2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe
2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Review
- Impressive handling for a crossover SUV
- Wide selection of powerful engines available
- Exquisite interior and build quality
- Plenty of customization options
- Quite a few optional features should be standard given the price tag
- Gloss-black interior panels can look dirty almost immediately
- Poor visibility out of the rear
- Fans are weak at low speeds and noisy at high speeds
- New GTS trim level that slots between the S and the Turbo
- GTS has a 453-hp V8 and some extra performance upgrades
- Part of the third Cayenne generation introduced for 2019
Saying something is an SUV coupe seems like an oxymoron when it has four doors. But, hey, since when have grammatical semantics stopped automotive marketing? That's pretty much how we end up with the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe. It's just like the regular Cayenne but has a sleeker, more coupe-like roofline at the expense of rear headroom and cargo capacity.
It should come as no surprise that luxury SUV manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW (its X6 is the originator of the segment) offer their own take on this body style. While some of the above offer only a few trim levels, Porsche offers six for the Cayenne as well as near endless possibilities for customization. How much performance do you want? Read our review below for not only our expert opinion but also a walk-through of all the trims and engines available for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe.
Our verdict | |
The Cayenne Coupe delivers incredible acceleration and is relentlessly grippy around corners. It's hard to believe it can pull this off yet be so comfortable to drive every day. We also like the expertly crafted cabin and huge range of customization options. Alas, those options are costly, and the Coupe concedes a good amount of cargo space and visibility because of its sloping roofline. But on the whole the Cayenne Coupe is an ideal luxury SUV for the performance-minded buyer. | |
How does the Cayenne Coupe drive? | |
The Cayenne Coupe S — the trim we tested — is astonishingly fast in a straight line. In Edmunds testing, it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Few high-performance midsize SUVs can beat that. When you're not accelerating full out, slow-speed response around town is a little lacking in the default driving mode. Selecting either the Sport or Sport Plus mode sharpens response to more agreeable levels. Considering the Cayenne Coupe S is a sizable SUV, it handles corners extremely well, with almost zero body roll. It changes direction quickly and there's plenty of grip from the ultra-wide performance tires. Steering, though precise, requires more effort at slow speeds and delivers less road feedback than we were expecting. | |
How comfortable is the Cayenne Coupe? | |
The Cayenne Coupe S strikes an excellent balance between comfort and performance. The front seats are bolstered well and hold you in place around high-speed corners, and they're also plush enough to keep you comfortable on long road trips. The ride quality is excellent thanks to Porsche's optional air suspension that soaks up most big bumps. Somewhat surprisingly, the Cayenne loses points here for an unrefined climate control system. Air-conditioning fans are relatively weak at low settings and loud at higher settings. It's hard to strike a comfortable but quiet balance. Engine noise is constant, but it's mostly at low volumes and admittedly a relatively pleasant tone. Tire noise, though, is a bit more grating from the summer performance rubber. | |
How’s the interior? | |
There's a lot to learn with Cayenne's cabin controls. Small buttons abound, and many are tucked behind the console gear selector, requiring you look to away from the road to see what you're pressing. The driver's seat position is as you'd expect from a Porsche: excellent. There's a wide range of adjustments in the driver's seat and the steering column to suit a variety of people and preferences. Forward visibility is great thanks to a low dashboard. But visibility directly back and at your flanks suffers because of a small rear window, sloping rear roofline and large rear roof pillars. As for interior space, the cabin is roomier than you'd expect thanks to certain design tweaks Porsche made in the Coupe. There's plenty of space for four adults. Headroom and legroom are great all around, though you still have to duck under the roofline a bit when entering the back. | |
How’s the tech? | |
