Used 2023 Porsche Cayenne

Sure, the Porsche Cayenne is expensive. And although rival luxury SUVs have similar levels of prestige and plushness, none of them have quite the same kind of driver appeal.

Which is not to say that the Cayenne isn’t comfortable enough for family duty. It most definitely is. But for those who like that extra dimension of engagement and are happy to pay for it, the Cayenne is a top contender.

Drive a 2023 Cayenne around town and you might wonder where all that legendary Porsche excitement is hiding. It’s comfortable, well-mannered and easygoing, with enough thrust to get through gaps in traffic quickly and cleanly. If that’s all anyone needs from their luxury midsize SUV, then the Cayenne delivers.

On long freeway stretches where the main steering wheel action happens with on-ramps and off-ramps, the Cayenne eats up those miles. Take it to some wilder roads, though, 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 stay put, even if the speeds increase. There’s something else, though. It’s the way 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 there’s nothing lacking in the base Cayenne. The automatic transmission does its job admirably, or there are shift paddles behind the steering wheel for whenever the driver feels like getting more involved.

Higher trims bring things like an adaptive air suspension, variable torque distribution for optimum grip and traction, and rear-wheel steering to enhance maneuvering. The Cayenne also has excellent towing talents, able to pull up to 7,700 pounds.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of luxury midsize SUVs, including the Porsche Cayenne lineup.

Despite Porsche’s unassailable reputation for making true driver’s machines, the company also knows how to do luxury. As illustrated by the cabin of any 2023 Cayenne.

Materials and build quality are appropriately top-level, the switches feel substantial, 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 offered (even including the seat belts) and upholstery materials.

Cargo space in the regular Cayenne SUV measures 27.2 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.

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, or a 2+2 setup, rather than the Cayenne SUV’s 4+1 arrangement. In both cases, the seats after the plus sign are smaller.

One’s an SUV and the other’s an SUV, but called a Coupe. Simple, right? Choose the 2023 Cayenne SUV for maximum rear passenger room and cargo space, or go with the sloped-roof Coupe for an extra element of style.

Smartphone integration
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard across the 2023 Cayenne range. The difference is that Apple CarPlay is wireless.

All-wheel drive
Every new Cayenne comes with all-wheel drive as standard. By providing reassurance in bad weather and excellent grip in the dry, this system allows the Cayenne to be enjoyable throughout the year.

Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
Depending on the Cayenne’s speed, the headlight beams adjust their field and shape of illumination, and follow the steering. This is part of an optional Premium package.

Assistance package
Another options bundle, this adds a head-up display, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance, 360-degree camera system, and a night vision feature that uses infrared technology to perceive animals or humans sooner than the headlights might. These are also available as individual extras.

Rear-seat entertainment system
This option includes a pair of 10.1 high-resolution/anti-glare screens, compatibility 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 a $7,000 option. But this 21-speaker, 1,455-watt surround-sound system is an immersive listening experience and one of the best available on four wheels.

There are no less than seven drivetrains offered in the 2023 Cayenne SUV lineup. All of them involve turbocharging and two are plug-in hybrids.

Output stretches from a perfectly adequate 335 horsepower to a wonderfully excessive 670 horsepower achieved with the aid of electrification. And it’s not just the plug-in hybrids that have an engine stop/restart function as well as coasting feature, each helping to save a little of the premium gasoline that every Cayenne requires.

All-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, along with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The lithium-ion batteries in the plug-in hybrid variants provide an electric-only range between 15 and 17 miles (depending on the model), plus the ability to reach 83 mph on battery power alone. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) factors in electric range for its miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) estimates. The second fuel economy figure is for when the drivetrains are in regular hybrid mode.

3.0-liter turbocharged V6
335 horsepower @ 5,300-6,400 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 1,340-5,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/22 mpg

2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (S)
434 horsepower @ 5,700-6,600 rpm
405 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg (SUV), 16/21 mpg (Coupe)

3.0-liter turbocharged V6/electric motor (E-Hybrid)
455 total horsepower
516 lb-ft total torque
EPA combined city/highway fuel economy: 21 mpg/46 MPGe
Battery-only range: 17 miles

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (GTS)
453 horsepower @ 6,000-6,500 rpm
457 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/19 mpg

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Turbo)
541 horsepower @ 5,750-6,000 rpm
567 lb-ft of torque @ 1,960-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg (SUV), 15/20 mpg (Coupe)

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8/electric motor (Turbo S E-Hybrid)
670 total horsepower
663 lb-ft total torque
EPA combined city/highway fuel economy: 18 mpg/42 MPGe
Battery-only range: 15 miles

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (Turbo GT)
631 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
626 lb-ft of torque @ 2,300-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg

More Porsche Cayenne fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The basic warranty on a Porsche Cayenne is four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The hybrid batteries are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. These warranties are typical for the luxury sector.