Porsche Cayenne - The Ultimate Guide

An all-new Cayenne made its debut for the 2019 model year, and despite having all new sheet metal, the look did not change dramatically. As per tradition, Porsche trimmed the power lineup for the debut year. The base model received a 335-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6, the Cayenne S had a 434-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6, and the Cayenne Turbo had a 541-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8.

For 2020, Porsche began offering a four-door Cayenne Coupe with a faster roofline. For 2021, Porsche added the E-Hybrid model, with a combined 455 hp from its 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine and electric motor combo. The new Turbo S E-Hybrid combined the Cayenne Turbo engine with a plug-in hybrid system for a staggering total of 670 hp. The 2021 Cayenne GTS once again took the S engine and bumped it up to 453 hp.

The second-generation Cayenne appeared for the 2011 model year, and Porsche kind-of put forward its green credentials with the introduction of a Hybrid model that combined a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 and added an electric motor. The rest of the range got a design refresh and an increase in power. The Cayenne V6 now up to 300 hp, the Cayenne S hit 400 hp and the Turbo nudged 500 hp. The Turbo S and GTS models were dropped, but the GTS came back in 2013 with 420 hp alongside a new 240-hp Cayenne Diesel. The Turbo S returned for 2014 with 550 hp.

The Cayenne was facelifted for 2015, and the V-6, Turbo S and GTS models were put on hiatus. The Cayenne S switched from a V8 to turbocharged 3.6 liter V-6, while the hybrid (now called Cayenne S E-Hybrid) was up to 416 hp. The Cayenne Turbo's V-8 delivered 520 hp. The missing engines showed up in 2016, with the base V-6 retaining its 300 hp rating. The GTS once again built on the S' turbocharged V-6 with 440 hp, while the Turbo S offered a mind-twisting 570 hp. Automatic transmissions were now standard across the board. A showy Platinum Edition package was available for 2017 in V-6 and E-Hybrid models.

An all-new Cayenne made its debut for the 2019 model year, and despite having all new sheet metal, the look did not change dramatically. As per tradition, Porsche trimmed the power lineup for the debut year. The base model received a 335-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6, the Cayenne S had a 434-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6, and the Cayenne Turbo had a 541-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. For 2020, Porsche began offering a four-door Cayenne Coupe with a faster roofline. For 2021, Porsche added the E-Hybrid model, with a combined 455 hp from its 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine and electric motor combo. The new Turbo S E-Hybrid combined the Cayenne Turbo engine with a plug-in hybrid system for a staggering total of 670 hp. The 2021 Cayenne GTS once again took the S engine and bumped it up to 453 hp.

The 2024 Porsche Cayenne lineup saw notable upgrades across its powertrain offerings. The base model's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 received a modest boost, now delivering 348 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S returned to a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, replacing the previous V6 and significantly upping the ante with 468 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the E-Hybrid variant benefited from a more powerful electric motor producing 174 horsepower and a larger 25.9 kWh battery, extending the electric-only range to around 90 km on the WLTP cycle. These enhancements contribute to a more dynamic, efficient, and well-rounded performance profile across the Cayenne range.

The Cayenne came along at a time when the Porsche company had some real financial troubles. They had a bunch of sports cars in the lineup that weren't selling particularly well and were not mainstream focused in any way. It was the yuppy brand that built expensive sports cars. Porsche needed something mainstream and nothing was more mainstream in the early 2000s like an SUV. Welcome to the world Mr Porsche Cayenne in 2002. Make no mistake, this SUV saved the sports-car company and set it on a financial course that made it the most profitable car company in the world.

The Cayenne was not without controversy. 911 fans balked at the idea of a heavy SUV from Porsche and many predicted it would be a failure. "How could Porsche do this to us? How could Porsche launch a family SUV with the Porsche logo on it?" All of this before they learned that the Porsche Cayenne would in fact share its platform with a Volkswagen (Volkswagen Group PL71 chassis, which it shares with the VW Touareg and Audi Q7). Fast forward a few years and the first generation Cayenne became the best selling Porsche of all times and stayed that way until the end of its production.

The first generation of Cayenne is really two sub-generations. They are known as the Cayenne 955 and the Cayenne 957. The Cayenne 955 was the original launch Cayenne and sold from 2002 until 2007. Models included the base Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo, and Cayenne Turbo S models. While there was officially no 2007 model year Cayenne in the United States, you could find them in dealers. On the brink of the global recession in 2007, Porsche launched the 2008 Cayenne model, updated and refreshed and known at the Cayenne 957.

The Cayenne 957 covers all Cayennes sold from 2008 to 2010 model years, and includes those same previous models and introduced the Cayenne GTS and the limited edition Cayenne S Transsyberia and GTS Porsche Design Edition 3 as well as the introduction of a Cayenne Diesel. The 957 was not a big update, consisting mainly of a mild facelift and some better technologies and interior design.

The second-generation Porsche Cayenne was introduced as a 2011 MY update to the super successful first generation car. The 958 ran through till the 2018 model year, with the two versions known as the 958.1 and 958.2. The second generation Cayenne was built on the VW PL72 platform. Think of it as a solid update, but not revolutionary in any real way. The big change model-wise this generation was the introduction of headline-grabbing Cayenne S Hybrid, which borrowed the 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 from Audi and added an electric motor for a total of 380 hp. Designwise, the Porsche new Cayenne looked smaller and fitter than the first generation. We loved the update and it finally made the Cayenne look good. The second generation Cayenne was actually larger, yet more than 500 lbs lighter. All models had more power, better acceleration and better handling.

