2025 Porsche Cayenne

We say driving magic, but don’t worry; the Cayenne is still a comfortable and refined SUV. It’s just that it proves itself worthy of the Porsche badge whenever a driver wants to have some fun on an empty back road. The Cayenne is yet another fine testament to Porsche’s sublime engineering. It also has the style, technology, and equipment to compete at this high level of automotive excellence.

The current generation of Cayenne (the third) launched for 2019 and received an extensive revamp last year. Even so, Porsche has more good stuff in store for 2025.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize luxury SUVs, including the Porsche Cayenne.

The hot GTS version makes its triumphant return in both SUV and Coupe styles, packing almost 500 horsepower from a turbo V8, plus a sport-tuned suspension. Ambient cabin lighting, soft-closing doors, a 360-degree camera system, and self-parking migrate from the options list to the standard equipment inventory. Buyers might be able to breathe easier since the cabin filter has also been improved. And the Premium Package Plus option now includes HD-matrix design LED headlights.

We would put the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE as the closest competitors to the Cayenne. They each have sloping-roof variants (BMW’s X6, for example) and high-performance models while starting in the mid-to-high $60K region. The Audi Q8 kicks off in the mid-$70K bracket. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport begins at a price similar to the base Cayenne, while the Lexus GX and Genesis GV80 are far below these more esoteric contenders.

Before buying a new Cayenne luxury SUV or Cayenne Coupe, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Both versions of the Cayenne enjoy above-average resale values. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2025 Cayenne starts with a perfectly workable 348 hp and zips from a standstill to 60 mph in a more-than-respectable 5.7 seconds. That’s all fine by us. A luxury SUV with a bit of pep and driver appeal pleases a lot of people a lot of the time. To compare, the BMW X5 xDrive40i has 375 hp, hitting 60 mph about a half-second sooner. The base Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4Matic isn’t quite at this level.

Around town, we’ve found that the Cayenne is comfortable, well-mannered, and easygoing, with enough thrust to exploit gaps in traffic quickly and cleanly. The Cayenne also eats up long freeway stretches. If that’s all anyone needs from their luxury midsize SUV, then the Cayenne delivers.

Take it to a few wilder roads, and another aspect comes into focus. Keep some speed going through a corner, and the Cayenne retains its cool, changing direction with ease. That composure and poise remain even as the speeds increase. There’s something else, though. It’s how the Cayenne responds to driver inputs precisely yet sweetly. The amount of effort required always feels just right. The controls are not too light, nor are they too heavy.

Of course, the greater the power, the greater the thrills. But we don’t think anything is lacking in the base Cayenne. The automatic transmission does its job admirably, and there are shift paddles under the steering wheel whenever the driver wants greater engagement.

Higher trims bring things like variable torque distribution for optimum grip and traction and rear-wheel steering to enhance maneuvering. The new-for-2025 GTS enhances its 493 hp with a slightly lower and sportier suspension, plus a few aerodynamic tweaks. The version with the whole shebang is the 650-hp Cayenne Coupe Turbo GT, which also has ceramic composite brakes and a titanium sport exhaust system. It can sprint to 60 mph in a mind-bending 3.1 seconds.

The Cayenne also has excellent towing talents, able to pull up to 7,716 pounds.

Fuel Economy

Here’s one aspect where the Cayenne doesn’t impress quite as much. The base version achieves 19 mpg in combined city and highway driving. All-wheel drive versions of the X5 and GLE run to 25 mpg combined and 23 mpg combined, respectively.

In addition to its unassailable reputation for making true driver’s machines, Porsche also knows how to do luxury, evidenced by the cabin of any Cayenne. Materials and build quality are appropriately top-level, and the switches feel substantial. We’ve found that the seats provide comfort and support for any length of journey, and space is plentiful.

The scope for personalization is broad, with various color schemes (including the seat belts) and upholstery materials. The perfectly sized steering wheel is from the 911 sports car. A curved 12.6-inch digital driver information display is twinned with a high-res 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. There’s also the option of a separate 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, rendered invisible to the driver. Ambient lighting becomes standard this year.

Naturally, the Coupe has a little less space for rear passengers and cargo, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a choice. The Coupe is also a 4-seater, while the Cayenne SUV offers room for five.

Cargo space in the regular Cayenne SUV measures 27.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, opening up to 60.3 cubic feet when these seats are folded down. The plug-in hybrid versions lose some of that because of their extra hardware. For reference, the BMW X5 has 33.9 cubic feet behind its rear seats and 72.3 cubic feet in total, similar to the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Coupe’s cargo space is 20.9 cubic feet, opening to 53 cubic feet.

One’s an SUV, and the other’s an SUV but called a Coupe. Simple, right? Choose the 2025 Cayenne SUV for maximum rear passenger room and cargo space, or go with the sloped-roof Coupe for an extra element of style. The new Cayenne GTS sports an adaptive rear spoiler and rolls on cool 21-inch RS Spyder Design alloy wheels finished in anthracite grey. It also offers the option of a lightweight roof as part of several weight-saving measures.

All-wheel drive
Every new Cayenne comes with AWD as standard. This system provides reassurance in bad weather and excellent grip in the dry, making the Cayenne enjoyable throughout the year.

Sport Chrono package
We’ve found this to be a popular option. It brings an analog and digital stopwatch into the Cayenne and a launch mode for optimized sprints off the line.

Rear-Axle Steering
We would definitely go for this addition. It enhances agility at higher speeds and makes the Cayenne more maneuverable in tight streets and parking lots.

Rear seat entertainment system
This option includes a pair of 10.1-inch high-resolution/anti-glare screens compatible with Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast, and Netflix (via the app). It also has an HDMI input and two sets of Bluetooth over-the-ear headphones.

Burmester audio
Admittedly, it’s an expensive option, but after experiencing all sorts of in-car entertainment setups, we think this immersive 21-speaker/1,455-watt surround-sound system is one of the best available on four wheels.

Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes
These become standard in the higher trims but are optional further down. Ceramic composite brake discs will take all the punishment a race track or a demanding mountain pass can dish out without getting close to fading, warping, or wearing.

The turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in the base Cayenne develops 348 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 propels the Cayenne S with 468 hp and 422 lb-ft of torque. In the new-for-2025 Cayenne GTS, that engine generates 493 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. Or in the Coupe-only Turbo GT, we’re looking at a fearsome 650 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid models are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with an electric motor energized by a lithium-ion battery. Charging time is less than 2.5 hours. The base Cayenne E-Hybrid has the turbo V6 going toward a total of 463 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid pushes that setup to 512 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo E-Hybrid brings the turbo V8 into service for a massive 729 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque.

All-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission are standard across the lineup. The all-wheel drive systems in the GTS and Turbo GT are water-cooled to help with extended track sessions.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Typical of a European luxury marque, Porsche’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This coverage includes 24-hour roadside assistance. Hybrid batteries are under warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Safety

No agencies in the United States have crash-tested the Cayenne. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-changing assistance, and a 360-degree camera system.