2025 Porsche Cayenne Review
Vehicle Type: A four-door, five-seat, midsize luxury SUV.
Price Range: From $86,695 to $158,995 MSRP, including destination charge.
Powertrain: A turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 348 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.
A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 468 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, or 493 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque, depending on the model.
A 3.0-liter V6 and an electric motor with a combined system output of 463 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, or 512 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, depending on the model.
A 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine and electric motor with a combined output of 729 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque.
All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are standard.
What’s New for 2025?
The big news for 2025 is the addition of the GTS model to the Cayenne lineup. The Cayenne GTS comes with extras such as a water-cooled AWD system, active torque vectoring, a sport exhaust, and lower suspension than other Cayenne models.
Porsche made minor changes to the entire lineup, including features such as a 360-degree surround view camera, soft-close doors, and a self-parking system.
What’s Good?
- Strong performance from every model
- Lots of exclusive options
- High quality interior
What’s Bad?
- Common options quickly add to the price
- Lacks a third-row seat
- Styling still polarizes
Would we buy one? Yes. The Cayenne might be pricier than many of its rivals, but it has a lot to offer, even in its base form.
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Overview:
The Porsche Cayenne made a splash when it debuted in 2003, and it sets the template for performance SUVs today, which are now a popular class of vehicles. It still offers buyers an ultra-luxury driving experience with impressive specs, a dose of practicality, and an ambitious price tag. As a midsize offering, it places above the compact Porsche Macan and the Macan Electric SUVs, as well as the sleeker but less practical Porsche Cayenne Coupe.
The Cayenne covers a broad performance and price range. Still, its primary rivals are the Audi Q8, the Bentley Bentayga, the BMW X5, the BMW X7, the Cadillac Escalade, the Ferrari Purosangue, the Genesis GV80, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, the Lamborghini Urus, the Lexus LX, the Lexus RX, the Lincoln Aviator, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, the Tesla Model X, and the Volvo XC90.
Overall Score: 4/5 stars
Driving Experience: 5/5 stars
The best thing about the Porsche Cayenne is the driving experience, and the best thing about that is the vast spectrum of feel, sound, and personality. The base model has the least power and the fewest "go-fast" upgrades, but it seamlessly combines performance and comfort.
It only gets better from there, of course. As well as more power, buyers can get upgrades such as four-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension, active torque vectoring, massaging front seats, carbon ceramic brakes, and a 21-speaker Burmester audio system as they climb the trim level and pricing ladder.
The GTS model can be a bit stiff as it's designed more for performance than comfort, but just about any Cayenne model can give competitors such as the BMW X5 M, the Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige, and the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 a run for their money in a war of well-rounded driving.
Safety Features: 4/5 stars
The 2025 Cayenne still comes with several key driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, a surround-view camera, park assist, and active speed limit control.
The upgrades include lane change assist, night vision assist, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, Porsche InnoDrive advanced adaptive cruise control, and remote park assist. However, the Cayenne is underwhelming regarding standard driver assistance features at its price point and compared to the competition.
At the time writing, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had given the Cayenne a safety rating for the 2025 model year.
Value: 3.5/5 stars
Most buyers looking to purchase a Porsche Cayenne will have no problems laying down the necessary cash, but with such a high level of customization available, every option requires more. However, other luxury rivals from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, for example, offer similar performance, luxury, and prestige for less money.
Ironically, this is also largely why each new Cayenne represents good value to those with money to spend. Additionally, the Cayenne is a well-rounded vehicle, similarly to the BMW X5. The lack of a third row will turn some buyers to other models such as a Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, but the Porsche's blend of comfort and performance is compelling, and it's even available with an off-road package.
Tech Features: 4/5 stars
The Porsche Cayenne's robust tech feature list is just one of the several things that help it stand out in a crowded segment. Standard infotainment features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12.6-inch driver information display, navigation, a 10-speaker audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. Other SUVs have larger touchscreens but the Cayenne's works well enough.
Other standard tech features include power-operated front seats, driver's seat memory functionality, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive LED headlights, adaptive steering, Porsche Active Suspension Management with adaptive dampers, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate with gesture control, soft-close doors, and ambient interior lighting.
Several tech upgrades are also available. They include adaptive air suspension, rear-axle steering, active anti-roll bars, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, quad-zone climate control, massaging front seats, active torque vectoring, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, a 21-speaker Burmester audio system, and a 10.9-inch front-seat passenger infotainment display.
Practicality: 3/5 stars
The Cayenne has 27.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Folding the rear seats down opens up 60.3 cubic feet of cargo space. That's far less than the X5, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and the Genesis GV80, but it doesn't make the Cayenne unusable.
The Cayenne makes up for its lack of cargo space by opening up a generous amount of legroom in both rows. Its cabin is spacious, and it's easy to get in and out of both rows, but once inside, rear visibility is restricted compared to boxier rivals.
