Makes›Porsche›Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne

22 model years from 2005 to 2026, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

Porsche Cayenne
Pictured: Porsche Cayenne (III, Facelift) – f 01012025. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
Model years
2005–2026
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Latest engines
3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo
Best MPG
15–24 combined, by year
Latest rating
Not rated
Recalls
28 campaigns, all years
Most complaints
2011 (57)
Fewest problems
2018
Interest
30,338 Wikipedia views / 30 days

The 2026 Cayenne in brief

The 2026 Porsche Cayenne is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (3.0L 6-cyl turbo and 4.0L 8-cyl turbo) and all-wheel drive.

It measures about 194 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,376 lb (Base / S 4dr SUV).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 19 MPG combined (17 city / 23 highway), 5% worse than the 2026 standard SUV average of 20 MPG, for an estimated $4,350 a year in fuel.

It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

The Porsche Cayenne has 22 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2026, classed as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD.

Its most efficient year was 2016 at 24 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 15 to 24 MPG.

Owners most often report problems with the power train (109), engine (93), unknown or other (89).

Buying used? 2018 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2019 is the year to avoid.

2019 has the most recalls (8); all years together count 28 campaigns and 491 owner complaints.

How the 2005 Cayenne compares

The 2005 Porsche Cayenne is a SUV - offered with 3 engines (3.2L 6-cyl, 4.5L 8-cyl and 4.5L 8-cyl turbo) and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

It measures about 189 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 113-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,949 lb (4dr SUV 4WD /S).

About the Porsche Cayenne

The Porsche Cayenne is a series of automobiles manufactured by the German company Porsche since 2002. It is an E-segment luxury crossover SUV, and has been described as both a full-size and a mid-size vehicle. The first generation was known within Porsche as the Type 9PA (955/957) or E1. It was the first V8-engined vehicle built by Porsche since 1995, when the Porsche 928 was discontinued. It is also Porsche's first off-road vehicle since its Super and Junior tractors of the 1950s, as well as the first production Porsche with four doors. Since 2014, the Cayenne has been sold alongside a smaller Porsche SUV, the Macan.

From the Wikipedia article "Porsche Cayenne", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

2026 Cayenne pros & cons

Full 2026 details →

What's good

  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Watch out for

  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

Best and worst years to buy used

NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →

Compare head to head

Compare the Cayenne with any other car →

Cayenne changes by model year

  1. 2026
    • No plug-in hybrid version any more
    • Best combined MPG down from 22 to 19
  2. 2025
    • New plug-in hybrid version
    • Best combined MPG up from 19 to 22
  3. 2024
    • No plug-in hybrid version any more
    • Engine dropped: 2.9L 6-cyl turbo
  4. 2023
    • Best combined MPG down from 21 to 19
  5. 2019
    • New body dimensions: 2.8 in longer — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • Engines added: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo and 4.0L 8-cyl turbo
    • Engines dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl and 4.8L 8-cyl turbo
  6. 2017
    • No diesel version any more
    • Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG down from 24 to 22
  7. 2016
    • Engine added: 3.6L 6-cyl
  8. 2015
    • New plug-in hybrid version
    • No hybrid version any more
    • Engine added: 3.6L 6-cyl turbo
    • Engines dropped: 3.6L 6-cyl and 4.8L 8-cyl
  9. 2013
    • New diesel version
    • Engine added: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG up from 21 to 23
  10. 2011
    • New body dimensions: 1.9 in longer, wheelbase +2.4 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • New hybrid version
    • Engine added: 3.0L 6-cyl
    • Best combined MPG up from 16 to 21
  11. 2007
    • Engines added: 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl and 4.8L 8-cyl turbo
    • Engines dropped: 3.2L 6-cyl, 4.5L 8-cyl and 4.5L 8-cyl turbo
  12. 2006
    • Lightest version 187 lb lighter

Years without a measurable change are left out.

Show all 22 model years side by side
YearLatest enginesBest MPG / rangeLengthWeightOverallRecallsComplaints
20263.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo19 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated15
20253.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo22 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated26
20243.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo19 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated55
20233.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo19 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated25
20223.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo21 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated34
20213.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo21 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated721
20203.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo21 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated625
20193.0L 6-cyl turbo, 2.9L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo21 MPG193.7 in4,376 lbNot rated847
20183.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl22 MPG190.9 in4,652 lbNot rated114
20173.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl22 MPG190.9 in4,652 lbNot rated219
20163.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl24 MPG190.9 in4,652 lbNot rated240
20153.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo23 MPG190.9 in4,652 lbNot rated315
20143.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG190.9 in4,475 lbNot rated350
20133.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG190.9 in4,475 lbNot rated340
20123.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl21 MPG190.9 in4,398 lbNot rated533
20113.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl21 MPG190.9 in4,398 lbNot rated557
20103.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl turbo16 MPG189 in4,784 lbNot rated21
20093.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl turbo16 MPG189 in4,784 lbNot rated210
20083.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl turbo16 MPG189 in4,784 lbNot rated228
20073.6L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl turbo16 MPG––Not rated01
20063.2L 6-cyl, 4.5L 8-cyl, 4.5L 8-cyl turbo15 MPG188.6 in4,762 lbNot rated341
20053.2L 6-cyl, 4.5L 8-cyl, 4.5L 8-cyl turbo15 MPG188.6 in4,949 lbNot rated324
Best combined MPG by model year — Porsche Cayenne
2005: 15 MPG2006: 15 MPG2007: 16 MPG2008: 16 MPG2009: 16 MPG2010: 16 MPG2011: 21 MPG2012: 21 MPG2013: 23 MPG2014: 23 MPG2015: 23 MPG2016: 24 MPG2017: 22 MPG2018: 22 MPG2019: 21 MPG2020: 21 MPG2021: 21 MPG2022: 21 MPG2023: 19 MPG2024: 19 MPG2025: 22 MPG2026: 19 MPG20052008201120142017202020232026max 24 MPG

Alternatives to the 2026 Cayenne

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2026 Tesla Model Y357 miNot rated8
2026 BMW X525 MPGNot rated2
2026 Land Rover Defender20 MPGNot rated3
2026 BMW X329 MPGNot rated2
2026 Audi Q722 MPGNot rated1
2026 Tesla Model X352 miNot rated0

Most common owner-reported problems

Power Train109
Engine93
Unknown Or Other89
Electrical System66
Fuel/Propulsion System58
Air Bags56
Exterior Lighting27
Service Brakes18
Owner complaints by model year — Porsche Cayenne
2005: 242006: 412007: 12008: 282009: 102010: 12011: 572012: 332013: 402014: 502015: 152016: 402017: 192018: 142019: 472020: 252021: 212022: 42023: 52024: 52025: 62026: 520052008201120142017202020232026max 57
Check your VIN for open recalls ↗

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Porsche. How we calculate this →