The Tesla Model X and the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. The Two quintessential family sports SUVs are currently dominating the market. Which is better? Is old still gold, or is the future taking over? Find out which one is made for you!
Fully Electric or Hybrid?
The Tesla Model X is a purely electric car, while the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is a hybrid electric and gasoline engine car. Electric cars mean no money on fuel and zero emissions, but hybrids mean no waiting for it to charge.
The Tesla Model X has two carbon fiber-coated motors, while the X plaid has three. The 100kWh battery powers the motors to provide 670 horsepower and 1020 horsepower to the wheels of the Model X and Model X Plaid, respectively.
The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid has a 3.0L mono-turbo V6 and electric motor combined to give total system output of 455 horsepower. The Turbo S has a 541 horsepower V8 gasoline engine, producing 670 horsepower with its E-Hybrid electric motor.
The Tesla Model X is the more powerful car since its starting horsepower is 670, while the Cayenne’s high-performance version’s horsepower is 670.
Performance
Performance-wise, the Model X is nowhere near Tesla’s fastest model. The Model S bears the title of the fastest production car ever made, with an astounding 200 mph computer-limited top speed.
While the Model S decimates all competition, the Model X isn’t faster than its biggest competitor, the Porsche Cayenne. However, most races are decided during the first few seconds. The Launch is critical, and Tesla has faster acceleration.
The Model X Standard goes from zero to sixty miles per hour in 4.4 seconds, while the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid does so in 4.7 seconds. The difference here is slight, but every millisecond matters in a race.
The Model X Plaid goes from zero to sixty in 2.6 seconds, while the Turbo S E-Hybrid does so in 3.6 seconds. The Performance-based X Plaid beats its corresponding Porsche by a whole second. That means a lot.
The Tesla Model X has a top speed of 155 mph, and the Model X Plaid can reach 163mph. The Porsche Cayenne crossover SUV is faster. The Cayenne E-Hybrid goes up to 157mph. At the same time, the Turbo S E-Hybrid can reach an impressive 183 mph putting it only 20mph slower than the Model S.
To put it in perspective, the Model X and Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid base models will perform almost equally well and cross a quarter mile in 13.4 and 13.3 seconds, respectively.
Even though the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid has the higher top speed, the Model X Plaid will finish the quarter mile a second faster since it has better 0-60mph numbers.
All in all, the deciding factor in a race between the two cars would be the drivers. That’s since they differ in seconds or partial seconds in their performance stats.
Battery
The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid sports a 17.9 kWh battery. It produces 455 horsepower while providing a purely electric range of 34 miles.
Previous generations of the Tesla Model X came in variants with ranging battery capacities from 75kWh to 100kWh.
The 2022 Tesla Model X has a standard 100kWh 410 V lithium-ion battery, providing 329 miles of pure electric range. The Model X Plaid has the same battery but offers 311 miles of range in exchange for better performance.
Variants
The Tesla Model X used to have many variants, including the 75D, 90D, p90D, p100D, etc. However, the 2022 make only has two variants. The Model X standard and the Model X Plaid. The first thing that separates them is that the Model X standard has two electric carbon-fiber coated motors while Plaid has three.
There are many variants of the Porsche Cayenne. However, we’re only focusing on their electric hybrid offerings. Porsche offers two E-Hybrid Porsche Cayenne’s. The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Standard and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid.
The Cayenne E-Hybrid has a V6 engine along with the E-Hybrid motor. At the same time, the Turbo S E-Hybrid has a 541-hp twin-turbo V-8 along with the Turbo S battery-powered motor. The E-Hybrid produces 455 horsepower while the Turbo S has a combined 670 horsepower.
Each car has a basic model and a high-performance version. The basic models are built up with practicality, while the performance versions are meant to be fast and furious beasts.
Interior
The Tesla’s interior is nothing like you’ve seen before. The minimalist dashboard and controversial yoke steering wheel give us spacecraft vibes. The insides get upholstered with your choice of black, white, or cream vegan leather. You can watch movies or game on the 17″ touch screen.
The Porsche Cayenne’s interior heightens luxury from the “old car” world. You have many choices of natural leather interior colors, including Acid green exclusive to the hybrids.
With traditional three-spoked steering, driver’s instruments, and optional wooden accents, it is the exact opposite of the Tesla from the inside. The family car offers an optional rear entertainment system and a front screen.
The Cayenne seats seven while the Tesla seats your choice of five, six, or seven.
Towing and Cargo
Both crossover SUVs live up to the name as they can both store a significant volume of cargo and are equipped with towing attachments. The Porsche Cayenne beats the Tesla Model X by a considerable margin when it comes to tow-weight capacity.
It can pull along an impressive 7,700 pounds, while the Model X can only manage 5000 pounds. That is about 0.125 tons less towing capacity than the Porsche. So Porsche wins in the tug-of-war battle of towing.
Regarding Cargo capacity, however, the Tesla takes the lead. When you compare the 5 seat versions of both car models, the Tesla has about 30 cubic feet more cargo capacity.
In a way, we can say this category is a tie since the Tesla wins one round and the Porsche wins the other.
