Porsche Cayenne 2002-2010 used car review
The Porsche Cayenne is an SUV that handles a little like a sports car - and it has off-road ability.
The Porsche Cayenne is an SUV that handles a little like a sports car - and it has off-road ability. Prices for used Cayennes are now low, but the cost to run one is very high.
Porsche is best known as a sports car maker, and the Cayenne was its first attempt at an SUV. Developed in conjunction with Volkswagen and Audi, it shares parts of its chassis, transmissions and some engines with the Volkswagen Touareg and Q7.
Inside and out
The Cayenne is a great looking car, despite being an unusual combination of curvaceous sports car and block-like SUV. The front features enormous air vents, a raked bonnet and headlights that look similar to other Porsche models of the time.
The car looks similar to the Touareg from the side, with metallic trim between the windows. The rear features sizeable red light units, twin exhaust pipes and the Cayenne name in black script on the middle of the door.
Most interior surfaces feel premium and solid, and the dash is covered in a soft-touch surface best described as having the look of elephant skin.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel has a triangular centre with large buttons along both sides for the stereo and cruise control. There are also switches for shifting the automatic transmission manually. The gauges have a sporty look with a red information screen in the centre.
Our review vehicle has a simple CD player stereo, which will require a band expander to receive local stations. Below it is buttons for the climate control system, which has separate settings for the driver and passenger.
The front seats are excellent - soft, comfortable and supportive. Both are electrically adjustable and heated. Rear seat passengers get their own climate control settings. Legroom is reasonable and the seat width is excellent. Three adults will fit comfortably and the middle passenger gets a relatively flat seat base, more comfortable than the raised section in some cars.
An electric tailgate makes the boot easy to access. Once open, the boot is flat and a chrome plate protects the top of the bumper. Cargo space is great at 540 litres, enough for four large suitcases and a couple of small ones. Fold the second row forward and the space is a huge 1,770 litres.
On the road
The Cayenne is available with a six-cylinder petrol engine, six-cylinder diesel, and eight-cylinder and eight-cylinder turbo petrol engines. Engine sizes changed as part of 2007 updates to the model. Our 2007 review vehicle is fitted with the “entry-level” 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, which produces an impressive 210kW and 385Nm of torque.
Its performance is excellent, despite its comparatively small size. A six-speed manual was optional, although most cars have a smooth and smart six-speed automatic like ours. The transmission also has a low-range function for off-road driving.
Our review vehicle has an optional air suspension system, allowing the ride height and firmness of the suspension to vary. Look for its controls behind the transmission shifter. The system is impressive and means the ride is extremely comfortable, even in sport mode.
The Cayenne feels very sporty to drive with its responsive steering, excellent brakes and little body roll. This is on the standard 17-inch wheels. It is common to fit bigger wheels, which can impact on comfort levels. Road noise and engine noise are quiet.
The Cayenne is considered to be reasonably capable off-road, especially the air-suspension model which can raise the car for extra ground clearance.
Parking the Cayenne can be a bit of a challenge. Our Japanese import model has neither parking sensors nor a reversing camera, but does have a camera showing how close you are to the kerb. The camera view appears in the rear vision mirror. Rear visibility is poor, so we would recommend adding a reversing camera. You can buy units to fit yourself from $50 or have a professional do it from $200.
The Cayenne is ideal if you want to tow a large trailer – it has a maximum tow rating of 3,500kg for braked trailers, enough to pull a large boat.
Safety
No official safety ratings exist for this generation Cayenne - few premium cars were officially tested during the time of its production. Standard safety equipment levels are very high and include front, side and curtain airbags that cover the front and rear seats, traction control, electronic stability control and electronic brake-force distribution.
ISOFIX child seat mounts and top tethers are found in the window positions at the back. All three rear seats feature full shoulder-type belts which offer more protection than the lap-only type.
Reliability
The Cayenne is moderately reliable. The big issue is that when things go wrong the repair bills can be extraordinarily high. The six-cylinder engine uses a timing chain which will not need to be regularly replaced.
Both the six-cylinder and turbocharged eight-cylinder engines are considered solid units. The eight-cylinder unit in the S has anecdotally been subject to failures caused by the cylinder liners. Replacement engines cost in the tens of thousands, so carefully check this model.
Electrical issues are not unheard of and there have been reports of failure of the rear door remote locking system and satellite navigation.
Cost of ownership
Brace yourself for a steep bill when your Cayenne requires a service - which is every 12 months. These cycle through three different services over four years. The cheapest is an oil change service for $600, then an intermediate maintenance service which costs $1,100 followed by a maintenance service for $1,800. Expect high costs for other consumables - a set of tyres can exceed $2,000 and a set of brake pads comes at a similar price.
Fuel costs are high, although they’re lower than the Volkswagen Touareg. RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year, you will spend $3,560 on fuel. The 100-litre fuel tank will cost $200 to fill and should take you 750km before the fuel light comes on.
A vehicle licence costs $76.92 a year, with the car in the cheapest ACC levy group.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for a Cayenne valued at $26,990 will cost $73.59* per month. The Cayenne is considered a high-risk vehicle, so expect conditions like no drivers under 25 and a higher excess.
Buyers’ guide
Cayennes are available on Trade Me from $13,000 to $50,000. Late-model diesel and turbocharged models fetch the most. Cars at the lower end of the price range, under $20,000, are likely to be of low quality and should be treated cautiously. Official Porsche dealers offer a pre-purchase inspection from $200 and this is highly recommended.
Variants
Specifications are similar across the Cayenne range with standard features including a CD player stereo, leather interior, electric and electric front seats, climate control with separate settings for the driver, passenger and rear seats, front, side and curtain airbags and electronic stability control. Air suspension is a common addition to most cars, though only standard on the Turbo.
- Base grade - Powered by a six-cylinder petrol engine. Features 17-inch alloy wheels.
- S - Powered by an eight-cylinder engine. Features 18-inch alloy wheels.
- GTS - Introduced in 2007. Powered by an eight-cylinder engine. Features 21-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, and an aerodynamic body kit.
- Turbo - Powered by a turbocharged eight-cylinder engine. Features 18-inch wheels, performance brakes, sports suspension and a body kit.
Timeline
- 2002 Launched globally
- 2003 3.2-litre six-cylinder version added
- 2007 Six-cylinder engines grow to 3.6-litres and eight-cylinder engines grow to 4.8-litres
- 2008 GTS version added
- 2009 Diesel option added
- 2010 Replaced by updated model
Details
2007 Porsche Cayenne
$19,000 to $41,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
3.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged, 210kW/385Nm (claimed)
Six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Twelve months
Space saver
12.7-litres per 100km (claimed)
Premium
4780mm
1928mm
1700mm
3500kg (braked)
11.9m
This review covers the Porsche Cayenne for model years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Review vehicle supplied by Unique Japan.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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Kyle Cassidy 
NZ Autocar Magazine 