Used Porsche Cayenne 2018-present review

It might be hard to believe, but the Porsche Cayenne wasn't initially welcomed with open arms. No, when the original model arrived in the early 2000s, it caused confusion. Many people couldn't understand why the makers of some of the world’s finest and most desirable sports cars had produced a luxury SUV. Sales figures don't lie, though, and the Cayenne sold like hot cakes, despite the cynical reception.

Jump forward to this third-generation car, and you'll find it's far from a stranger to the class anymore. It doesn't look out of place amongst cars such as the Audi Q7, the Audi Q8 and the Bentley Bentayga – in fact, all four cars share parts between each other.

• Looking for an older Porsche Cayenne? Read our 2003-2010 Porsche Cayenne and 2010-2017 Porsche Cayenne used buying guides

Engines: The Cayenne hasn't become complacent, mind you. Through use of aluminium in its structure, it's lighter than most of its rivals. It features a range of strong engines, too: a 3.0-litre V6 all the way to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. There's also a plug-in hybrid available.

Trims and equipment: Trim-wise, you get a reasonable amount of kit on the standard Cayenne. This includes a 12.3in infotainment system with sat-nav and Apple CarPlay, LED headlights, cruise control, two-zone climate control and an electric tailgate. It’s likely that the original owner will have added a few options, such as full leather seats and air suspension.

The E-Hybrid and S versions are pricier, both new and used, but you don’t get a huge amount of extra equipment. The Turbo model gets more toys, including air suspension as standard, but it is an awful lot more expensive.

Ride and handling: On the road, that weight reduction means excellent performance. The 3.0 V6 is the slowest, and even that can see off the 0 to 62mph dash in under 6.0sec. The 2.9 S is faster still and can hit 164mph in top speed, while the bonkers Turbo model can see off 0 to 62mph in a supercar-fast 4.1sec and go on to 177mph.

Approach a corner and you’ll find that the Cayenne corners very nicely, thank you very much, despite its size. It’s even better on the optional air suspension, which tightens everything up. Grip levels are high, and body lean is low.

It rides pretty well, too. The standard Cayenne, E-Hybrid and S models come with steel springs as standard. It’s a softer set-up than what you might expect, but that, unfortunately, doesn’t stop the car from thumping over potholes and expansion joints. We wouldn’t go as far as to say it is uncomfortable, but it lacks the compliance you expect from a large SUV.

Therefore, we’d recommend you look for a car equipped with the optional air suspension (it’s standard on the range-topping Turbo model). In Comfort mode, the ride remains relatively firm, but it never crashes or bangs like the standard steel set-up. In fact, you hear the impacts more than you feel them – a common trait of air suspension.

Interior and practicality: Inside, all is leathery plushness, and the driving position is excellent, with plenty of electrical adjustment. Visibility is good, and a rear-view camera is standard. The fit and finish are both excellent, too, and all the major controls, including temperature and fan, are easy to find. Some of the minor controls are a little trickier as they are icons on a touch-sensitive panel. They are responsive enough, but you can’t feel your way around, so you have to look down from the road more than is ideal.

All Cayennes get a giant 12.3in touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. It has sharp graphics, is responsive to touches and swipes, and rarely has any lag unless you’re zooming in and out of maps quickly. Most icons are a decent size, although some of the menus are a little small.

Space front and rear is excellent, too, with plenty of room for six-footers in the rear seats. Those rear seats can be slid backward and forwards as need, for extra practicality, and the boot is large and square and easy to access via an electrical tailgate.

In 2020, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe was launched. It's a rakish version of this car designed to appeal to those who are looking for an even more sporting dash to their car.

In 2023 an updated version of the car went on sale. The refresh brought updated exterior looks, a new interior, and various chassis tweaks to make ride comfort and handling even more impressive. The engines were given a power boost, too.

If you're interested in buying a used Porsche Cayenne, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site here.

In true Porsche fashion, prices are quite high even used.

Expect to spend around £40,000-£50,000 for a 2018 or early 2019 3.0 V6 model, with a low mileage and a full history. You’ll need around £50,000 to £60,000 to get into the driving seat of an S model, especially one from 2020 or 2021, this for a car with a minimal mileage and a full history. The hybrid and Turbo models are highly sought after, so look to spend £50,000 on the former and £60-£90,000 on the latter. Spend over £60,000 on any 2021 Cayenne, upwards of £70,000 on 2022 and 2023 models.

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MPG

The Cayenne is a thirsty beast. The most frugal non-hybrid version manages a combined (WLTP) figure of 24.6mpg, while the GTS returns 21.2mpg and the Turbo only 20.8mpg. The E-Hybrid managed up to 74mpg in official tests and the Turbo S E-Hybrid 58.9, although you’ll need the battery topped up and a short journey ahead of you to reach that figure.

We managed over 40mpg from the S E-Hybrid on a 50-mile trip with a charged battery. Recharging the E-Hybrid battery from a 7.2kW home wall charger will take 2hr 20min, while the Turbo S E-Hybrid will take 2hr 40min, but you have to pay extra for a Type 2 cable in order to do this.

Road tax

Annual car tax for cars registered after April 2017 is a flat rate, currently £190 a year (£180 a year for hybrids), but all Cayennes will be subject to a supplementary luxury car tax for cars costing over £40,000 new currently £410 a year. This is applicable from year two to year six.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance costs will be high for all models, with most in group 50, as will servicing bills. Servicing will be expensive, and is best carried out by proper Porsche specialists. Some garages operate a fixed-price servicing plan, with costs for a minor service starting at £485 for a Cayenne.

Reliability

The Porsche Cayenne impresses with high owner satisfaction, minor issues, and notable build quality, enhancing its standing among luxury SUVs.

Mixed feedback arises concerning dealer service, highlighting variations in customer experience, efficiency, and costs, possibly influenced by location and dealer specifics.

Learn more about the used Porsche Cayenne's reliability and owner experiences on our dedicated reliability page.

We’d try and seek out an S version, even though it might cost you a little more. The main thing you pay for here is the more powerful V6 and bigger brakes. You also get different 19in wheels and quad-round exhaust pipes.

Our favourite Porsche Cayenne: 2.9 V6 S

The Audi SQ7, like the Q7 on which it’s based, shares much of its underpinnings with the Cayenne, and as result it offers prodigious performance and excellent handling matched with a suave, high-quality and roomy interior. It goes like stink and costs a fortune, yet offers reasonable on-paper economy.

The Range Rover Sport is a quiet cruiser with a classy and roomy interior and a comfortable ride. It looks delicious, but its build quality and reliability are known to be below par, so be careful if buying used.

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If you're interested in buying a used Porsche Cayenne, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site here.