Mechanically, the 958 has several changes. First and foremost, Porsche did away with the low range four-wheel-drive transfer case, one of the major areas that allowed them to trim weight. The 6-speed Tiptronic automatic was replaced with an 8-speed unit, while a manual transmission remained only available on the Cayenne base model. Power is up on all models, but the bread-and-butter Cayenne S was still V8-based, its engine also shared by the Porsche Panamera. There were also two new engines introduced to the 958.1 Cayenne Model range, an Audi-sourced 3.0T supercharged V6 with hybrid, and a 3.0 TDI diesel engine, which like the 3.0T is an engine also shared with the Audi Q7.

The interior is a big step up over the 955/957 in terms of modern looks and aesthetics, but core features are similar with power front seats, windows, locks, 60/40 folding rear seats, and leather seating surfaces. Porsche continued to offer an ever-increasing number of options for the Cayenne, with the majority being aesthetic. Other options offered things like bi-Xenon headlights, PASM suspension, park assist, and auto-dimming mirrors. Luxuries like dual-zone climate control are, of course, standard, while PDCC, PASM, and Adaptive Air Suspension are all available options.

The Cayenne was facelifted for 2015. The 958.2 Cayenne saw major changes in terms of the engine power plants, with the V8 option going away entirely on the popular Cayenne S and GTS. The replacement is a powerful and torquey twin-turbocharged 3.6 L V6, providing both better performance and improved efficiency. The Turbo and Turbo S remain the sole V8 Cayenne options, both of which still weigh in with 4.8 L of displacement and twin-turbochargers. The Cayenne S Hybrid became the E-Hybrid, with a plug-in option and florescent yellow brake calipers to easily distinguish the cutting-edge hybrid from its non-electric brethren. The interior of the 958.2 is pretty much the same as the 958.1, save for a new updated steering wheel. Likewise, all the other core components and options carry over from the earlier model, including the 8-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission as the standard and only transmission option. The manual is no longer available on the Cayenne base. The Cayenne Diesel remained on the menu until 2016.

Revealed online on August 29, 2017, the third-generation Porsche Cayenne was a complete redesign from top to bottom and was built on the freshly created Volkswagen Group MLB platform. Production began in 2017 as a 2018 onward model year for Europe while USA and rest of the world got the Cayenne as a 2019 model year onward. It is known as the 9YA and has two main body types, known as the 9Y0 for the SUV and 9Y3 for the new Coupe body style (more on that below).

Any pretense that the Cayenne is a "real" off-roader is gone with the launch of the third generation. This is a pure luxury and performance focused SUV for the road. There, we said it. Lets start with the looks. The latest Cayenne is the most refined design so far, finally getting to a point where we can call the Cayenne handsome and modern. The interiors are updated, clean and organized well with all the tech and touchscreens you could ever want. It is a nice place to sit. The engine options are once again updated, with forced-induction V6 and V8 engines throughout, with gear-shifting handled by a near-perfect 8-speed Tiptronic automatic.

Coil spring suspension remains standard on all models, with an optional active air suspension, except on the Turbo, where air remains standard. Four-wheel-steering is a new-for-2019 option and works to significantly reduce the Cayenne’s turning radius and agility at low speeds, as well as increase stability at high speeds, much like the system used on the GT3 and other performance Porsches. All of the previous high-tech frills like PDCC, PASM, and PSM remain as options or as standard depending on the model, and improved features like an electronically locking active rear differential and torque vectoring improve performance and traction under all circumstances. 

Finally, in 2020 Porsche has put out a second version of the Cayenne, the Cayenne Coupe, to compete with the plethora of crossover and SUV options from the competition. The Coupe is essentially a fastback version of the standard Cayenne, with sleeker looks. Versions on offer include most of the normal trims and powerplants, topping out with the Cayenne Coupe Turbo S E-Hybrid, which makes a staggering 670 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque and can sprint to 60mph in 3.6 seconds. The GTS model returned for 2021 and is back to V8 power, now with twin-turbochargers. On June 30, 2021, Porsche introduced the Cayenne Turbo GT version. It uses 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and claimed 3.1 second 0-60 mph.

The third-generation Porsche Cayenne received a significant mid-cycle refresh for the 2024 model year. This update encompassed enhancements to its exterior design, interior features, powertrain options, and chassis components. The 2024 Cayenne's exterior underwent subtle yet impactful changes. The front fascia was reworked to include larger air intakes, restyled headlights, more prominent fenders, and a subtle hood bulge. At the rear, new taillights and a redesigned tailgate contribute to a wider appearance. Additionally, Matrix LED headlights became standard across the range, with optional HD Matrix LED units offering enhanced illumination precision.

Inside, the Cayenne adopted a new dashboard layout inspired by the Taycan, featuring a fully digital 12.6-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the PCM 6.0 infotainment system. An optional 10.9-inch passenger display is also available. The traditional gear-selector lever was replaced by a smaller toggle switch mounted on the dashboard, freeing up space on the center console. The steering wheel was updated to match the design found in the 911 sports car.

The 2024 Porsche Cayenne lineup saw notable upgrades across its powertrain offerings. The base model's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 received a modest boost, now delivering 348 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S returned to a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, replacing the previous V6 and significantly upping the ante with 468 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the E-Hybrid variant benefited from a more powerful electric motor producing 174 horsepower and a larger 25.9 kWh battery, extending the electric-only range to around 90 km on the WLTP cycle. These enhancements contribute to a more dynamic, efficient, and well-rounded performance profile across the Cayenne range.