Professionals: Nothing drives higher at its worth; tech is modern and works nicely; limitless customization and a plethora of efficiency variations
Cons: Dearer than opponents; restricted cargo area; you’ll be forking out large cash for each final choice
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne is among the finest do-it-all machines in existence, and it additionally occurs to be closely up to date for the 2024 mannequin yr. Regardless of its SUV form and SUV practicality, the Cayenne can set a blistering tempo down any highway – and even monitor – and be the supply of many large grins. BMW’s M division, Mercedes’ AMG and plenty of others might strive, however none can totally measure as much as the Cayenne for driving enjoyment. The Cayenne isn’t a one-trick pony both, as a result of assuming you spec its accessible air suspension, the experience is plush and fantastically damped.
Porsche’s 2024 replace brings the Cayenne’s inside into an much more aggressive area, matching its closest rivals within the display measurement and tech race. In base kind, the Porsche remains to be going to really feel a little bit spartan in comparison with others, however that may be flipped on its head do you have to fancy a spin by means of the configurator.
And that brings us to the Cayenne’s greatest draw back: It’s costly. You’re not going to line it up feature-for-feature with different midsize luxurious SUVs and discover higher worth within the Porsche, as a result of what you’re paying for is a driving expertise that’s unmatched by others in its class. The numerous powertrains on supply means mentioned expertise will fluctuate wildly relying on the mannequin. A Cayenne S looks like an easy efficiency SUV with its rumbling, new-for-2024 V8 by no means fairly disappearing from earshot. In the meantime, a plug-in E-Hybrid mannequin will let you drive a good variety of miles in electrical mode for optimum effectivity.
It’s in the end pretty easy whether or not it’s best to or shouldn’t select a Cayenne. When you’re principally targeted on luxurious and the newest tech, a BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and plenty of others can be a greater purchase. Nonetheless, if the driving expertise is paramount, then the Cayenne is price each additional penny you spend over the competitors.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gas Financial system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2024?
The Cayenne is refreshed for 2024 in each its customary and Coupe types, however the modifications are substantial sufficient that we referred to as it “model 3.5” in our 2024 Cayenne First Drive the place you possibly can learn all concerning the quite a few large modifications Porsche utilized to its greatest automobile.
What are the Cayenne’s inside and in-car expertise like?
Porsche utterly revamped the Cayenne’s inside for 2024, leaving nearly nothing from the pre-refresh automobile. You turn it on through a button as a substitute of a key-like twist toggle to the left of the steering wheel. The instrument cluster is now a totally digital 12.6-inch display – there are seven completely different layouts accessible, and don’t fear, a few them put the standard Porsche tachometer proper within the heart the place it ought to be. Porsche’s newest Porsche Communication Administration (PCM) infotainment software program runs on the wide-format 12.3-inch touchscreen built-in into the sprint. The system is extra colourful than the Cayenne’s earlier PCM, with icons simpler to distinguish at a look, however it’s principally comparable in total UI idea. That features the column of menu icons completely docked on the left aspect of the usual 12.3-inch touchscreen, together with one to shortly interact and exit Apple CarPlay. The final display is an non-obligatory one for the passenger measuring 10.9 inches, which permits the passenger to function the navigation system or watch streaming video, whereas a polarized filter ensures that the driving force can’t see what’s proven.
The local weather management panel within the heart stack is completely new for 2024, too, and represents a simplification of the button-filled heart stack Porsche used earlier than. It’s a greater laid-out local weather system, however the execution is flawed. Pushing down on the icons gives haptic suggestions, however the whole black trim piece strikes with every “button” push, which comes throughout as low cost, particularly for a Porsche.
As you’d count on from any Porsche, the main points and construct high quality are pretty much as good because it will get. You’ll get pleasure from a well-insulated cabin, pretty supplies (particularly do you have to spend some cash on leather-based and extra within the limitless configurator) and ergonomics that’ll make any fanatic swoon. And don’t overlook that you needn’t restrict your self to the already large assortment of inside colours within the configurator – Porsche can be comfortable to outfit the inside of your Cayenne nevertheless you need it.
