Is the 2024 Porsche Cayenne S a Good SUV? 4 Pros and 3 Cons

The Porsche Cayenne has long been one of the more compelling luxury SUVs, and it’s one of a very few that delivers both an engaging driving experience and opulent interior while also providing the practicality that buyers are looking for with decent passenger and cargo room.

Related: 2024 Porsche Cayenne S Review: The Spice Must Go

Decades of development have only helped refine the Cayenne’s winning formula. An update for the 2024 model year has brought further improvements to the SUV, including a bump in power across the lineup, updated tech features, a new interior and revised styling. Unfortunately, the updates also bring an increase to an already expensive price tag.

Road Test Editor Brian Normile recently traveled to Los Angeles to get acquainted with a new 2024 Porsche Cayenne S four-door coupe and came away with a lot of good things to say. (Per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for travel and lodging when attending such manufacturer-sponsored events.) You can check out his complete review by clicking the link above. For a quick look at the highs and lows, read on for four things we like about the 2024 Porsche Cayenne S and three things we don’t.

Things We Like

1. You Can Have a V-8

The update gives the Cayenne S a new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine, which replaces the old twin-turbo V-6. The result is a 34-horsepower boost to 468 hp and a 37 pounds-feet increase in torque to 442. While the old engine was no slouch, the new one delivers tons of power that builds to a rush the longer you press the pedal, and it’s accompanied by an appealing exhaust note. The eight-speed automatic transmission carries over and provides smooth shifts without hesitation.

2. Air Suspension

A new available air suspension further enhances the Cayenne’s ride and handling, and it’s designed to help provide greater differentiation between Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes. Normal mode delivers a comfortable, absorbent ride while still providing responsive handling with little lean in corners. Things get more aggressive as you work up through the modes, but isolation from bumps and road irregularities remains excellent throughout, even with the optional 22-inch wheels on our test vehicle. Paired with excellent steering feel and feedback, the setup helps make the nearly 5,000-pound Cayenne feel nimble and smaller than it is.

3. Improved Tech

The updated interior gets a new 12.6-inch digital instrument panel and 12.3-inch touchscreen, both of which offer lots of configuration options, are straightforward and easy to use, and provide sharp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are part of the package, as well. An optional 10.9-inch screen can help keep front passengers entertained with streaming video, navigation and more; it remains out of the driver’s sight to avoid distraction.

4. Traditional Luxury Touches

Unlike some manufacturers that incorporate over-the-top tech features that add little if anything to enhance the upscale ambiance, Porsche has done a nice job of adding useful and user-friendly tech. Traditional luxury touches remain, including top-notch materials throughout the interior, thoughtful design, comfortable seats and adequate passenger room.

More From Cars.com:

• 2024 Porsche Cayenne: Spicy SUV Gets Upgraded Performance, New Styling, New Tech
• Which SUVs Can Tow at Least 5,000 Pounds?
• 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Gets Big Boost to Power, Battery Size
• Which Cars Have Panoramic Moonroofs or Sunroofs?
• Size Matters When Crash Safety Is Involved: IIHS Crash Report

Things We Don’t Like

1. Control Issues

Most controls are pretty straightforward for a luxury vehicle, with the same sort of quality feel as everything else in the cabin. One exception, however, is the dash-mounted shifter, which works well enough and frees up console room but is small and has a somewhat insubstantial feel. Another exception is the center console that houses a number of physical and haptic controls. Pressing any of the haptic climate controls causes the entire panel to move rather than feedback from each button. It seems out of place and more like a cost-cutting move.

2. Coupe Considerations

Like competing designs from Audi and BMW, the Cayman S in coupe form gives up some practicality in favor of what some might see as a more stylish look than a traditional SUV. Its sloping roofline eats into both cargo room and rear headroom, and a smaller rear window limits visibility to the rear.

3. All the Money

This much goodness doesn’t come cheap, and the 2024 refresh unfortunately also brings an increase in cost. Our tested Cayenne S coupe carried a base price of $103,750 (including destination), and that’s before factoring in an array of available expensive options. With the air suspension, larger wheels and tires, and assorted other goodies, the as-tested price came to more than $150,000.

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.