2021 Porsche Cayenne

Currently, in its third generation, the 2021 Porsche Cayenne bears a striking resemblance to the iconic Porsche 911. Available with multiple gasoline and hybrid powertrain options, the Cayenne offers a vast array of variants ranging from the luxurious Cayenne base to the blisteringly quick Turbo S E-Hybrid. It goes up against similarly priced fast-paced competitors including the Audi Q8, BMW X5, and Maserati Levante. 

All motorsports hold Porsche in very high regard. The Stuttgart-based manufacturer is among the most decorated in the field and competes at the highest level of Le Mans. However, the penchant for achieving such performance doesn’t come from the flashy, TV broadcasted races, but a consistent effort to reach new heights with every single one of their vehicles. This is seen in the various powertrain options available with the Cayenne, and how each of them surpasses one another as you go up the list. 

The extensive list of powertrains is a result of engineers at Porsche constantly striving to achieve higher levels of performance, and their efforts definitely deserve individual attention to their refinement. This page pertains to the comfort-focused base variant of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne.

Which trim should you buy?

The Porsche Cayenne base variant can be treated as a standalone option for the sheer differences between the rest of the trims in terms of performance, and lack of differences otherwise. The gas-powered base variant is definitely a worthy purchase if you don’t like the feel of hybrid vehicles, but want some semblance of sustainability as compared to the rapturous higher variants. Apart from the luxury, it offers due to the price point, the base variant is the most accessible way of experiencing the uncanny driving dynamics of the Porsche Cayenne.

The Porsche of yesteryear is gone, and the new motorsport outfit has a newfound appreciation for preserving the Earth, as seen in its recent development of four and six-cylinder engines for their less track-focused customers. The base variant in the Cayenne gets a turbocharged 3.0L V6 to go about its duties. 

The powertrain is no doubt capable, propelling the fairly large SUV to 60 miles an hour from a standstill in just under 6 seconds, and a standing quarter-mile in 14.4 seconds. Churning out 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, the turbocharged V6 allows the Cayenne to tow up to 7,700 pounds. When the luxury SUV isn’t hauling too much cargo around, it can reach speeds of 152 miles per hour.

SuperSUV territory is a scary place to be when behemoth SUVs start doing sub 6 seconds 0 to 60 runs. The level of competition between these SUVs is incredibly close and equally pronounced as well. Each of these cars offers a blend of performance and luxury but to different degrees. All the SUVs are very similarly powered, with all three German rivals pushing 335 horsepower, although the additional turbo in the Q8 allows it to produce more torque which in turn helps driveability. 

Nevertheless, the Maserati Levante matches the torque figure of the Q8, while churning out more horsepower than the competition. That horsepower isn’t put to great use as the Maserati and Audi SUVs have the same 0 to 60 times, while the Levante falls behind over a quarter-mile. The BMW X5 shows incredible optimization to achieve such a difference in acceleration with an engine output akin to the rest

How does the 2021 Porsche Cayenne handle?

Handling is arguably the strongest point in the Cayenne, and the flat-handling chassis is one of Cayenne’s greatest selling points. While the handling is not as close to that of the 911 as we’d prefer, it is a whole lot better than any of its competitors can achieve. With the help of intelligent electronics tuned to motorsport and performance use, the 2021 Cayenne defies its size through fast corners, displaying excellent balance for an SUV. The 2021 Porsche Cayenne will certainly have you wanting to hit that twisty hill road a few times before you start going where you need to be. 

Apart from the agile steering and suspension setup, the Porsche Cayenne doesn’t exhibit too many luxury characteristics in the way it handles. This is due to a firm suspension setup that can get unnerving at times, to the point where you might question shelling out so much money for the SUV. The suspension is very settled over good, smooth roads while becoming just that much more uncomfortable over uneven terrain. The suspension seems to fail when it comes to finding a comfortable amount of travel over such roads and continues to attempt to prioritize performance levels of traction, at the cost of your spine. 

2021 Porsche Cayenne Braking Performance

Sports cars without brakes are less dangerous than only one other kind of vehicle, and that is the high-performance SUV without brakes. You might say a truck could cause more damage with its momentum, but the inherent limitations to downforce combined with rapid acceleration capabilities make it imperative that a vehicle such as the Porsche Cayenne can decelerate with maximum efficiency.

Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to test the brakes of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne nor its competitors. By the looks of it, the Q8 houses the largest brakes but will decelerate in tandem with the 2021 Cayenne due to being heavier than the Porsche. The Cayenne is the lightest in the comparison table, yet uses larger front brake rotors than the Maserati Levante. The brakes on the Cayenne can be upgraded to the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes or PCCB. These brakes provide better heat management, making your car more prepared to attack the SUV lap records around your local track.

The 2021 Porsche Cayenne is just like its previous avatars when it comes to an affinity for performance. Despite downsizing on its base engines, the free-revving nature of the Cayenne - as a result of its torque - ensures the engine climbs through rpms pretty quick. This makes it hard to maintain efficiency figures, although it won’t be worth the effort when the E-Hybrid variants exist. The refinement in the turbocharged V6 of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne does make it possible to achieve a city/highway combined of 20 miles per gallon.

The Porsche Cayenne is in the top half of the comparison table with regards to fuel efficiency. A decade ago, none of us would have expected Porsche to be in such a situation. That being said, the Maserati Levante is the least economical of the lot, posting the poorest mpg figures overall at a combined 18. The most efficient powertrain here is that of the BMW X5. Offering a combined 23 miles per gallon, it has the potential to travel the longest among the four on a single full tank, although that would require a feather-light right-foot, so the 23.7-gallon fuel tank of the Cayenne would probably offer better range. 

