Is a Porsche Hybrid Worth It?

What Porsche does, they do it well. Here’s what you should know about their two hybrid models.
Written by Macy Fouse
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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Porsche
may only have two current hybrid models on the market today, but it’s quality over quantity with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid and the Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid.
Most folks will credit
Toyota
with the inception of the hybrid when they released the
Prius
in 1997. More than a century prior, however, Porsche was already on the case. The luxury brand has made a name for itself for having elegant and capable vehicles, and its hybrid models are no exception. 
We're here to guide you through the ins and outs of both current Porsche hybrid models, from the true cost of owning them—including the cost of
car insurance
—to how they compare to competitors. 
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2022 Porsche hybrid models guide

Porsche has been in the hybrid game longer than any other automaker—in fact, Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche built the world’s first functional hybrid car in 1899. However, it took over 100 years for the brand to release its first mass-produced hybrid—the
Cayenne Hybrid
—in late 2010. 
Two of the brand’s most popular vehicles—the Cayenne and the
Panamera
—are the only new hybrid models available for 2022. They aren’t traditional hybrids, though—they’re plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Below, you can see how the current Porsche hybrids compare to one another, including their prices and fuel economy.
Model
Vehicle type
Starting price
Fuel economy (base trim)
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
SUV
$83,300
46 MPGe
Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid
Sedan
$119,200
52 MPGe
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Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric car: what’s the difference?

How are PHEVs different from conventional hybrids? Porsche plug-in hybrids have an electric motor with a battery as well as a combustion engine, and they can be charged at AC charging stations. PHEVs run on only electricity until their battery is depleted, then they switch to gas.
In a conventional hybrid vehicle, like Porsche hybrids until 2015 (and the majority of hybrids on the road today), the engines run on gas. Their electric motors work with the gas engine to power the vehicle up to certain speeds—but they can’t run on electricity alone or have their batteries charged. 
Porsche also has one all-electric car: the Taycan, which starts at $86,700—but it won’t be the only one for long. The 2023
Macan
SUV will come in an all-electric version. In fact, Porsche expects 80% of its global sales to be all-electric vehicles by 2030. 

Which Porsche hybrid is best? 

You may only have two current models to choose from when it comes to Porsche hybrids, but used models are viable options if you’re trying to save a few thousand. Between the Cayenne and the Panamera, the best option for you is a matter of personal preference, price, and lifestyle. Here’s what you can expect from each of them.

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

The Cayenne E-Hybrid is ranked as the #1 luxury hybrid SUV by US News, and #2 for luxury crossovers overall. What makes it so good? For starters, the Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine is responsive and powerful, producing 455 hp at minimum. The engine, its electric motor, and the eight-speed automatic transmission all contribute to its quick acceleration and a smooth ride overall. 
The only downsides are the price and fuel efficiency. A starting price of $83,300 means it’s more expensive than almost all of its competitors. The Cayenne E-Hybrid isn’t very fuel-efficient, especially for a hybrid—it gets a combined 21 mpg when using only gas. With both electricity and gas, though, it manages 46 MPGe
When it comes to hybrid SUVs, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid can rival any sports car when it comes to athleticism, refinement, and steering response. Equipped with all-wheel drive and adaptive suspension, the Cayenne E-Hybrid can easily navigate over any bumps in the road and can even tow up to 7,700 lbs when equipped properly.
If you’re in the market for a hybrid SUV and don’t mind paying more for higher quality, you won’t find anything better than the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. If you’d prefer a used model to save some money—or you’d rather have a standard hybrid—opt for a model between 2011 and 2014.

Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid

If you thought you had to pick between powerful performance or eco-friendliness, the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid is here to prove you wrong. The chic sedan and its standard V6 engine get an impressive 552 horsepower. Fitted with an eight-speed PDK transmission, the hybrid Panamera comes with all-wheel drive and handles more like a sports car than a four-door sedan.
All that power comes with some drawbacks: notably, the fuel economy and price tag. 
The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid may get 52 MPGe when running on electricity and gas, but it gets a combined 22 mpg with only gas. And with a starting price of $119,200, the Panamera E-Hybrid costs more than most of its rivals—though as a brawny PHEV, this car tends to stand in a genre of its own.
The Panamera is already one of the top athletic sedans on the market, and while hybrid drivetrains so often take away from the magic of a car, the hybrid version amps up the performance of this Porsche.
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Are Porsche hybrids worth it? 

Let’s look closer at why Porsche hybrids are so great. 

Performance

Porsches are known for their strength and precision, and their hybrids are no different. While some hybrid models struggle with acceleration, Porsche hybrids offer a silky-smooth and agile ride. As we said, you won’t have to choose between a luxury power-mobile and loving Mother Nature—Porsche gives you the best of both worlds.
The hybrid Panamera, when fitted with the standard V6, gets to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. The Cayenne E-Hybrid, on the other hand, zips to 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds
Porsche literally invented the hybrid, and the current models carry the torch of refined engineering over 100 years later. Few brands can maintain this level of performance with hybrid powertrains. Not only do you not lose anything by switching to Porsche hybrids, but in many cases, they’re equally or more capable than their gas-powered counterparts

Reliability

J.D. Power gives the 2022 Cayenne hybrid a reliability rating of 81/100, which is considered “great” compared to other vehicles. The 2022 Panamera hybrid hasn’t yet been rated, but the 2020 model earned a score of 80/100, putting it in “average” territory. 
These hybrids aren’t only reliable, but they hold their value far longer than your average hybrid. In fact, the Cayenne E-Hybrid landed at #1 for slowest-depreciating hybrids by DrivingElectric.com—and the Panamera was #7. 

Cost of ownership 

Porsche’s top-rated performance may be tempting, but the market price still may be hard to swallow—but does the hybrid option save you more money than a gas-powered Porsche? Let’s take a look at the cost of ownership with a real-life example based on the 2019 Panamera E-Hybrid.
According to Edmunds, the five-year cost of ownership for the gas-powered 2019 Panamera is estimated to be $95,793. This cost includes:
  • Insurance: $6,462
  • Maintenance: $12,728
  • Repairs
    : $8,561
  • Financing: $6,917
  • Taxes and fees: $5,261
  • Fuel: $14,193
  • Depreciation: $41,671
When compared to the 2019 Panamera E-Hybrid’s estimated five-year cost of ownership of $95,762, the gas-powered Panamera is a meager $31 more. While fuel costs tend to make up a huge difference for most hybrid vehicles, luxury vehicles tend to come with higher costs all-around—no matter what the powertrain is. Necessities like insurance and repairs can also be more expensive for both luxury brands and hybrid vehicles.
Owning a hybrid Porsche, however, could qualify you for insurance discounts that could lower your cost of ownership

How to get sustainable rates on car insurance

Buying a Porsche hybrid will help out the planet, but it may not save you a ton of money. Luckily, there’s another tried-and-true way to reduce your car-related expenses: shopping for
car insurance
with
Jerry
Comparison shopping for insurance quotes can be a mind-numbing task…which is why Jerry came along. Jerry is more than just the car super app—it’s also a licensed insurance broker. That means when you download the
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FAQs

The federal government offers
tax credits
to drivers who buy new electric vehicles—but none of the Porsche PHEVs qualify. However, if you opt for the Taycan EV, you could earn up to $7,500 in tax credits!
The cost to replace a battery in a Porsche hybrid can be up to $10,700 depending on the model, the exact battery you need, and where the service is done.
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