Since its launch, the Porsche Cayenne has defined the luxury SUV segment by harnessing everything we love about the Porsche driving experience and placing it in a larger, more practical package. Today the Cayenne remains the pinnacle of utility at the brand with the most extensive midlife update it has ever received. There’s a newly introduced twin-turbo V8 engine with the option of hybridisation and more technology featured inside to bring the car back to the cutting edge.
For this launch, we headed along some of the region’s best driving roads to our end destination in Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula for lunch with the great Scott Pickett. Here’s everything we learned about the updated Porsche Cayenne along the way.
RELATED: 2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Review: More Supercar Than SUV.
The first thing you’ll notice when you jump inside the new Porsche Cayenne is the updated interior with intentional pieces of the all-electric Taycan sprinkled throughout. It starts with a new curved digital driver display that measures 12.6 inches and offers up to seven views on the instrument cluster depending on your specification. It was a highlight when I drove the Taycan GTS earlier in the year and the screen retains the crystal-clear, sleek look without the hood cover here in the Cayenne.
Look to the centre of the cabin and you’ll find a high-resolution 12.3-inch display home to Porsche Communication Management (PCM) and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Look beyond that to the passenger side, however, and the optionally integrated 10.9-inch passenger display makes its debut. This allows the occupant to become a co-pilot and assist the driver with navigation and audio. Importantly, this information isn’t visible to the driver thanks to a special block-out film.
It’s all about balance, however, and I’m pleased to say this technology doesn’t take away from the experience with overtly minimalist aesthetics. Porsche has moved the gear selector onto the dashboard which has opened up space on the centre console for important physical buttons like air conditioning and volume.
Above all else, it’s the updated steering wheel that made the biggest change to the experience on our drive from the airport to Mornington Peninsula. It’s been taken from the 911 and now adopts a high-quality, modern, and sporty design. Standard is the driving mode switch for selecting Normal, Offroad, Sport and Sport Plus directly on the steering wheel. You’ll also find new toggle buttons for changing the design of the instrument cluster and head-up display. Most importantly, I found that it has the perfect thickness, size, and weight when cruising through the bends on our way to lunch. Speaking of which, let’s quickly talk about that new engine.
We had the chance to sample several models on this launch, including the Cayenne, Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Coupe, and the bonkers Cayenne Turbo GT with 485 kW / 659 PS of power. However, it was the Cayenne S Coupe (AUD$188,500 plus on-road costs) that left me with a lasting impression thanks to its newly added 4.0-litre V8 Bi-turbo petrol engine with improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
What a gem! Power figures are kept fairly modest here compared to the super sports models in the range with 349 kW / 474 PS at 6,000 RPM and torque capped at 600 Nm from 2,000 – 5,000 RPM but it’s the efficiency, effortlessness, and epic sound of the motor that makes it the perfect partner to this two-tonne SUV. It’s also no slouch with a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds (using Launch Control).
This is backed by one of the best gearboxes in the game, Porsche’s very own 8-speed Tiptronic S gearbox that’s updated with shorter reaction times and shift times in Sport and Sport Plus modes. Normal mode has been optimised for fuel usage. Combine this with Porsche’s PASM suspension system that’s standard on the Cayenne S and you have a winning combination on winding roads.
Our driving experience finished at a private residence along the peninsula where acclaimed Australian chef Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda 159 Domain, Pickett’s Deli, Longrain, Longsong, Chancery Lane, Smith St Bistrot, Audrey’s, and The Continental Sorrento) had prepared a lunch for guests of the event. An ode to the great local produce from Australia, the highlight dishes were the BBQ Marron with caviar and finger lime and Blackmore Wagyu rump cap with fermented truffle, pomme anna, and tarragon.
The updated Cayenne range kicks off from AUD$138,700 plus on-road costs, but expect to spend quite a bit more after options. For example, the Cayenne S Coupe that I’m highlighting here is priced from $188,500 plus on-road costs but my test vehicle was optioned up to AUD$265,650 plus on-road costs thanks to these notable options: Carbon Design Package (AUD$15,340), Black and Night Green two-tone smooth-finish leather interior (AUD$8170), Arctic Grey exterior colour (AUD$5000), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (AUD$6870), tinted HD Matrix LED headlights (AUD$5720) and Passenger Display screen (AUD$2860).
The Porsche Cayenne S Coupe compares to vehicles like the Audi Q8 (from AUD$132,269), BMW X6 (from AUD$140,900), and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe (from AUD$159,900) but offers a more engaging drive without compromising comfort. More information about the Porsche Cayenne range can be found at the link below.
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2024 Porsche Cayenne Standard Specifications in Australia
Here’s a full list of standard equipment for the Porsche Cayenne in Australia:
- 20-inch collapsible spare tyre (all non-E-Hybrid models)
- 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels (Cayenne S Coupé and S E-Hybrid Coupé)
- 22-inch 911 Turbo Design wheels (Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupé)
- Metallic paint (Cayenne S models and up)
- Panoramic roof system (Cayenne S SUV models and up)
- Porsche Entry (Comfort access)
- Privacy glass
- 90-litre fuel tank (Cayenne and Cayenne Coupé)
- Adaptive air suspension incl. PASM (Cayenne S and Cayenne S Coupé)
- Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) (Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupé)
- Power steering plus (Cayenne SUV models)
- Lane Change Assist
- ParkAssist with Surround View and Active Parking Support
- Head-Up Display
- Adaptive Cruise Control incl. Emergency Assist and Lane Keep Assist
- Active Lane Keeping including Crossroad Assist (NCO on Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid models and Cayenne Turbo GT)
- Driver memory package (Cayenne Coupé models and Cayenne GTS SUV)
- Front seat ventilation (Cayenne S SUV and up, NCO on Cayenne GTS SUV and Cayenne S Coupé and up)
- Side airbags in the rear compartment
- 4-zone climate control (Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid models and Cayenne Turbo GT)
- Soft close doors (Cayenne GTS models and up)
- 14-way Comfort seats including memory package (Cayenne SUV and up, NCO on all other Cayenne models)
- 18-way Adaptive sport seats including memory package (NCO on Cayenne Turbo GT)
- BOSE Surround Sound System (Cayenne S models and Cayenne S E-Hybrid models)
- Digital radio
Warranty and Service Pricing for Porsche Cayenne in Australia
- 3-year / unlimited kilometre new-vehicle warranty
- 1-year / 15,000-kilometre service intervals
- Service pricing varies from state to state due to different labour rates at Official Porsche Centres. For an indication of service pricing please visit the website of your nearest Official Porsche Centre.
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