I drove the new Porsche Cayenne and it will change your mind about EVs

Is there anything the new Cayenne Electric can't do? Having put this latest Porsche through some punishing tests in the Spanish countryside, I can honestly say I've never driven anything quite like it. It's faster than an F1 car, can race off-road like it wants to win the Dakar rally and doesn't flinch when wading through oceans of mud. It does all of that whilst still offering lashings of luxury, supreme comfort and plenty of space for the family.

The Cayenne is already one of Porsche's most popular cars, and there's little doubt this new version will continue that success story. It actually makes driving a big family electric car feel truly exhilarating whilst being incredibly practical. Although the closest most owners will get to going off-road is a London pot hole, it also won't have any issues should it end up in a muddy field. It basically feels like it's been built for every occasion.

From the outside, this SUV dominates the road with styling that's big and bold without being too brash - it also appears futuristic without losing its Cayenne identity.

The design isn't just great to gaze at. The bodywork glides through the air and includes features such as an adaptive roof spoiler that controls the airflow at the rear. This is joined by cooling air flaps, that enables a variable balance between efficiency, downforce and cooling performance.

The new Cayenne Electric is actually 55 millimetres longer than the combustion-engined model, and it weighs in at a whopping 2,525 kg. Despite all that bulk, it's super nimble and fun to drive - it's also ludicrously quick.

The top-end Turbo model can race from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of over 160mph. The Cayenne Turbo Electric earns bragging rights as the most powerful production Porsche of all time. Although it's fast, it also offers comfortable motoring, and that's what makes it such a nice car to be in.

It's like a Swiss Army knife of SUVs. It can be driven like a hot hatch, then taken for a gentle family drive before heading off the beaten track for a full-on adventure.

Hop inside and things feel just as refined thanks to a premium build, huge panoramic glass roof and seats that give you a reassuring hug. It's an incredibly comfy place to be. There's also plenty of tech including a large driver screen and a main Flow Display. This curved OLED panel flows smoothly into the centre console. It's certainly eye-catching, but I'm not entirely sure why Porsche has made a bendy dashboard; it does seem a bit pointless.

A third 14.9-inch screen can also be added for passengers with maps, apps, movies and even games available on this bonus panel. I was even able to link up a PS5 controller and play a few titles - via Gameloft - whilst waiting for the battery to get a top-up.

For the first time in the Cayenne, a head-up display with AR technology is also available, which visually represents an 87-inch display area 10 metres in front of the vehicle. This is possibly one of the best head-up displays I've used in a while, with crystal-clear graphics that provide enough data without being overwhelming.

Another thing I like about the Cayenne is the physical buttons and perfectly placed hand rest from the Flow Display. So many car manufacturers hide controls in the screen, but Porsche still has tactile switches for things like temperature control and windscreen demisting.

Mood lighting finishes off the premium interior, and there is, of course, a smart assistant which answers questions, helps with navigation and can even turn settings on and off.

Of course, this is an electric car, so what about range and will the owner face any anxiety?

I only had a limited time with the car, and it was in a warmer and sunnier part of the world than the UK. However, early indications are good.

At the heart of the all-electric Cayenne models is the newly developed 113 kWh high-voltage battery, which benefits from double-sided cooling for optimum thermal management. Porsche reckons owners could get almost 400 miles of motoring on a single charge. That's not as good as some other new cars from the likes of BMW and Mercedes but still impressive for such a big car.

Find a quick enough charger and the battery can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 16 minutes.

To further boost range, the Cayenne Electric also offers leading energy recovery figures, achieving Formula E levels with up to 600 kW of recuperative power.

The Cayenne Electric is also the first Porsche to offer optional inductive charging, with a system capable of charging at up to 11 kW. All that Porsche Wireless Charging requires is for the user to park above a floor plate. The charging process then starts automatically. Think of it like filling your iPhone via a wireless pad in a posh coffee shop. I wasn't able to test wireless charging, but Porsche says it will arrive in the future.

The Porsche Cayenne Electric really is an incredible car that I'm really struggling to fault.

It's built for a midlife crisis: big and practical enough for the whole family, but fast enough to have some serious fun when you get some alone time.

Of course, it's not cheap with the Cayenne Turbo costing over £130,000, but those wealthy enough to afford one are going to love every minute of owning it.