How large is the Cayenne?
For a Porsche, it is enormous. For a midsize SUV, it is fairly typical on the skin. Its size and width are akin to a BMW X5, however it’s a little bit decrease in total peak. Its curb weight is far decrease, which definitely advantages efficiency. Inside, Porsche curiously would not present passenger dimensions for both 2024 Cayenne, however in our expertise driving it, there’s adequate rear seat legroom for a 6-footer to take a seat behind one other. There’s additionally greater than sufficient area for a child to kick about of their little one seat with out hitting the passenger up entrance. That mentioned, we additionally like that the again seat slides ahead to convey youngsters (or maybe canine in harnesses) a little bit nearer to inside your attain or to create additional cargo area. That applies to each physique kinds, however from there the traditional SUV and Cayenne Coupe diverge.
The standard Cayenne has no scarcity of rear headroom, however the specs say there’s solely 27.2 cubic toes of area behind the raised again seat. That dips significantly to simply about 22 cubic toes in the event you go for an E-Hybrid variant. That is notably lower than a few of its closest competitors just like the BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE, however we suspect this overt distinction is the results of Porsche utilizing a distinct measurement approach than others. Whereas we’re assured it’s nonetheless a smaller area for the phase, we doubt it’s that dangerous. It’s large and deep, particularly once you make the most of that sliding second row, and it is also superior to what you get with the brand new Cayenne Coupe. The chopped roof physique fashion has noticeably much less rear headroom, and cargo capability drops by about 7 cubes or extra relative the SUV physique fashion. We go in-depth with the Coupe’s cargo space on this baggage check.
SUV physique fashion left, Coupe physique fashion proper
What are the Cayenne’s gasoline economic system and efficiency specs?
Bear with us for a second, as a result of there are many completely different Cayenne variants to get by means of. Nonetheless, all are fitted with an eight-speed automated transmission and all-wheel drive. Each the SUV and Coupe physique kinds are provided with each powertrain, apart from the Turbo GT, which is Coupe-only.
The bottom Cayenne is powered by an up to date 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that makes 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, propelling it to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds (5.4 with Sport Chrono). It’s rated for 17 mpg metropolis, 23 mpg freeway and 19 mpg mixed.
A Cayenne S will get you the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, a brand new addition to the S this yr that was beforehand rocking a V6 engine. It produces 468 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, netting you a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds (4.4 with Sport Chrono). Gas economic system dips to fifteen/21/17 with this trim.
There are three plug-in hybrid trims accessible for 2024, too. The entry-level one is the E-Hybrid, which consists of a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 and an electrical motor making a mixed 463 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It comes customary with the Sport Chrono bundle (all E-Hybrid fashions do) and does the 0-60 mph run in 4.6 seconds. All hybrid Cayennes pack a 25.9 kilowatt-hour battery pack, and whereas EPA vary rankings weren’t out on the time of this writing, we count on it to beat final yr’s 15-mile all-electric vary due to the battery pack being bigger than earlier than.
The subsequent rung up is the brand new Cayenne S E-Hybrid rated for a mixed 512 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque from a extra highly effective 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 and electrical motor, permitting it to hit 60 mph in simply 4.4 seconds.
Porsche’s most potent electrified mannequin is the Turbo E-Hybrid that pairs its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with an electrical motor for a rowdy 729 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, permitting it to hit 60 mph in simply 3.5 seconds.
The wildest Cayenne variant is the Turbo GT that favors uncooked monitor efficiency over any hybrid/inexperienced intentions. It homes a potent 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 650 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque, giving it a 0-60 mph time of three.1 seconds – that’s virtually a half second faster than the Turbo E-Hybrid that has 79 additional horses. Exhibits you the way a lot chopping weight from the Turbo GT helps. Much like the E-Hybrid variants, EPA rankings weren’t accessible for the GT on the time of publishing.
