ~1100 miles on the ODO. Was impressed. You made a wise choice that most won't. Congrads and good luck with the Cayenne decision.

 

You would be mistaken then.

There is more to performance than 0-60 times and that is not Porsche's forte. Where Porsche stands above the high powered crowd is in their braking and cornering. That's not to say they make underpowered cars, but handling is king with a Porsche.

The diesel is just as capable in that regard as any other Cayenne with only a slight increase in under steer at the extreme end.

Shortly after getting mine I took it (steal suspension and all) to an AutoX class. It is a shockingly capable vehicle in that context and could hold it's own against 911s up to the 996 (the Boxters and Caymans kicked the crap out of everyone).

I wouldn't argue that its a good track day car on a regular basis, but it really isn't as out of place as you would think.

 

Good point Gnat. And it's not like I do a lot of sprints to 60 anyway. I think my RRS time was 6.8 which is similar to the Diesel.

 

Exactly Gnat. There's 1/4 mile, braking and cornering. Us Americans are mostly blinded with 0-60 times.

 

But both options are Porsche Cayennes so the rest of the performance characteristics and stats (except 0-60 where the SEH kicks butt) should be somewhat equal.

Granted the SEH is heavier (few hundred pounds) then the Diesel.

 

A few hundred pounds can be nothing or it can be everything. It's all about placement.

As I mentioned before, the SH is still going to out handle any of it's competition (other hybrid SUVs), but everything I've read says that the current model leaves a lot to be desired when compared to other Cayennes. This could be something that they've dealt with better with the new drive train, but I don't know how much they can do about the batteries in the back.

Now that said, for the day to day driving you are talking about you probably won't notice much if any difference. It will be those times when you are out of the city and want to toss it around some twisties that the differences will become apparent.

Really the only true answer is for you to test drive them and see which you like more. You can at least test drive the diesel now since we know that isn't changing significantly. Even if you can find a current SH to test, I would reserve final judgement until you can drive the new one.