When Porsche announced their intentions to build its first SUV in 1998, car enthusiasts thought Stuttgart's decision-makers had lost their marble. It was an audacious project. At the time, large SUVs were doing well across all segments, but Porsche wanted to bring in a new product. In 2002, the Porsche Cayenne came after a failed partnership with Mercedes and a better one with Volkswagen. It was the brand's first off-road capable SUV and a performer with the soul of a sports car.
Two decades later, the Cayenne is still strong and earned its place among the 911s in the Porsche lineup. Thanks in part to the Cayenne, we now have plenty of performance SUVs from manufacturers who were traditionally pure makers of sports cars. Notably, Lamborghini has the Urus, and Ferrari has the Purosangue. The Cayenne is a luxurious, high-performance SUV for drivers who want the practicality of a big car but would rather be driving a sports sedan. Currently, in its third generation, the Cayenne is as impressive as ever, and here's why we'd love to own it.
9 Invigorating Powertrain Options
These days, SUVs pack a serious punch, and plenty of them produce more than 500 ponies. The Porsche Cayenne comes with a 2.9-liter and 3-liter V6 petrol engine, 3-liter V6 with an electric motor, and a 4-liter V8 petrol engine. All these trims offer big performance.
Porsche no longer offers a diesel option. But the entry-level V6 engines make 340 smooth ponies, and the V8 engine is where the money is. It pushes 640 hp and is the quickest in the Turbo GT model.
8 Drives Like A Sports Car
Porsche knows how to build impressive sports cars. The original 911 won gearheads' hearts from its debut in 1963. While Porsche purists scoffed at the idea of an SUV, the Cayenne borrowed a leaf from its sporty siblings, and it comes with impressive handling for a vehicle its size.
The Cayenne is arguably the best driver's SUV by a mile, thanks to its power, agility, and sharper handling than other large SUVs. The large 21-inch wheels and Porsche's Active Suspension Management gives it massive amounts of grip and body control. Add the well-weighted steering and great braking power, and you have a serious corner carver.
7 Impressive Towing Capacity
One of the SUV segment's appeals is the ability to pull loaded trailers. The Cayenne is among the best European SUVs for towing. When fully equipped, the Vehicle can tow up to 7,700 pounds which is quite impressive for its class.
For perspective, the Ford Ranger, a midsized pickup truck, can tow 7500 pounds. In its class, the Urus can tow up to 7,000 pounds, and Aston Martin DBX just 5,940 pounds. However, the three exhaust ports in the mid-section of the Cayenne can get in the way of attaching your RV.
6 Roomy And Exquisitely-made Interior
Every inch of the Porsche Cayenne is as premium as you'll get from the best German luxury SUV. It is gorgeous with a fit and finish that meets exceptional standards featuring posh materials, comfortable, and sufficiently roomy. But there isn't a third row, and the cargo space is slightly less than you get from rivals.
The Cayenne comes with a buffet of tech features, and the control buttons on the cockpit feel premium. The driver gets a wide range of driving positions. They can adjust it to feel like a sporty 911 or a comfier SUV. The standard body style seats five, while the coupe version has room for four.
5 Extensive Customization Options
Customers have up to eight 2022 Porsche Cayenne variants, including the Base, Base Platinum, E-Hybrid, the S, the GTS, the Turbo, and the Turbo S E-Hybrid. Then all these have a Coupe version and the range-topping Turbo GT. The options don't end there. Porsche offers an extensive selection of customization options for anyone who wishes to leave a unique impression with their ride. The GTA Coupe and Turbo each come with two factory finish packages for interior and exterior.
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Also, Porsche can build a Cayenne in your image through the One-Off Extends Customization Program. Do you want an off-road kitted Cayenne? They've got you.
4 The New Turbo GT Defines Performance SUV
The Turbo GT is the newest entry in the Cayenne range-topper. The hot rod SUV lapped the Nürburgring track in 7:38.9, ahead of the Audi RS Q8 and Lamborghini Urus, making it officially the fastest SUV around the famous Green Hell track. It defies its 4979-pound weight and shows Porsche pushed the limits of performance when designing the Turbo GT.
Launch time figures are supercar territory. The Turbo GT can sprint from a stop to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than its pricier Lamborghini Urus rival.
3 PHEV Models Offer Eco-Conscious Performance
The Porsche Cayenne plugin hybrid trim builds on the base model's turbocharged 3-liter six-cylinder engine and adds an electric motor to punch out 455 hp combined. You can drive the E-hybrid on batteries alone for about 29 miles which can come in handy while stuck in city traffic. Also, it is kinder to the environment, seeing Porsche claims a carbon emission of about 1.1 ounces per mile compared to the Cayenne S, which emits up to 4.8 ounces every mile.
With a price of $81,450 after the federal tax credit, the E-Hybrid offers better value than the 434-hp Cayenne S coupe, which starts at $91,250, and the performance is nearly equal.
2 Capable Off-Roader
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Yes, the Cayenne can go off-road. It has aged well from a supercar-eating, urban streets-crawler to a rugged motor you can confidently take on the trails along your Jeep Wranglers and the Raptors. It is excellent in snow conditions, backed by powerful V8 engines and a suite of assistive tech.
All models have an intuitive AWD system that detects how much power each wheel needs. Also, the high ground clearance makes it easier to crawl difficult terrains and obstacles.
1 Porsche Pedigree
The Porsche nameplate comes with a certain expectation, and the Cayenne doesn't disappoint or bring shame to its badge. It reflects the Porsche DNA and long heritage of pure sporty driving demeanor.
While the Porsche Cayenne is one of the most expensive vehicles in its class, it stands out by delivering arguably the best driving experience among the competition. It is a Porsche by every right and adds the practicality to haul your family while keeping up with supercars on the autobahn. It is worth every penny having it in your garage.