What is the Cayenne prefer to drive?
In typical Porsche style, the Cayenne is the best-driving car you should buy wherever close to its worth level. From the bottom mannequin to the Turbo GT, there’s a Cayenne for no matter use case you would possibly take into account. Do observe that your expertise will fluctuate wildly relying on the model you spring for, although. Even choices inside the varied trim ranges will make a huge impact in your driving expertise. For instance, a Cayenne with the $2,390 PASM air suspension, $3,590 PDCC (energetic roll stabilization), $1,290 rear-axle steering and $9,080 (PCCBs) ceramic brakes will drive extraordinarily otherwise than one with out all the above. We’d recommend check driving Cayennes with and with out these varied efficiency choices to see which is perhaps well worth the cash to you.
No matter choices, a Cayenne in any kind goes to be a driver’s SUV with crisp steering and pleasant engine/transmission response. It’s primarily setting the efficiency customary that each different efficiency SUV is chasing. Porsche transferring the V8 into the S mannequin for 2024 is a fair greater boon for fanatics, too, as you get to benefit from the rumbly V8 at a fair cheaper price level than earlier than. We drove the S for this assessment specifically, and located it to be neither over- nor under-powered, making it an actual candy spot for fanatics to get into the Cayenne lineup at an inexpensive worth and maybe nonetheless have price range left over for the ultra-pricey efficiency and materials add-ons.
And outdoors the Cayenne S, the one different model we’ve tried of the refreshed Cayenne is the E-Hybrid. Acceleration is unsurprisingly quiet and clean when driving utilizing the all-electric vary. However there’s one potential hangup: the brake pedal. The E-Hybrid has the identical agency preliminary pedal response as different Cayenne fashions do, however for no matter motive, this results in some clunky transitions between the regenerative and mechanical brakes that make for troublesome modulation and jerky stops, particularly at decrease speeds. Maybe this might be attributed to our particular E-Hybrid check automobile having the carbon ceramic brake choice, so select properly when speccing your PHEV Cayenne.
What different Porsche Cayenne opinions can I learn?
2024 Porsche Cayenne First Drive Overview
Extra in-depth details about what modified for 2024, plus intensive driving impressions from the winding roads of Malibu.
What’s the 2024 Cayenne’s worth?
The bottom Cayenne begins at $80,850, together with the $1,650 vacation spot cost. Add $5,100 in order for you the Coupe physique fashion. As is the case with most Porsches, customary tools is comparatively sparse, although we’ll observe some new-for-2024 customary options embody Matrix Design LED headlights, lane-keep help, proximity key for locking and unlocking, and wi-fi cellphone charging. We’d be right here all day if we learn you thru the listing of serious options accessible for box-checking, so it’s finest that you simply simply head to the Porsche configurator to spec one out your self do you have to care to – we promise, it’ll be enjoyable.
The bottom costs for all of the 2024 Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe fashions are beneath, and you’ll find a fuller breakdown of options and specs right here on Autoblog.
Cayenne: $79,200
Cayenne E-Hybrid: $93,350
Cayenne S: $97,350
Cayenne S E-Hybrid: $100,750
Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid: $148,550
Cayenne Coupe: $85,950
Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe: $97,350
Cayenne S Coupe: $103,750
Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe: $106,050
Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe: $153,050
Cayenne Turbo GT: $196,300
What are the Cayenne’s security rankings and driver help options?
The Cayenne comes customary with ahead collision warning, automated emergency braking, blind spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping help, entrance and rear parking sensors and site visitors signal recognition. Different driver help options embody adaptive cruise management, an enhanced adaptive cruise management system referred to as InnoDrive (provides lane-centering steering help and proactively adjusts speeds primarily based on varied components), a 360-degree view digicam, distant parking help to manage the automobile through your smartphone and an infrared evening imaginative and prescient help. All of those non-obligatory extras are very costly add-ons when in comparison with different luxurious automakers.
The Cayenne has not been crash-tested by a 3rd get together on the time of this writing.
