Porsche Cayenne Turbo 958.1 vs Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Cayenne Turbo hits 100 km/h in 4.45 s versus 5.37 s for the Model Y Long Range RWD. Despite lacking instant torque, 520 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Cayenne Turbo leads by 0.92 s and sits roughly 5 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Cayenne Turbo is doing 149 km/h against 131 km/h for the Model Y Long Range RWD. The gap is 0.63 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Cayenne Turbo crosses the line in 12.59 s versus 13.90 s. The 1.31 s gap represents roughly 56 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the Cayenne Turbo continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 205 km/h versus 172 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the Cayenne Turbo finishes in 22.82 s versus 26.20 s, with a 3.38 s lead.

The Cayenne Turbo features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the Model Y Long Range RWD’s RWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Cayenne Turbo is capped at 278 km/h, the Model Y Long Range RWD at 217 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 8.80 seconds. The 0.92 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.