2009 Porsche Cayenne Review by Cars.com Staff

2009 Porsche Cayenne

Kelley Blue Book Retail $30,200–$73,200
This price range reflects the Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail value for all trim levels, but not necessarily all available options.
The Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail value represents the amount an auto dealer might ask for a specific vehicle; the actual sale price will vary. A vehicle's popularity, condition, warranty, color and local market conditions are factors involved in determining a final price. The retail value is not a trade-in or private party value.
The Suggested Retail value assumes that the vehicle has been fully reconditioned and has a clean title history. The Suggested Retail value also allows for advertising, sales commissions, insurance and other costs of doing business as a dealer. Most vehicles offered at this price have passed an inspection, and some may carry a warranty. Vehicle mileage is assumed to be normal or below normal.

Previous Review 2 of 4 Next Review

Expert Reviews

By Cars.com Staff

Cars.com National February 2, 2009

Vehicle Overview

The Cayenne is Porsche's only SUV. While unorthodox for the automaker, the SUV manages to maintain a sporty nature through dynamic suspension tuning and powerful powertrains.

The Cayenne comes in Base, S, GTS, Turbo and Turbo S trim levels. A V-6 and several V-8s are available. The Turbo S is all-new and features a turbocharged V-8 engine.

(Skip to details on the: Porsche Cayenne Turbo S)

New for 2009

For 2009, the Cayenne receives a revised touch-screen navigation system and an optional 40GB hard drive for music storage. Ceramic brakes are now optional on all V-8 Cayennes. The Turbo S is also new for 2009.

Exterior

The Cayenne shares a strong resemblance to its Porsche-family relatives. The Cayenne Turbo gets additional front air inlets, power domes on the hood and a quartet of tailpipes.

The Cayenne is 188.9 inches long and 75.9 inches wide.

Available 17-, 18-, 19-, 20- or 21-inch wheels
Power liftgate
Power/heated side mirrors
Rain-sensing wipers with heated washer jets
Optional panoramic sunroof
Optional headlight washer (standard on Turbo, Turbo S)
Optional directionally adaptive/bi-xenon headlamps (standard on Turbo, Turbo S)

Interior

The Cayenne's five-seat interior carries over mostly unchanged for 2009. Like other Porsches, the Cayenne features the make's signature instrument cluster and a sporty three-spoke steering wheel.

As for cargo, there's 19.1 cubic feet of space behind the seats and 62.5 cubic feet with them folded down.

Leather upholstery
Available genuine wood, carbon fiber or metal trims
Steering-wheel-mounted controls, including cruise control
Leather-bound dash and center console (Turbo, Turbo S)
Optional 14-speaker Bose audio system (standard on Turbo, Turbo S)
Optional navigation system (standard on Turbo, Turbo S)

Under the Hood

The Cayenne's base engine is a V-6, while the midlevel Cayenne gets a V-8. If you want even more power, there's a turbocharged V-8 on the Turbo and Turbo S.

Standard full-time all-wheel drive
290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with 273 pounds-feet of torque (base)
385-hp, 4.8-liter V-8 with 369 pounds-feet of torque (S)
405-hp, 4.8-liter V-8 with 369 pounds-feet of torque (GTS)
500-hp, twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V-8 with 516 pounds-feet of torque (Turbo)
550-hp, twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V-8 with 553 pounds-feet of torque (Turbo S)
Available six-speed manual transmission (base, GTS)
Available six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control (all models)
Available adaptive air suspension with ride control (standard on GTS, Turbo, Turbo S)
Available speed-sensitive, sport-tuned steering (standard on Turbo, Turbo S)
Available limited-slip differential
Available ceramic brakes (excluding base)

Safety

Side-impact airbags
Side curtain airbags
Antilock brakes with brake assist
Electronic stability system
Traction control
Optional front/rear parking sensors (standard on Turbo, Turbo S)
Optional backup camera

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

This new flagship manages to muscle out more power from the Turbo's V-8. The new Turbo S can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The model comes standard with Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control, which features active suspension control that limits body lean during sharp turns.

Unique visual features include extended wheel arches and a matte-finished front grille. The dual-twin tailpipes are made of cast aluminum and were inspired by the Carrera GT's, Porsche says.