Porsche Cayenne S 958.1 vs Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Cayenne S hits 100 km/h in 5.73 s versus 6.30 s for the Tonale PHEV. Despite lacking instant torque, 420 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Cayenne S leads by 0.57 s and sits roughly 10 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Cayenne S is doing 133 km/h against 129 km/h for the Tonale PHEV. The gap is 0.45 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Cayenne S crosses the line in 13.92 s versus 14.52 s. The 0.61 s gap represents roughly 27 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the Cayenne S continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 186 km/h versus 179 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Cayenne S finishes in 25.21 s versus 26.24 s, with a 1.04 s lead.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Cayenne S is capped at 258 km/h, the Tonale PHEV at 200 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 9.74 seconds. The 0.57 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.