Porsche Cayenne (2003 – 2010) Review
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Porsche Cayenne (2003 – 2010) At A Glance
Plush 4x4 that's quick and rewarding on the road and fairly accomplished off it. Originally held its value well.
Inconsistent build quality. Uneven front tyre wear. Seen as anti-social. Falling used values by 2008.
Reviews for Porsche Cayenne (2003 – 2010)'s top 3 rivals
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Porsche Cayenne (2003 – 2010) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4728–4798 mm |
| Width | 1928–1957 mm |
| Height | 1675–1699 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2855 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 2160–2355 kg |
| Boot Space | 540–1770 L |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Servicing | 12000–20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £35,560–£81,565 |
| Insurance Groups | 44–50 |
| Road Tax Bands | L–M |
| Official MPG | 17.9–30.4 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until May 2010
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel Auto | £40,571 | 30.4 mpg | 8.3 s |
| 3.6 Litre | £37,955 | 21.9 mpg | 8.1 s |
| 3.6 Litre Auto | £39,677 | 21.9 mpg | 8.5 s |
| GTS | £55,770 | 18.7 mpg | 6.1 s |
| GTS Auto | £57,492 | 20.3 mpg | 6.5 s |
| S | £47,776 | 19.0 mpg | 6.6 s |
| S Auto | £49,498 | 20.6 mpg | 6.8 s |
| Turbo Auto | £77,437 | 19.0 mpg | 5.1 s |
On sale until October 2006
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.2 litre | £35,560 | 21.4 mpg | 9.1 s |
| 3.2 litre Auto | £35,560 | - | - |
| S | £44,900 | 17.9 mpg | 6.8 s |
| S Auto | £44,900 | - | - |
| Turbo Auto | £70,870 | - | - |
| Turbo S Auto | £81,565 | - | - |
Model History
November 2002
Porsche's first SUV and a rival to the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport rival 4x4 launched UK November 2002. 4,782mm x 1,928mm x 2,855mm.
Same structure and four wheel drive system as VW Touareg but with Porsche look. Originally two models: 4.5 litre 340bhp S, which does 0-60 in 7 seconds and gets to 150mph for £45,000; and 450bhp Turbo which does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds and goes on to 165mph for £69,000. 250bhp 3.2 V6 (basically a Touareg V6)came August 2003 at £35,000. High spec. Five 3-point seatbelts. Strong residual values.
Cayenne Turbo S launched January 2006. Bi-turbo 4.5 V8 develops 521bhp and 720Nm (531 lb ft) torque from 2,750 - 3,750 rpm. 0-60 in 5 seconds. 50 - 75mph in 5th in 5.4. Top speed 167mph.
11-9-2007: Cayenne GTS launched. Features specially developed chassis with electronically-controlled damping system, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), with steel springs. This combination, which also lowers the Cayenne by 24mm, was previously reserved exclusively for Porsche sports cars. Enhanced version of direct fuel injection (DFI) 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine with 405bhp (298 kW) at 6,500rpm – 20bhp more than in the Cayenne S. Maximum torque remains unchanged at 500Nm at 3,500rpm.
Standard 6-speed manual gearbox and a shorter axle final drive ratio than the Cayenne S (4.1:1 as opposed to 3.55:1). The Cayenne GTS can thus accelerate from 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in just 6.1 seconds, precisely 0.5 seconds quicker than the Cayenne S. Can be specified with the Tiptronic S six-speed automatic transmission, in which guise it offers an average fuel consumption of 20.3mpg (13.9 litres/100 km) in accordance with EU standards.
Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanent all-wheel drive and the adaptive PASM chassis as standard. Air suspension is available as an option, as is the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active anti-roll system which enhances the handling and ride comfort further still. Newly-developed 12-way adjustable sports seats and a mix of leather and Alcantara upholstery.
Front and rear share styling cues with the Cayenne Turbo, and 14mm wheel-arch extensions offer space for the 21-inch alloy rims with 295/35 R21 tyres fitted as standard. Two new colours have also been reserved exclusively for the GTS: GTS Red and Nordic Gold Metallic. Priced from £54,350, including a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard, and a Porsche Driving Experience programme. On sale in the UK and Ireland from February 2008.
February 2009
Cayenne available with VWG's 240Ps/500Nm torque 3.0 V6 TDI. This offers 30.4mpg combined and 244 g/km CO2. Equipped with the proven Tiptronic-S automatic gearbox as standard, it costs from £40,250.
The Cayenne Hybrid
Drive power in the Cayenne S Hybrid will come primarily from a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with Direct Fuel Injection interacting with a 38kW/52bhp electric motor used either as an additional source of power to boost the output of the petrol engine or as the sole drive unit operating on its own. A unique function of the Cayenne Hybrid is its ability to smoothly cruise or ‘roll along’ with the combustion engine switched off and disengaged at high speeds in the so-called ‘sailing’ mode. This practice allows the driver to save fuel at speeds up to 86mph (138km/h), for example when driving on the Autobahn at a relatively consistent speed.
With forced induction via an engine-driven supercharger, the 2,995cc engine develops 333bhp (245kW) between 5,500 – 7,000rpm. Maximum torque of 440Nm is produced at 2,900rpm and sustained consistently through to 5,300rpm.
In conjunction with the combustion engine, the electric motor serves as a booster for extra power; maximum combined output is 374bhp (275kW) and peak torque of 550Nm at 1,500rpm. Accelerating from rest to 62mph (100km/h) in 6.8secs, the Cayenne S Hybrid thus offers the same sprinting qualities as its sister models with a ‘regular’ V8 – hence it proudly bearing the same ‘S’ designation.
Masterminded by the Hybrid Manager, the Cayenne S Hybrid will consume less than nine litres per 100km in the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) equal to CO2 emissions of less than 210g/km – some 20 per cent less than on a conventional vehicle comparable to a Cayenne and with the same kind of power.
Based on a six cylinder engine, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the output of an eight cylinder with the fuel consumption of a four cylinder. The Cayenne S Hybrid will arrive at Porsche Centres by 2010.
What to watch out for
Check front tyres regularly. Can wear to illegal in 9,000 miles.
Rain drains from ventilation well in bulkhead can block, leaving rainwater to flood into the car causing as much as £11,000 of damage to electronics and carpets.
Many Touaregs (same running gear as Cayennes) are now suffering centre bearing failure on the rear prop shafts after 60k miles. UK VW dealers typically charge around £900 to £1,000 as they will only fit new, factory supplied, prop shafts. However several prop shaft refurbishers have been identified that can change the failed centre bearing for around £250 which, with a couple of hours labour to remove and refit, is less than half the dealer cost. For more skilled mechanics with the right tools and know-how, the bearing itself can be bought for about £80. The failure rate on the Touareg is now such that some owners in the know have changed the bearing before it fails as part of their routine maintenance.
12-03-2013:Fundamental problem with early V8 engines:, covered in Porsche Forum Cayenne Knocking Noise (problem with the Alusil bore liners wearing away).
01-12-2014:Porsche Cayenne 2003-2010 shown to be the 5th least reliable SUV in Warranty Direct's claims records.
25-10-2016:Report of headlight bulbs of 2006 Cayenne blowing frequently.
31-08-2018:Report of keyfob of 2005/55 Porsche Cayenne no longer opening the doors remotely. Key does open the doors and car can be started. Owner thinks contacte in the key may have worn out.
