Porsche Cayenne 2022 Review

Purists once scoffed at the idea of a Porsche SUV. The idea of a sporty family shuttle, infused with the moves of a 911 sports car, seemed as alien as an electric-powered Porsche. Today, both ideas thrive in the Porsche lineup. The 2022 Cayenne expertly melds midsize luxury SUV utility with precise handling, a range of powerful engines, and what feels like an intravenous connection to the road from the driver's seat.

This year, the Cayenne carries over largely as before. The only notable change comes with the new sixth-generation infotainment system, which now includes Android Auto smartphone compatibility and refinements to the voice recognition and command system. There's bigger news with the introduction of the 631-horsepower Turbo GT trim level, but it's only available in the Cayenne Coupe body style, reviewed separately.

The Cayenne may have invigorated the SUV class with surprising power and agility, but it's still a Porsche first, an SUV second. If you need vast interior and cargo space, consider the Mercedes-Benz or BMW competitors. Something a bit more exclusive? Try the Range Rover Sport. Sticker shock after adding a handful of options? Look at the Genesis GV80. All offer different strengths, but none speak to the driver as directly as the Cayenne. Read our Expert Rating to learn why the Cayenne is one of our top SUV picks.

Which Cayenne does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Porsche Cayenne is a midsize SUV available in six trims: Base, E-Hybrid, S, GTS, Turbo and Turbo S E-Hybrid. All models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Feature highlights include:

Base The entry-level Cayenne comes standard with:

• Turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 horsepower, 332 lb-ft of torque)
• 19-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• 12.4-inch touchscreen
• Navigation system
• Apple CarPlay (wireless), Android Auto (wired) smartphone integration
• Four USB-C ports
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Partial leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Ambient lighting
• 10-speaker sound system
• Power liftgate
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

E-Hybrid This plug-in hybrid version of the Cayenne builds on the base model's features with:

• Turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and electric motor (455 total hp, 516 lb-ft)
• Plug-in hybrid capability with 17 miles of all-electric range
• Adaptive suspension dampers (Porsche Active Suspension Management, or PASM)
• Sport Chrono package with Sport Plus drive mode and additional performance menus

S A sportier version of the base model that includes:

• Turbocharged 2.9-liter six-cylinder engine (434 hp, 405 lb-ft)
• Power Steering Plus package with speed-sensitive steering response
• Panoramic sunroof

GTS A more performance-oriented trim with:

• Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (453 hp, 457 lb-ft)
• 21-inch wheels
• Air suspension with PASM
• Adaptive rear spoiler
• Sport exhaust system
• Torque vectoring for improved traction and handling
• Sport Design package with black exterior trim pieces
• Full leather upholstery
• Sport seats

Turbo Takes performance and luxury to another level with:

• Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (541 hp, 567 lb-ft)
• Upgraded brakes
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Additional front seat adjustments
• 14-speaker Bose surround-sound system

Turbo S E-Hybrid Adds high-performance handling and rechargeable electric range to the turbocharged V8:

• Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine and electric motor (670 hp, 663 lb-ft)
• Plug-in hybrid capability with 15 miles of electric range
• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) anti-roll system for improved cornering

Many features on the upper Cayenne trims are available on the lower trims as options. Porsche also offers a wide range of additional packages and options to allow you to further customize your Cayenne. Notable features among them include:

• Rear steering (enhances steering response and handling)
• Various interior and exterior color and material trim choices
• Ventilated and multi-adjustable front seats with memory function
• 21-speaker Burmester sound system
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Cayenne and the car in front)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Cayenne back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Cayenne and its surroundings for tight parking situations)