Beats out Jeep New Grand Cherokee L for the honor
Scores 8.7 out of 10 in driving performance and energy efficiency
'Sports car-like SUV' value reinterpreted for the electric age
![Cayenne Electric [Provided by Porsche Korea]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/07/news-p.v1.20261007.632195197e5e418bb7b22dad0611de4d_P1.jpg)
The Korea Automotive Journalists Association announced Wednesday that it has named the Porsche Cayenne Electric its Car of the Month for October.
The association's Car of the Year selection committee evaluates new models and facelifts released each month and announces a monthly winner. Scoring covers seven categories: design and emotional quality, driving performance and energy efficiency, safety and advanced driving technology, infotainment and connected systems, space utilization and practicality, price competitiveness and product value, and overall product appeal and purchase attractiveness.
Two vehicles launched last month were shortlisted as October candidates — the Jeep New Grand Cherokee L and the Porsche Cayenne Electric, listed in Korean alphabetical order by brand name. After a close contest, the Cayenne Electric took the title with 53.3 points out of a possible 70.
The Cayenne Electric scored 8.7 out of 10 in driving performance and energy efficiency, and earned 8 points each in design and emotional quality, infotainment and connected systems, and overall product appeal and purchase attractiveness. It received 7.3 points in the safety and advanced driving technology category.
The Cayenne Electric measures 4,985 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width and 1,674 mm in height. Its wheelbase of 3,023 mm — about 130 mm longer than the combustion-engine model — improves rear-seat comfort. Maximum cargo capacity is 1,588 liters, and the vehicle also offers a 90-liter front luggage compartment. With the off-road package, it provides a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons.
The top-of-the-range Cayenne Turbo Electric delivers 1,156 horsepower and 153.0 kgf·m of torque under launch control via a newly developed drive system. It accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and to 200 km/h in 7.4 seconds, with a top speed of 260 km/h.
The standard Cayenne Electric produces 442 horsepower and 85 kgf·m of torque under launch control, reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.8 seconds.
Won Seon-ung, chairman of the Car of the Year selection committee, said the Cayenne Electric "reinterprets in the language of the electric age the value of a 'sports car-like SUV' that Cayenne has built over more than 20 years." He added that "the 390 kW ultra-fast charging capability delivered by the 113 kWh dual-sided cooling battery and 800V architecture, combined with a certified domestic range of up to 500 km, decisively raises efficiency and convenience in real-world long-distance use."
Won also said the vehicle's "precise combination of adaptive air suspension, rear-axle steering and Porsche Active Ride achieves body control that makes the weight of a large electric SUV almost imperceptible, along with outstanding everyday ride comfort, proving that Porsche remains the benchmark in chassis engineering."
He further praised the model, saying its "active aerodynamic design achieving a drag coefficient of 0.25, the generous second-row space and frunk secured by a wheelbase 130 mm longer than the previous model, and the digital experience represented by the curved OLED flow display and augmented-reality head-up display all meet the expectations of premium electric vehicle buyers who demand both performance and family SUV practicality."
The Korea Automotive Journalists Association has presented its Car of the Month award each month since 2019. Last month, the Polestar 3 took the honor.
likehyo85@heraldcorp.com
