The verdict: The 2024 Porsche Cayenne nails every point on the spectrum of the driving experience from sedate to sporty, and its updated cockpit brings welcome technological advancements with only minor complaints.
Versus the competition: Few luxury SUVs are anywhere near as engaging to drive as the Cayenne, and it doesn’t mistake technology for luxury in the way that some competitors do — but it doesn’t come cheap.
Most SUVs struggle to exist in multiple worlds. Focusing on practicality can negatively impact performance and vice versa. I was recently one of three judges in a comparison test of mainstream compact SUVs, and the two most fun-to-drive entrants — and they were legitimately fun to drive — finished in last and next-to-last place.
The alchemy that goes into making an SUV engaging to drive with minimal sacrifice to practicality may or may not involve invoking eldritch gods, but whatever it takes, Porsche is close to mastering it after decades of practice with its Cayenne SUV. For the 2024 model year, Porsche gives the Cayenne subtly updated styling, ups the power across the lineup and refines the suspension to improve handling. The cockpit is also all-new and borrows heavily from the Taycan electric sedan. Not new: All versions of the Cayenne come standard with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission and, with the exception of the coupe-only Turbo GT, are available in both SUV and four-door “coupe” body styles.
*MSRP and Invoice prices displayed are for educational purposes only, do not reflect the actual selling price of a particular vehicle, and do not include applicable gas taxes or destination charges.