Porsche's 12-inch touchscreen has crisp graphics and bright colors; it's a great-looking screen. The standard audio system, however, is a bit disappointing at this price point. It distorts at high volume and has a poor dynamic range. Music lovers will want one of the optional upgraded systems. Smartphone integration is a mixed bag too. Apple CarPlay integration works wirelessly or through a USB cord. But in our testing we found that if we connected an iPhone wirelessly, the Cayenne had a hard time figuring out what to do if the USB was plugged in as well. We also noticed other phone disconnects or failures to connect. The integrated voice command system works pretty well, though, and gives you some wiggle room for natural speech. Standard driver aids are also conspicuously absent. Only automatic emergency braking comes standard. Blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise are all optional. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The Cayenne Coupe loses some space when compared to its standard-roof sibling. Rear cargo space is 22 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 54 cubes with the seats folded. It's a nice, flat space to store larger items in, and side netting helps hold smaller items in the back. The cupholders are small but sufficient for small bottles. Got small children? There are a pair of Isofix anchors in the back seat for installing child safety seats. They are easy to locate and connect to. But getting a bulky seat into the back can be tricky because of the Coupe's lower rear roofline. | |
How economical is the Cayenne Coupe? | |
The Cayenne Coupe S, which is what we tested, has respectable fuel economy for the performance it returns. The EPA estimates the Coupe S gets 19 mpg combined (18 city/22 highway). On our 115-mile evaluation route, our test vehicle achieved an impressive 22.8 mpg, besting its highway rating over a series of city, mountain and highway driving roads. | |
Is the Cayenne Coupe a good value? | |
Our test Cayenne stickered at close to $100,000, and it didn't even have much added from Porsche's extensive options list. But the price is easier to justify when you consider the Cayenne's muscular acceleration and nimble handling. Warranty and roadside assistance coverage is typical for the class with four years/50,000 miles of coverage. Free maintenance is good for a year; some luxury rivals offer longer coverage. | |
Wildcard | |
The Cayenne Coupe is a true-blue Porsche. The sheer speed, combined with the excellent handling capability, makes for a truly enjoyable driving experience. It's also comfortable on the inside and unassuming and classy on the outside. Understatement at its best. |
Which Cayenne Coupe does Edmunds recommend?
Porsche Cayenne Coupe models
The 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is a performance-oriented midsize luxury SUV. Seating for four is standard. (A five-seat configuration is optional.) The Cayenne Coupe is sold in six trim levels: base, E-Hybrid, S, GTS, Turbo and Turbo S E-Hybrid. These trim levels mainly differ by what engine is under the hood, though they do typically include a few extra features with each step up as well. All come with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Feature highlights include:

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Safety
Our experts’ favorite Cayenne Coupe safety features:
- Night Vision Assist
- Helps drivers navigate dark roads with the help of a thermal imaging camera.
- Pedestrian Protection
- Detects pedestrians and automatically applies the brakes to help prevent a collision.
- InnoDrive
- Assists the driver in navigating unfamiliar roads using GPS-based navigation, topography, and road sign and speed limit information.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe vs. the competition
2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe
Porsche Cayenne Coupe vs. Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe
While the Cayenne Coupe comes with a couple of trims offering relatively sedate power levels, the GLE Coupe only offers two trims: faster and a lot faster. That could make this Mercedes SUV slightly less appealing if you favor comfort over performance. Still, the GLE is immaculately trimmed and comes with the brand's latest technology and features.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe vs. BMW X6
The BMW X6 is the original coupe-style luxury SUV from Germany. It's been an acquired taste ever since its introduction, yet in spite of its polarizing looks, other luxury manufacturers have followed with their own models. The Porsche wins out on performance, but the X6 has more cargo capacity and better rear headroom and visibility.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe vs. Audi SQ8
The Audi SQ8 offers much of the same performance as the Cayenne Coupe but adds a bit more comfort to the equation. A burly turbocharged V8 is standard on the Audi — at the same price point, the Porsche uses a turbocharged V6. We suggest you take a good look at each vehicle's infotainment system since both can be a little frustrating for different reasons.
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FAQ
Is the Porsche Cayenne Coupe a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe:
- New GTS trim level that slots between the S and the Turbo
- GTS has a 453-hp V8 and some extra performance upgrades
- Part of the third Cayenne generation introduced for 2019
Is the Porsche Cayenne Coupe reliable?
Is the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe?
The least-expensive 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is the 2021 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $76,500.
Other versions include:
- 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $76,500
- E-Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $87,600
- Turbo 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $131,900
- GTS 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $110,500
- S 4dr SUV AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $89,900
- Turbo S E-Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $166,200