Even though the Cayenne lacks overall space compared to several rivals, it comes with a few party tricks. Buyers can equip an off-road package that doesn't add functionality or value to its drivetrain but adds some extra underbody protection and interior controls. Additionally, the Cayenne can tow a maximum of 7,716 pounds when properly equipped.
Styling & Design: 4.5/5 stars
The Cayenne is unmistakably a Porsche, as its matrix headlights, large wheels, and body lines draw clear paths to its 911 lineage. The base model is much tamer than the sportier versions, but it still comes with large brakes, dual exhaust, and a spoiler to help remind you it means business. Models such as the GTS have sportier touches inside and out, making them look more track-ready.
The Cayenne's interior is what sets it apart from most competitors. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz have impressive cabins, but the Cayenne is in a league of its own. Its build quality and attention to detail are evident everywhere, and its various customization options allow any buyer to make it a highly personal affair. The design itself is fair, but the overall experience of being inside the Cayenne makes it special.
The Cayenne's look is far more cohesive than in the past, thanks to more cues lifted not just from the Porsche 718 and the 911 sports cars but also from the Panamera and the Taycan sedans.
Fuel Efficiency: 3.5/5 stars
Non-plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Cayenne models equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 engine come with EPA fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway for a combined fuel economy rating of 19. Cayenne GTS models earn EPA fuel economy estimates of one MPG lower than the less powerful V6 models. The EPA hadn't rated the E-Hybrid, the S E-Hybrid, and the Turbo E-Hybrid models for 2025 at the time of writing.
The gasoline side of the lineup competes well in the class. The BMW X5 xDrive 40i, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450, and the Genesis GV80 3.5T all come with V6 engines and produce 375 horsepower as a similarly powerful Cayenne.
What’s it Going to Cost Me?
Even though each new Cayenne SUV is available with an incredible number of wheel options, interior colors, exterior colors, and other accessories, all come standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12.6-inch driver information display, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a wireless device charger, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, a surround-view camera, and active speed limit control.
Each trim level's powertrain is unique, although an eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty are all standard across the lineup. Buyers have six trim levels from which to choose.
The 2025 Porsche Cayenne has a starting MSRP of $86,695 with the destination fee included. It features a 348-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine.
Standard equipment on the base model, beyond the lineup-wide standard features, includes a 10-speaker audio system, Matrix LED headlights, power-operated front seats, driver's seat memory functionality, heated front seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive LED headlights, adaptive steering, Porsche Active Suspension Management with adaptive dampers, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, drive mode selector, a hands-free power liftgate with gesture control, soft-close doors, and ambient interior lighting.
Notable standalone options available on the base model Cayenne include adaptive sport seats, heated rear seats, massaging front seats, ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, night-vision assist, a panoramic sunroof, quad-zone climate control, a 10.6-inch passenger infotainment display, a rear-seat entertainment system, a Bose Audio system, a Burmester audio system, an electrically extending towbar, rear-axle steering, adaptive air suspension, carbon ceramic brakes, and many others.
A Sport Chrono Package, a Porsche InnoDrive Package, and an Off-Road Package are also available. The Sport Chrono Package includes analog and digital stopwatches, the addition of a "Sport Plus" drive mode with launch control, and a more substantial Porsche Stability Management system. Porsche's InnoDrive Package includes adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and active lane-keep assist. The Off-Road Package includes underbody protection, skid plates, and rock sliders.
Next in the lineup is the 2025 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. It has a starting MSRP of $99,195 and a 463-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The E-Hybrid comes with all the standard features and most of the standalone and package options from the base model. The Sport Chrono Package is standard equipment on the E-Hybrid model.
The 2025 Porsche Cayenne S is next, with a starting MSRP of $103,595. It features a 468-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine, but minimal changes to the standard equipment list from the E-Hybrid model exist. The exception to this is the addition of red brake calipers.
The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid comes next in the lineup and will cost buyers a minimum of $107,095. Much like the models below it in the lineup, the only addition to its standard features list is adaptive air suspension, but it also comes with a 512-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS starts at 126,895. Its 493-horsepower twin-turbo V8 is not as potent as the less expensive S E-Hybrid's powertrain, but it comes with several extra track-focused upgrades that should make enthusiasts drool. These include active torque vectoring, a lowered suspension, a sport-tuned exhaust, a Sport GT steering wheel, and 21-inch alloy wheels.
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is the most expensive model, with a starting MSRP of $158,995. Turbo E-Hybrid models are also the most powerful in the lineup, featuring a 729-horsepower plug-in hybrid powertrain. Upgraded brakes and a 14-speaker Bose audio system are the only extras.
Our Cayenne of choice would have to be the Cayenne GTS. We can't pass on its sporting credentials and feisty personality, but we would equip it with extra safety features and possibly a few of the other luxury amenities.