Fuel Efficiency
Regarding fuel efficiency, the Tesla Model X wins since it is a 100% electric car. You never need any fossil fuel at all. However, if you were wondering how many miles per gallon it would give were it a gasoline car, check this out. The Tesla Model X gets 96 MPGe. MPGe is miles per gallon equivalent. It’s an excellent tool for comparing the efficiency of electric vehicles.
The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is much less efficient. Its electric battery provides only 41 MPGe. The Gasoline V6 engine gets you 21 MPG.
The Cayenne E-Hybrid has been a well-established household name in production since 2002. When they added the E-Hybrid to the range, people were ecstatic because now they could enjoy luxury with practical fuel expenditure.
However, the Model X has been slowly capturing the family sports car market. Spending nothing on fuel has started looking much better to the average American suburban family.
Price
The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid starts at +$80,000, While the Turbo S E-Hybrid Costs over $160,000. These are the base prices. To experience the true performance and luxury synonymous with Porsche, you will have to pay a lot more for each additional feature. In contrast, you can get the 2022 Model X for about $120,000 and Model X Plaid for $130,000.
While the starting price is higher than that of the Cayenne, it doesn’t get much more expensive. Some models of the Cayenne can set you back close to $200,000.
Standard Features
While already cheaper than the Cayenne, the Model X comes with many standard features you would have to pay extra for in a Porsche cayenne. To enjoy these features in a Porsche could set you back another +$30,000 or so. Regarding o what comes standard with the car, Tesla always promises a luxury experience. Things like:
- Wood Trim Interior
- 20″ Wheels
- 14-Way Power Seats
- Front and Rear Heated Seats
- Driver’s Assist or Autopilot
- Premium Audio
- Panoramic Glass Roof
- Adaptive Air Suspension
These are the features the Model X provides that you cannot get in the Porsche Cayenne no matter how much extra you pay since they don’t offer them at all. Things like:
- Falcon Wing Doors
- Over the Air Updates
- Bio Weapon Defense HEPA
- Video Games
- Streaming Video
- Full Self Driving (Optional Feature)
- Self-Presenting/ Closing Doors
Optional Features
Tesla clearly takes the win when it comes to standard features. However, the Porsche may have it beat regarding additional optional features. The Porsche offers its users these additional optional features:
- Massage and Vent Seats
- Heated Windshields
- Rear seat entertainment system
- Noise Insulated glass
- Heads Up Display
- Night Vision Assist
Customization
Tesla has always offered limited color and interior options to its customers. Some would say it’s similar to an iPhone in that way. You could buy the Model X in the following factory colors:
- Deep Blue Metallic
- Midnight Silver Metallic
- Pearl White Multi-Coat
- Red Multi-Coat
- Solid Black
The Porsche Cayenne is another story entirely. You have twelve factory color choices and fifteen wheel choices. You can also choose to have your interiors made of genuine leather, choose the leather color, or have different wooden interior accents.
Porsche understands the importance of making your car feel your own. They take pride as the luxury car manufacturers who bring out their customer’s individuality. You can get a Cayenne in the following exterior colors:
- White
- Black
- Carrara White Metallic
- Jet Black Metallic
- Mahogany Metallic
- Quartzite Grey Metallic
- Carmine Red
- Cayenne Chalk
- Cashmere Beige Metallic
- Moonlight Blue Metallic
- Dolomite Silver Metallic
- Rare Metallic Green
Maintenance
Porsche has a strict maintenance schedule for every 10,000 miles plus added necessary services after 30,000, while electric cars are low maintenance.
One could argue that since Porsche is a more experienced car manufacturer, it understands that more checkups equal better performance. However, most will agree that electric cars are more hassle-free. Tesla’s manual instructs owners to:
- Perform a brake fluid health check every 2 years
- replace of A/C bag every 4 years
- Replace the cabin air filter every 2 years
- HEPA replacement every 3 years
- Clean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 12000 miles
Resale Value
Keeping in mind that the average depreciation percentage of electric cars after three years is 52%, the Model X does well with only 33.9%. In contrast, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid depreciated 49.4% simultaneously. That means that the Tesla Model X will retain 15.5% more of its original value in three years’ time.
However, sometimes the car resale market is also the fool’s market. The price can increase or decrease depending on how much the buyer desires the car. For example, a Porsche fan who found a Cayenne model with the exact trim, color, and interior elements they wanted they might pay much more than a regular buyer would for a Tesla.
Since the Model X doesn’t have many customization options, it cannot compete with the others on the market, so the resale value is around the same for all Model X cars of a particular trim.
So while the Tesla Model X has better depreciates less than the Porsche Cayenne, the Cayenne could be sold for a higher price because of its customization.
Overview
These are the main differences to help you choose the one you prefer:
- Model X is fully electric, while Cayenne is a hybrid
- Model X has more horsepower than the Cayenne
- Model X has better acceleration than the Cayenne
- Model X has lesser top speed than the Cayenne
- Model X has lesser towing capability than the Cayenne
- Model X has more cargo space than the Cayenne
- Model X has a futuristic interior while Cayenne has traditional
- Model X has a better resale value
- Model X is more fuel efficient
- Model X has fewer exterior, interior, and wheel color options
- Model X has more standard features
Conclusion
If you want to enjoy the luxury of the old world, then get yourself a Porsche. However, if you are ready to embrace the future of luxury, then you must get a Tesla Model X. The Model X is the better car in many ways while being cheaper to own.
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My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.