The Porsche Cayenne has big upgrades for 2024, with as much driving pleasure as ever

Porsche’s heritage comes from the sportier side of the automotive world, so it has made the Cayenne one of the few luxury midsize SUVs to bring genuine driver enjoyment. For those with the funds and the fascination, the new Cayenne is a must-consider.

2024 Porsche Cayenne pricing

The 2024 Porsche Cayenne starts at $79,200. This is for the base model and then it’s easy to go into 6-figure territory. Watch out for the options list — there are plenty of tempting extras that can soon mount up.

These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and do not include the $1,650 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

Cayenne rivals might include performance variants of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, for instance, but in many ways the original Porsche SUV remains one of a kind.

See: The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE raises the bar for luxury SUVs, and now there’s a plug-in hybrid version, too

Before buying a new Cayenne luxury midsize SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

Robust resale values

The Cayenne is one of the better performers in its class in terms of resale values.

What’s new for 2024

Making its debut with seven variants, the 2024 Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe lineup is smaller than last year. The GTS and ultra-powerful Turbo S E-Hybrid models are conspicuous by their absence, for example.

Back to this year, though, which brings revised exterior designs to both ends, including the addition of new matrix LED headlights as standard, plus more color and wheel choices. The interior comes with new and bigger screens, as well as steering wheels from the 911.

Less visible but similarly important are power hikes in the three existing drivetrains and a new V8 for a more muscular Cayenne S. Porsche has also refined various areas in terms of drivability and safety assistance systems.

Driving the Porsche Cayenne

A new active suspension in 2024 versions of the base Cayenne, S, and E-Hybrid promises to improve comfort at slower speeds while also providing better control through quick corners. The adaptive air suspension (optional in the lower trims, standard with the top Turbo GT) brings greater distinctions between Normal, Sport, and Sport Plus modes.

These changes are sure to enhance what is already an excellent vehicle. Around town, we’ve found the Cayenne comfortable, well-mannered, and easy-going, with enough thrust to exploit 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 stays put even as 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 we don’t think there’s anything lacking in the base Cayenne. The automatic transmission does its job admirably, or there are shift paddles under the steering wheel whenever the driver feels like getting more involved.

Higher trims bring things like variable torque distribution for optimum grip and traction, and rear-wheel steering to enhance maneuvering. The version with the whole shebang is the 650-horsepower Cayenne Coupe Turbo GT, which also has ceramic composite brakes and a titanium sport exhaust system. It can sprint from zero to 60 mph in a mind-bending 3.1 seconds.

Safety features see improvements as well. Adaptive cruise control (optional) gains evasive steering assistance; intersection assistance is another addition.

The Cayenne SUV also has excellent towing talents, able to pull up to 7,700 pounds.

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Revamped interior

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 Cayenne.

Materials and build quality are appropriately top-level, and the switches feel substantial. We’ve found that 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. The steering wheel of the updated Cayenne is taken from the 911 sports car.

This year’s redesign sees Porsche ditching the old-school cowled instrument cluster for a curved 12.6-inch digital driver information display. This is twinned with a high-res 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. There’s also the option of a separate 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, rendered invisible to the driver.

An air filtering system is yet another new feature available in the 2024 Cayenne’s cabin.

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.

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.

Two body styles

One’s an SUV and the other’s an SUV, but called a Coupe. Simple, right? Choose the 2024 Cayenne SUV for maximum rear passenger room and cargo space, or go with the sloped-roof Coupe for an extra element of style.

Both versions receive styling tweaks this year. These include a new hood and front fenders. Plus new matrix LED headlights as standard, and redesigned LED taillights set into a revised rear end.

Fresh paint choices are Algarve Blue Metallic, Montego Blue Metallic, and Arctic Grey. And there are new wheel designs with diameters ranging from 20 to 22 inches.

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Our favorite features and tech

Smartphone integration
Apple
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CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard across the 2024 Cayenne range. Wireless charging is also included.

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 and around the world.

Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
Depending on the Cayenne’s speed, the dipped beams adjust their field and shape of illumination. And the headlights will 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 an expensive option, but this 21-speaker/1,455-watt surround-sound system promises world-class sound.

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Engine and transmission

Changes to the 2024 Cayenne lineup have even taken place under the (restyled) hood. Porsche has boosted outputs in the base model and the E-Hybrid, while replacing the previous V6 in the Cayenne S with a V8.

With an increase of 13 horsepower and 36 lb-ft of torque, the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in the base Cayenne now enjoys 348 horses and 368 lb-ft of torque.

This same engine is enhanced with a more powerful electric motor and a meatier lithium-ion battery than last year, pushing output to 463 horsepower for the 2024 Cayenne E-Hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It charges more quickly, too.

The greater battery capacity and Porsche’s optimizations of the E-Hybrid’s driving modes should also bring benefits in fuel economy and electric-only range. It was 17 miles last year, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to provide figures for the new 2024 Cayenne variants.

A new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 propels the Cayenne S with 468 horsepower and 422 lb-ft of torque. That’s an advantage of 34 more horses and 37 lb-ft of torque over last year’s V6.

The Cayenne S has sports-car acceleration. Yet even this formidable machine is outgunned by the Coupe-only Turbo GT, which gains 19 horsepower for a mighty total of 650 horsepower — also supplied by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8.

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

Cayenne
3.0-liter turbocharged V6
348 horsepower
368 lb-ft of torque

Cayenne E-Hybrid
3.0-liter turbocharged V6/electric motor
463 total system horsepower

Cayenne S
4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
468 horsepower
442 lb-ft of torque

Cayenne Turbo S
4.0-liter turbocharged V8
650 horsepower

See: The 10 best hybrid SUVs for 2023

4-year/50,000-mile warranty

The new vehicle and powertrain warranties on a Porsche Cayenne are four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This includes 24-hour roadside assistance. Hybrid batteries are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

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This story originally ran on KBB.com.