2019 Porsche Cayenne

2019 Porsche Cayenne Review

The new Cayenne delivers a delightful combination of practicality, comfort and driving thrill.
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by Kurt Niebuhr
Edmunds Editor

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne has been redesigned from front to back and now bears more of a resemblance to the 911 than ever before. Power from every available engine has been increased and there's a new Cayenne E-Hybrid, which replaces last year's S E-Hybrid. Porsche has also managed to make the Cayenne weigh less than the previous year.

Inside, the Cayenne sees an updated interior, complete with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for control over most of the SUV's systems. It's very similar to the one found in the current Panamera. The instrument panel, too, has been updated with two 7-inch multifunction digital displays. The cargo area has been made larger for 2019, too.

Of course, Porsche still provides a myriad of personalization options for every Cayenne. Combinations can seem almost endless and include a wide variety of colors, wheels, interior materials and performance-related upgrades. But all of these options can send the price straight into orbit.

As well-rounded as the Porsche Cayenne may be, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind. We consider the rear seat and cargo area to be adequate, but other SUVs in the class offer more room. And some features, which are standard on competitors, are pricey options on the Cayenne. But we've always been fans of the Porsche Cayenne, and with the improvements Porsche has made to the 2019 model, we see no reason to change our opinion.

For more background on the new Cayenne, read our 2019 Cayenne First Look, 2019 Cayenne First Drive and 2019 Cayenne E-Hybrid First Look.

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what's new

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne is fully redesigned.
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we recommend

If we're able to put our high-performance urges aside, the Cayenne S offers an excellent balance of performance, luxury and affordability. While it lacks the outright pace of the Turbo and even the E-Hybrid, we like its subtle styling, feature content and ample performance.
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trim levels & features

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne is a five-passenger midsize SUV available in four trim levels: base, S, E-Hybrid and Turbo. 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.

The base Cayenne is nothing to sneeze at, with plenty of performance coming from its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (335 horsepower, 332 pound-feet). Nineteen-inch wheels are standard, as are LED headlights, partial leather seats and a 12.4-inch touchscreen, among other features.

The Cayenne S comes with a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine (434 hp, 406 lb-ft), different 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension — dubbed Porsche Active Suspension Management, or PASM — tinted taillights and a panoramic roof.

The E-Hybrid is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine aided by an electric motor (455 hp, 516 lb-ft combined). A plug-in hybrid, the E-Hybrid can drive about 27 miles on all-electric power before the gas engine switches on. It adds PASM and the Sport Chrono package as standard equipment.

The Turbo replaces the V6 engine with a twin-turbo V8 engine (541 hp, 561 lb-ft). Over and above the standard Cayenne, the turbo includes upgraded front sport seats, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, an air suspension with PASM, upgraded brakes, front and rear heated seats, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.

Many features that come standard on upper trim levels can be ordered as stand-alone options. Indeed, like other Porsches, the Cayenne is one of the most customizable vehicles you can buy.

Then you've got even more choices from a dizzying options list. It starts with two main packages — Premium and Premium Package Plus — and then goes to a huge list of stand-alone choices. All serve to enhance the Cayenne's performance, technology and audio, comfort, safety, and exterior and interior style. All for a price, of course.

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The base Cayenne is nothing to sneeze at, with plenty of performance coming from its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (335 horsepower, 332 pound-feet). Nineteen-inch wheels are standard, as are LED headlights, partial leather seats and a 12.4-inch touchscreen, among other features.

The Cayenne S comes with a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine (434 hp, 406 lb-ft), different 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension — dubbed Porsche Active Suspension Management, or PASM — tinted taillights and a panoramic roof.

The E-Hybrid is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine aided by an electric motor (455 hp, 516 lb-ft combined). A plug-in hybrid, the E-Hybrid can drive about 27 miles on all-electric power before the gas engine switches on. It adds PASM and the Sport Chrono package as standard equipment.

The Turbo replaces the V6 engine with a twin-turbo V8 engine (541 hp, 561 lb-ft). Over and above the standard Cayenne, the turbo includes upgraded front sport seats, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, an air suspension with PASM, upgraded brakes, front and rear heated seats, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.

Many features that come standard on upper trim levels can be ordered as stand-alone options. Indeed, like other Porsches, the Cayenne is one of the most customizable vehicles you can buy.

Then you've got even more choices from a dizzying options list. It starts with two main packages — Premium and Premium Package Plus — and then goes to a huge list of stand-alone choices. All serve to enhance the Cayenne's performance, technology and audio, comfort, safety, and exterior and interior style. All for a price, of course.

driving

There's plenty of performance here no matter what your needs. The Cayenne is one of the best-performing SUVs you can buy. It displays the nimbleness of a much smaller and lighter vehicle, a sensation resulting from the full suite of Porsche's performance features.

comfort

There's not much to fault with the new Cayenne. Supportive seats, excellent sound insulation and optional air suspension make sure of that.

interior

Exceptional build quality is everywhere you look in the new Cayenne. Front passengers enjoy ample space and it's definitely a good place to spend hours behind the wheel, no matter how or where you're driving.

utility

Porsche says that the new Cayenne has 27.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, or 60.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. These are respectable numbers, though some rival SUVs offer more.

technology

The interior is dominated by a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, and the instrument panel has not one but two 7-inch screens. Porsche has gone all in, making the Cayenne one of the most technologically advanced SUVs on the market.

edmunds expert review process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

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