The interior of the Porsche Cayenne is decorated with luxe, high-quality equipment and materials to serve as a constant reminder of being surrounded by luxury. The plush leather comfort seats allow for various seating positions with optimum comfort, and the 8-way power adjustability is more than you will need to find an apt driving position. 

Soft-touch materials across the dashboard and door trims make for a better experience, and cues of the typical Porsche DNA reside in the flat-top dash that maximizes visibility. Four-zone climate control is present in the cabin and is accompanied by a spacious seating arrangement that can in fact seat 5, although with a little compromise on comfort. 

The interior dimensions of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne are unknown, making it tough to see which of the SUVs is relatively the largest on the inside. Based on the same platform as the Audi Q8, we expect the 2021 Cayenne to offer similar amounts of interior room. This bodes well for the Porsche SUV as the Q8 offers segment-leading rear legroom and shoulder room overall. 

The Maserati Levante and BMW X5 offer the same amount of legroom for the front seats, but the Italian SUV offers little cargo space, while the BMW tops the segment with 33.9 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seating row. Standout interior features of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne include:

• Four-zone climate control
• 8-way power-adjustable front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Ambient lighting 
• Panoramic sunroof

How intuitive is the infotainment in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne?

The infotainment in the Cayenne glitters with the best of electronics on offer today, including a beautiful, high-res 12.3” touchscreen with Porsche Connect Plus. The system enables navigation with real-time traffic, Apple CarPlay, and four USB-C ports. The quality offered in the 2021 Porsche Cayenne is highlighted in the choice between Bose and Burmester premium audio systems. To summarise, the 2021 Porsche Cayenne infotainment consists of:

• 12.3” touchscreen display
• Bose or Burmester premium audio systems to choose from 
• Apple CarPlay
• Digital radio
• Porsche Communication Management
• Porsche Vehicle Tracking System

The flashy performance SUV is designed just to be able to answer such a question. It boasts styling that makes it look very similar to the 911, especially the rear fascia. It shares its taillight design with the sports coupe, highlighting its true nature as a sporty, performance-inclined monster SUV. LEDs are used to give the Cayenne a sharp effect, while the sheet metal used gives it an elegance that in turn gives it immense road presence as it is instantly recognizable. 

The Maserati Levante is the least SUV-like out of the four. It has the lowest ground clearance among the four, despite flared proportions such as the 197” length. The Q8 is the heaviest SUV in the segment, while the X5 is not the lightest, which is uncharacteristic of BMW; the lowest curb weight is that of the Cayenne. Standout exterior features of the 2021 Porsche Cayenne include:

• Active rear spoiler
• Automatic tailgate
• Active Bonnet
• LED headlamps with 4 LED DRLs
• Underbody protection (aerodynamic, not physical)

There isn’t a lot of information pertaining to the safety standards set by the 2021 Porsche Cayenne. For a performance SUV, it does have the basics you’d expect in a modern car, but it has not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. The right-side driven models sold in Europe and other markets have achieved a 5-star NCAP rating, so we expect the US-spec to be as safe if not safer. 

A total of 9 airbags are available, along with LATCH child seat anchor points. Porsche also provides a host of driver assistance programs to help mitigate collisions or mishaps, including a distance warning when something is too close to the front of the Cayenne. Notable safety features include:

• Driver and Passenger front airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Front knee airbags
• Rear passenger airbags
• Porsche InnoDrive - includes Adaptive cruise control
• Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
• Night Vision Assist
• Lane Keeping and Lane Change Assist
• Collision and Brake Assist

2021 Porsche Cayenne vs 2021 Audi Q8

The Audi Q8 can be viewed as a bougie version of the Cayenne, judging by the similarities in the platform, not to mention the relationship between the two manufacturers. Nevertheless, the Cayenne is the sportier of the two, built to deliver exhilaration in addition to the corner-carving qualities it possesses. Moreover, the Q8 is somewhat quick but focuses more on technology and comfort.

2021 Porsche Cayenne vs 2021 Maserati Levante

It is incredibly tough to pick between these two SUVs. Neither of them remains the brash SUVs they used to be, but offer plenty of sleek modernness today. Apart from that, they also have a particular focus on the intangibles of driving, something other manufacturers seem to have forgotten about. The Levante and Cayenne both offer exciting driving dynamics; the former also epitomizes the effect of an almost musical exhaust note, while the Cayenne delivers a more composed but equally fun driving experience.

2021 Porsche Cayenne vs 2021 BMW X5

The German rivals go at it against one another, as the only two manufacturers with an explicit focus on performance, or driving pleasure as one of them would like to call it. The BMW X5 seems to forget its roots and is hell-bent on besting the figures the Cayenne posts. While that is a conservative approach from the Bavarians to boost sales, BMW engineers know just how tough it would be to actually beat the Cayenne in terms of driving and handling, therefore they proceed towards being better in any way they can, which makes for cutthroat competition between the two.

The Porsche Cayenne is a flashy yet sensible option. The flashiness is invited by the exorbitant price tags and long-term costs, but the Porsche badge makes up for about half of the money, as it is almost always met with expressions of awe. The rest is taken care of by the fluid driving experience. There might not be a lot that’s sensible about the 2021 Cayenne, but to the enthusiast, the Cayenne is very practical, offering sports car performance, cargo space, room for five, and towing capabilities, all in one.