Overview & Reviews

Porsche raised the public's collective eyebrow when it decided to enter the sport-utility vehicle business in 2003 with the bulbous Cayenne. However, despite the grumblings of purists, this midsize luxury SUV has proven itself worthy of the vaunted Porsche name over the course of two generations.

With a lineup that stretches into six-digit territory when new and engines that range from a hybrid V6 to a twin-turbo V8, the Porsche Cayenne isn't your typical midsize SUV. Nor is it the most practical or family-friendly. Indeed, the Cayenne's relatively small cargo area, high load floor and lack of a third-row seat option limit its real-world functionality.

But in terms of spirited driving, there are few better. Thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, razor-sharp steering and superb brakes, the Porsche Cayenne demonstrates surprising dexterity around corners. The current generation isn't quite as adept off-road as the original Cayenne, but it's also lighter and more nimble, a trade-off that most shoppers will likely appreciate. New or used, a Cayenne is one of the best luxury SUVs you can get.

Current Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a five-seat midsize luxury SUV with numerous trims that correspond to engine choice. The base Cayenne features a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 300 horsepower, along with all-wheel drive and a novel six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic is optional with the V6 and standard on everything else. Stepping up to the Cayenne S gets you a 4.8-liter V8 that gets the party started with 400 horses. The Cayenne Turbo rocks a turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 rated at 500 hp, while the Turbo S ups the ante to 550 hp. Should you care more about efficiency than performance, the Cayenne S Hybrid produces 380 hp but beats the base V6's fuel economy, while the Diesel's torque-rich 240-hp V6 uses even less fuel and still delivers authoritative thrust.

Inside, the Cayenne employs an enveloping, cockpit-style layout reminiscent of the Porsche Panamera, with ample standard features and as many options as your bank account can handle. The center console, adorned with upwards of 50 buttons, rises rakishly to meet the dashboard and its large touchscreen display. As with other Porsches, the Cayenne's interior boasts sumptuous materials and excellent build quality. The sculpted rear seats not only recline but slide fore and aft as well. Maximum cargo capacity, however, is more in line with compact crossovers at just 62.9 cubic feet.

In reviews, we've been astonished by the current Porsche Cayenne's athleticism. It can be hustled along a curving road with gusto, yet the ride manages to stay supple, even with the optional active dampers in their most aggressive setting. And although this Cayenne isn't meant for serious off-road use, it can still hold its own in light-duty applications. If we were making a list of the most capable vehicles across all driving scenarios, the Cayenne would be right there at the top.

Used Porsche Cayenne Models
The current, second-generation Porsche Cayenne was introduced for 2011. It may look smaller than the SUV it replaced, but this is actually an optical illusion created by the new model's lower nose and raked roof pillars. In reality, this Cayenne is fractionally longer, wider and taller. Pleasingly, though, it's about 400 pounds lighter thanks to the deletion of the dual-range transfer case (meant to permit serious off-roading) and the use of lighter-weight body panels. Besides this trip to Jenny Craig, the second-generation Cayenne benefits from sharper driving reflexes, invigorated engines and a new interior with better materials and more luxury features.

The current Cayenne has received a few notable updates during its run. The 550-hp Turbo S model didn't arrive until 2014, but from 2012-'13 a Power Kit was offered for the regular Turbo that increased output to 540 hp. Also, the Diesel and GTS models weren't introduced until 2013, and a Platinum Edition package (including special silver exterior accents and added luxury features) was unveiled for base and Diesel models in 2014.

The first-generation Porsche Cayenne was produced from 2003-'10 and came equipped with a heavy-duty all-wheel-drive system that included low-range gearing. At heart, though, the original Cayenne was all about on-road performance, just like the current model. It was considered one of the best-handling SUVs of its time -- not to mention one of the fastest in S, GTS and Turbo guises.

Inside, the driver sat high above traffic in comfortable bucket seats, facing a three-spoke steering wheel and a center-mounted tachometer that paid homage to Porsche's sports cars. The ignition was even mounted on the left side of the dash in classic Porsche style. Materials quality was generally very good throughout the cabin, but the advanced electronics controls weren't especially user-friendly. The original Cayenne wasn't the most spacious midsize SUV either, lacking the cargo and rear seat space of some similarly priced competitors.

Originally, there were only Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo styles. The S model's 4.5-liter V8 produced 340 hp, while the turbocharged version of the same engine pumped out 450 horses. A six-speed automatic transmission was standard. A 247-hp 3.2-liter V6 base model arrived in 2004, and its standard transmission became a six-speed manual for 2005 (the rest of the Cayenne line stuck with the auto). That year also saw the addition of a few options, such as a panoramic sunroof and a Turbo Power Kit that boosted output to 500 hp and upgraded the brakes. For 2006, the range-topping Cayenne Turbo S debuted, producing a monstrous 520 hp that whisked the Cayenne to 60 mph as quickly as a 911 Carrera of the same era.

