Porsche Cayenne Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision


in Car Comparisons
Porsche Cayenne driving on a road

Source: Pixabay

The Porsche Cayenne is a mid-size luxury crossover vehicle that offers sleek and modern touches on an approachable, gorgeous design. If you’re interested in this car, it’s ideal to examine every aspect of it before making a final purchase. You might wonder - what are some of the most valuable Porsche Cayenne pros and cons?

If you’re interested in learning more about the pros and cons of the Porsche Cayenne, you’re in the right place. The more you know about these items, the easier it will be to determine if the car is right for you. Read on to learn more about what we loved about the Cayenne and the items we didn’t find so appealing.

What We Love About the Porsche Cayenne 

It’s always thrilling to check out the best aspects of a machine. Let’s dive into what we love about the Porsche Cayenne pros and cons.

Solid Air Suspension

If you want to invest in one, there is an optional air suspension add-on to the Porsche Cayenne, offering more of a beneficial driving experience than ever before. It will assist with the riding and handling of the vehicle, providing a clear-cut difference between the Normal, Sport, and Sport Plus driving moods. 

The more you push up in modes, the more aggressive the driving experience will be. Normal mode starts very calm, and then everything ramps up from there and the air suspension is ready to assist with any potential troubles.

Optional 22-inch wheels and proper feedback from the steering wheel offer an excellent method of going over potholes and dents in the ground. The Cayenne has solid air suspension abilities. 


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V-8 Addition 

One of the best parts about the Porsche Cayenne is the V-8 engine add-on for those who want a little more power. They replaced the old V-6 system with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine to improve the output of the best trims of the Cayenne offer.

The old engine wasn’t necessarily bad, but it wasn’t anywhere near as powerful as the newer V-8 addition. You can press the pedal and hold it down to build a rush and zoom forward, or you can use the eight-speed automatic transmission for an exciting sensation of extreme control. The V-8 was an excellent choice for the newest system.

Luxury Touches

There are also plenty of luxurious touches dotting the interior and exterior of the Porsche Cayenne - just enough to remind you that you’re inside one of the best cars on the market. Nothing is over the top. Porsche did a good job focusing on traditional luxury, rather than trying to cram too much into the system like other car manufacturers.

Simple things like ample room for passengers, high-quality interior materials scattered from floor to ceiling, comfortable seats, and a design that has plenty of thought put into it are just a few of the wins in this arena. The Porsche Cayenne uses simple luxury finishes to make its point. You don’t need over the top for something to be enough.


THE PORSCHE CAYENNE YEARS TO AVOID

Not all Porsche Cayenne year models have been built to last. We’ll give you our recommendations on which year models are good to go and which Porsche Cayennes you’ll want to avoid.


Vastly Improved Technology

Finally, the latest version of the Porsche Cayenne offers vastly improved technology compared to past iterations of the vehicle. They worked hard to ensure the inside was just as catered to as the outside and the power system.

Some improved features include the addition of a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.6-inch digital cluster selection for a better grasp of control from the digital realm. Everything is clear and bold to remove any issues with seeing the tech on the go.

Other technologies include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an optional 10.9-inch screen addition for passengers to allow them to navigate on their own or watch movies to remain entertained, all out of sight of the driver to reduce the risk of distraction. 

What We Don’t Like About the Porsche Cayenne 

Of course, we can’t just discuss the best aspects without mentioning the worst. Let’s touch on the unfortunate portions of the Porsche Cayenne pros and cons.

High Price Point

There is a high price to pay if you want the luxury of the Porsche Cayenne. According to porsche.com, you can get the Porsche Cayenne for a starting price of $79,200. The more expensive trims come closer to $150,000 if you want the hybrid version of the Cayenne’s iconic design.

Of course, these base prices don’t include any of the add-ons such as air suspension, higher tires, and advanced technology features. If you want the best version of the Porsche Cayenne, you pretty much have to be ready to spend at least $100,000 on the machine. Good things don’t come cheap.

Less-Than-Idea Cargo Space

With all the room offered inside for passengers and sleek technology, you would think there would be plenty of room for cargo to sit inside the rear. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case with the Porsche Cayenne. 

According to [hendrickporsche.com](https://www.hendrickporsche.com/manufacturer-information/porsche-cayenne-interior-guide/#:~:text=Cayenne%20SUV%20Cargo%20Space%20(Rear,cubic%20feet%20%2F%2055.1%20cubic%20feet), the Cayenne offers 27.2 cubic feet in the cargo hold with the seats up and 60.3 cubic feet once they are folded down. If you have to go anywhere with a large amount of cargo, it might make for a tricky transportation experience. 

Trouble With Control

Finally, there is somewhat of an issue with control and the Porsche Cayenne. Most are usually very straightforward and self-explanatory, but there is an area where the Cayenne struggles. The dash-mounted shifter is a strange addition and can feel small and irrational to even have at some points in a typical drive.

The center console on the Cayenne holds many buttons and switches, which move the entire panel when pressed. It’s a confusing addition and doesn’t make much sense for the Cayenne. 


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Should You Buy a Porsche Cayenne?

We’ve gone over the Porsche Cayenne pros and cons, so it’s time to address one final question - should you purchase this car? Would your money be better spent somewhere else?

If you can afford to drop nearly $100,000 on a car, the Cayenne offers exceptional value to the driver. If you’re on a budget, it’s a terrible choice.



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