Porsche Cayenne (2023 - )

The Porsche Cayenne was viewed as the model that transformed the German carmaker’s fortunes when it appeared on the scene back in 2002. It was the first luxury, premium, performance SUV to go on sale and that was met initially with horror from die-hard Porsche performance sports. Car fans.

By the time the second-generation model came round, views had certainly calmed down and today, the car is in its third generation and the Cayenne is the best-selling Porsche model world-wide. It proved without a shadow of doubt that, despite being a practical SUV-styled vehicle, it could still deliver the goods associated with the Porsche badge and reputation.

Now that third-gen model has been given a substantial make-over and has gained added appeal with a dynamic new design, upgraded technology and optimised petrol or plug-in hybrid engines offering more power across the line-up.

Customers can choose between models called Cayenne with a 3.0 V6 turbo petrol engine, Cayenne S with a V8 engine and three versions of Cayenne E-Hybrid models. In addition, there is a standout Cayenne Turbo GT, but before you get too excited, this model is not available in European markets due to current emission regulations. 

The Cayenne can also be specified in Coupe guise with the same choice of powertrains with the addition of an optional GT Package on the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe version.

All vehicles are equipped with a revamped eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission and we opted for the more traditionally-styled entry-level Cayenne SUV for our test drive - it was anything but basic.

The Porsche Cayenne is a dynamically-styled five-door SUV that has just undergone a major refresh that has resulted in stronger styling making it even more expressive and athletic in its appearance.

There is a new-look front end with more strongly arched wings, a new bonnet and technical-looking headlights helping to emphasise the vehicle’s width.

At the rear you will find 3D tail lights, along with a new rear bumper with integrated number plate holder.

Matrix LED headlights are now standard and there are four-point LED daytime running lights, PORSCHE lettering in the tailgate strip, extensive aerodynamic underbody protection, black side skirts, a tailgate with rear spoiler and 20-inch Cayenne Design wheels to complete the look.

Move inside and its premium quality through and through with high-end fixtures and fittings, along with soft-touch surfaces. There is part-leather upholstery that looks and feels very elegant along with comfort seats that can be heated and feature eight-way power adjustment with memory settings. 

On-board technology is plentiful and includes a 12.6-inch curved high-resolution digital instrument cluster which is new to Cayenne, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, sat nav, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10-speaker sound system with digital radio, a reversing camera, LED interior lighting, wireless charging and plenty more besides.

There is also another screen in front of the passenger that they can view but the driver cannot see.

It’s a very driver-focused cockpit with all controls, dials and readouts easy to operate on the move. And we particularly like the sperate panel for all the climate control functions which helps avoid driver distraction.

Our Porsche Cayenne test car was powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine matched to an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic gearbox. With 353hp and 500Nm of torque, it could fire its way to 62mph from a standing start in just 6.0 seconds and onto a top speed of 154mph. Not bad for a family SUV with all-wheel drive that weighs in at just over two tonnes.

So pretty fair to say, this model lives up to its Porsche heritage while still ticking all the practicality boxes for any full-sized family SUV.

The acceleration out the starting blocks is sharp and there is a constant stream of power on tap. This is a confident motorway cruiser effortlessly eating up the miles, but can also deliver the goods when faced with more challenging B roads where it is both grounded and well-balanced even when pushed hard through tight corners.

It does feel very wide on narrow lanes, but with perfectly weighted steering, it’s a car that fills you with confidence the longer you sit behind the wheel. The eight-speed automatic transmission is perfectly timed, but if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, there are paddles to take control of the gear shifts manually for added driver engagement.

The drive modes called Normal, Sport and Off-Road are pretty self-explanatory, but the Sport setting really does add quite an edge to the handling and dynamics of the Cayenne.

And in congested town centres, the vehicle’s agility impresses too. It’s nimble and very easy to manoeuvre with a whole host of parking aids to help squeeze into tighter spaces.

The five-door Porsche Cayenne is a guaranteed head turner with its dynamic styling and strong road presence. It stretches 4,930mm in length, is 1,983mm wide (2,194mm including exterior mirrors), 1,698mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,895mm.

Fair to say then that the Porsche Cayenne is a big SUV and, with its spacious interior, there is ample room for five adults to sit comfortably and even the trio of back seat passengers benefit from impressive leg, head and shoulder room.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and it can accommodate 772 litres of luggage and this limit increases to a whopping 1,708 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. In addition, there is lots of extra storage space beneath the boot floor freed up by the lack of a spare wheel.

Throughout the cabin are numerous convenient storage compartments and these include a lockable glovebox, deep central cubby, wide door pockets with storage space for a water bottle, front and rear cup holders, a wireless charging pad, seat back nets and some practical trays.  

The Cayenne can tow a caravan or horsebox weighing up to 3.5 tonnes and boasts the added reassurance of all-wheel drive to combat more challenging driving conditions and terrain along the way.

The Porsche Cayenne SUV line-up costs from £67,400 for the entry model as tested. The Cayenne E-Hybrid is £79,800, the Cayenne S is £84,400, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid costs £87,100 while the top-of-the-range Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid will set you back £130,200. And these prices are before any optional extras are factored into the mix.

For example, our test vehicle also featured special Dolomite Silver Metallic paint (£899), Power steering plus (£222) and Surround View with Active Parking Support (£1,116) which resulted in a final asking price of £69,637.

So, not cheap, but it’s worth reminding ourselves that this is a premium price for a premium model.

When it comes to the day-to-day running costs, our test car could deliver a WLTP-tested 26.2mpg with carbon emissions of 246g/km. Drive the Cayenne a little too enthusiastically and the fuel efficiency figure will plummet accordingly, while the high CO2 figure will result in a first-year road tax bill of £2,220 dropping to the standard fee of £180 after 12 months.

However, there are further expenses to factor in too. Because the Cayenne costs in excess of £40k, it is subject to a premium car tax levy which was introduced by the government. This starts after the first year and costs £355 for the following five years. 

The vehicle, as tested, sits in insurance group 45.

The old adage if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it really applies to the Cayenne. It has and still is a phenomenally successful model for Porsche and is by far the company’s best-selling car globally.

It may be in its third generation now and the powertrains have moved with the times but when you get down to the basics, the Cayenne is still a premium five-door, five-seat SUV that’s very big on practicality while still living up to the Porsche name when it comes to handling and performance.

And never forget, it was the Cayenne that started this sector and has proved quite the pioneer in the field too. If you need further proof then the market is now flooded with premium SUVs from Audi, BMW, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Lamborghini and a whole host of other manufacturers.