The Cayenne was not produced for model year 2007, but the following year brought major changes. The styling was given a welcome face-lift, the suspension was revised for sharper handling and every engine gained more power. The base V6 now produced 290 hp, the Cayenne S's V8 385 hp and the Turbo an even 500 hp. The Turbo S was put on hiatus. The Cayenne GTS model also arrived for '08, featuring a 405-hp version of the S model's V8 along with a six-speed manual transmission, 21-inch wheels, an active air suspension and a lower ride height. The Turbo S made its return for 2009 packing 550 hp.

User Reviews:

• 

  Nice Ride! - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By dave - October 28 - 2:23 pm

  Spent about 2 weeks looking for the right car. New it when I found the GTS..Trading out of a land rover sport. But thats another story ... Porsche has done a great job- inside & out. Power out of the V-8 is great. Fit & finish also very nice.

• 

  Great SUV - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By C. Donsky - October 20 - 10:00 am

  I have not owned a Porsche for about 12 years. This SUV is superb in all respects - looks, handling, performance, features and design. I now look for reasons to drive long distances.

• 

  My First Porsche - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Jamal Fakhoury - October 13 - 10:00 am

  Wonderfuly constructed and engineered from the ground up. Every available option is available for this car. However the cost of any add on from Porsche are very inflated and over-priced.

• 

  What a Fun Vehicle to Own - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By frank - October 5 - 2:53 am

  This is the best SUV I have ever owned. After having driven a Jeep, a Mercedes and a Range Rover, Im totally sold to Porsche. At any speed on any road you have full control. The only minor negative point is the price for the options.

• 

  cayenne has a few bugs - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By getrocking - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a cayenne v-6 last spring and its been a hoot to drive. The handling and performance considering its a v-6, the entry model, are superb. The problem has been the several warranty repairs, air bag problem, ignition wiring, and fuel air mix, and a rattle in the dash that has taken forever to figure out. The dealer has been helpful and supportive in all these matters, and wants to make it right whatever it takes.

• 

  I hope you like spending $. - 2004 Porsche Cayenne
  By Driver - September 17 - 9:16 am

  Overall, I cant complain, but I am rather dissapointed. In my opinion, for an oil change to take over an hour (resulting in a bill of over $200) is unacceptable. This problem could be fixed by better design of the underbody allowing for easier basic maintnence. In addition, Tiptronic system sometimes kicks in at random. I was dissapointed when I learned that I had to get a completely different WHEEL to get a snow tire. I espescially do not like the image that I payed $70,000 for my car. Buying Premium gas constantly gets very old, very fast. Also, my familly constantly reminds me of the fact that it looks like a rollerskate. If you like spending money and driving is all you care about go for it

• 

  Surprising - 2009 Porsche Cayenne
  By malcum1 - September 10 - 10:54 pm

  We bought a new Cayenne Turbo S back in 08 for a vacation driver and something to get the groceries with, I was expecting a modest speed, unreliable car and was against buying it but my wife insisted. This car has speed the rivals my 2012 Jaguar and we havent had any issues with it breaking down despite having driven it over 40k miles.

• 

  Porsche for Boomers - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Porsche for Boomers - September 1 - 10:00 am

  The Cayenne S is more sports car than SUV. Space is not abundant, but the trade off is performance and handling. Not may creature comforts, save that for Lexus!. The Cayenne handles like a 3000 lb coupe and not a 5000 lb truck. The 6-speed tip is fun, but in automatic mode, the shift points are at lower RPMs and you can easily lose torque. The 6-speed auto doesnt really save on gas either. At highway speeds the Cayenne S is rock solid and cruises easily over 100 mph with room to spare. X-5 has more refined ride, but more sway as well. The Cayenne S is the sports version of the VW Toureg which is $15K less for the V-8 version with air suspension

• 

  Fix the tranny - 2006 Porsche Cayenne
  By NABMAN - August 19 - 2:43 pm

  The Cayenne is great. High performance, fast, corners well, luxurious and well built. Excellent performance on the highway but this vehicle has one major problem- the tranny. In the city, it is not nimble enough to weave in and out of traffic. It is hard to control. Too fast or your punching it to switch gears. The acceleration is inconsistent. (I understand they changed this in the 08) The tranny takes forever to decide which gear it should go into and this creates lag. If you are accustomed to high performance cars in the city, you will feel this. Likely to save gas, the tranny shifts up too quickly and down late in normal slow city driving. I have had this reset and am told thats it

• 

  The Best - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By KngPorsche - July 27 - 10:13 am

  I am 62 and always planned to buy a 911 as a kid. However, a 911 is not comfortable to someone me size. Then came the Cayenne and my dream is fulfilled. I love this SUV it is the best of both worlds.........