See answers to common EV questions, tax incentives, charging maps & more.
Explore EV15 - 17
348 - 729
8 speed, Automatic w/OD
Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric V-6, Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded V-6, Twin Turbo Gas/Electric V-8, Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-8
All Wheel Drive
Photo: Perry Stern
The Porsche Cayenne competes in the Upper Midsize Premium SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, Porsche Cayenne owners rated their SUVs in 10 primary categories.
Listed below in descending order, you’ll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the Cayenne to their least favorite:
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the Cayenne ranks 6th out of 13 Upper Midsize Premium SUV models.
In the following sections, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Porsche Cayenne S equipped with numerous options. These were the most expensive upgrades:
With everything tallied up, the test vehicle’s price was $121,440, including the $1,650 destination charge.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Porsche Cayenne S is clearly a high-end vehicle – one look at the price will confirm this. But the interior is clean and purposeful instead of lavish and luxurious, which seems appropriate for the performance-oriented Porsche.
Like other models from this legendary marque, the start button is on the left side of the steering wheel, paying homage to the Porsche racecars from the 1920s that put the ignition on the left to allow drivers to start the car as they were getting in, giving them a slight edge in competition.
While the ignition location may adhere to Porsche tradition, the rest of the cabin is thoroughly modern, with a 12.6-inch curved driver display, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display in the center, and an available 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. A black panel in the center console houses the climate functions, which you access via soft-touch controls and stylish toggle switches. Porsche includes a volume control knob, too.
There are multiple storage locations, but most offer limited space. For example, the bin beneath the center armrest is relatively shallow, limiting its usefulness. A small cubby is in the center console next to the cupholders, while a wireless charger pad is at the front. The doors have large pockets, making storing a large water bottle easy.
The test vehicle’s front seats weren’t as bolstered as expected for a performance vehicle like the Cayenne, but they are pretty comfortable with good padding and soft leather trim. Multiple power adjustments mean you can find a perfect driving position.
The rear seat is surprisingly spacious and comfortable for two adults, with good legroom and headroom. Dual-zone rear climate controls and outboard seat heaters add to the comfort. The Cayenne is technically a five-passenger SUV, but the center seating position has limited legroom due to the front-center console design. Also, the padding is considerably stiffer than the outboard seats.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Porsche Cayenne comes standard with a Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system, which uses a nicely integrated 12.3-inch touchscreen display.
Features of the Cayenne’s PCM include:
In my first few minutes in the Cayenne, I quickly connected my Samsung Galaxy S23+ via Bluetooth. The prompt to load Android Auto appeared immediately, and from that point, Android Auto loaded every time I started the Cayenne.
Porsche’s infotainment system offers two styles of home screens. All features are visible as easy-to-read icons for quick access to most features; alternatively, the driver can customize the appearance of the primary display. Large active tiles are configurable to show favorite features in the preferred order for a simpler display. With either choice, shortcuts to the navigation, media, and vehicle settings remain static on the left side of the screen.
While the default interaction with the system is via the touchscreen display, the Cayenne features a natural voice recognition system. You activate it using a steering wheel button. While the system is not as impressive as I’ve experienced in some of Porsche’s rivals, it still works well for most audio, climate, navigation, and hands-free calling tasks.
For example, when I told the car I wanted some coffee, it quickly responded with a selection of coffee shops with the option to navigate to my preferred location. However, the system had trouble understanding my request when I asked for directions to a specific brand of coffee shop.
Photo: Perry Stern
For the 2024 model year, Porsche gave the Cayenne S a significant power upgrade, replacing the previous version’s turbocharged V6 with a more powerful turbo V8. The V8 provides 468 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, delivering an additional 34 hp and 37 lb-ft of torque compared to the previous V6. All Cayenne variants come with an 8-speed automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel drive.
It may not be the most powerful SUV, but the Cayenne S feels like a proper Porsche. Steering is ultra-precise with excellent feedback, and with the air suspension system, the Cayenne delivers impressive handling without sacrificing ride comfort. With plenty of power on tap, brakes that respond with dependable and predictable performance, and a growling exhaust note, driving the Cayenne on twisty back roads proved incredibly satisfying.
While not as quick off the line as a BMW X5 M60i, the V8-powered Cayenne S sprints to 60 mph in a respectable 4.7 seconds, according to Porsche. That’s plenty quick. Acceleration is smooth and robust with rapid shifts from the 8-speed automatic, especially when you’ve chosen the Sport mode.
At the same time, the Cayenne is quite comfortable when cruising on the freeway or popping into town. That same air suspension that delivers taut performance when pushed hard in corners provides a commendable ride, even when the road surface is less than perfect. The Cayenne is surprisingly quiet and smooth at highway speeds, with minimal road and wind noise entering the cabin.
Photo: Perry Stern
Porsche offers the advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that you expect to find on a high-dollar SUV. Highlights include:
Options include:
My test vehicle featured Porsche InnoDrive, which provides semi-autonomous driving assistance when cruising on the highway as long as drivers keep their hands on the steering wheel. In addition, the system can look up to 1.8 miles ahead and adjust performance and speed based on upcoming corners and elevation changes to provide a smooth, efficient drive.
I used InnoDrive on I-94 in southeast Michigan. It works well. However, the lane-centering system’s steering adjustments were more noticeable than in other vehicles I’ve tested, perhaps a negative side effect of the Cayenne’s precise steering.
Photo: Perry Stern
It may be a performance SUV, but the Cayenne still provides good utility with 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat. The wide opening makes loading easy, and the available air suspension lets you lower the SUV for an improved liftover height. The rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 configuration, creating a total of 60.3 cubic feet of space, which is plenty of room for that trip to the home improvement store.
The Porsche Cayenne S delivers impressive performance, but fuel economy is not this SUV’s forte. According to the EPA, the 2024 Cayenne S should get 17 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Cayenne S returned 16 mpg.
With its 23.7-gallon fuel tank, and based on my result, the Cayenne should travel 379 miles on a tank. Of course, you’ll want to stop before that mileage mark.
While Porsche equips the Cayenne with plenty of safety features, this SUV has no crash-test ratings. Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have performed evaluations of the Cayenne.
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $79,200, while the base-level Cayenne Coupe bumps that up to $84,300. At the top of the range is the Cayenne Turbo GT Coupe, which has a starting price of $196,300. Those prices do not include the destination charge, which is $1,650.
In the JD Power 2023 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Cadillac XT6 ranks highest in the Upper Midsize Premium SUV segment. The next highest-ranked models are the BMW X6 and the BMW X5.
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the BMW iX ranks highest in the Upper Midsize Premium SUV segment. The next highest-ranked models are the BMW X6 and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.
Other competitors to the 2024 Porsche Cayenne include the Audi Q8, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Photo: Perry Stern
Two decades ago, Porsche enthusiasts were sure the introduction of an SUV would ruin this legendary brand. The concern was unwarranted. Having driven the latest version of the Cayenne S, I can say it delivers the performance expected of a vehicle wearing the Porsche name.
It took just a short time behind the wheel of the 2024 Porsche Cayenne to discover how enjoyable this SUV is to drive in just about any situation. Plus, it boasts a comfortable cabin, a high-tech vibe, and the utility of a proper SUV. But if you want to live in the lap of luxury, the Cayenne’s cold, hard, serious, and technical personality might not be a good fit.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JD Power.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
