Cayenne S powers up Porsche road ability with V8

Porsche has discovered the best way for its Cayenne S SUV to both retain performance and meet Europe’s strict emission standards is to swap a V6 engine for a V8.

Porsche Cayenne S now comes with V8

Porsche has found a truly novel way to improve the emissions from its Cayenne SUV, by fitting a bigger engine.

Yes, in an automotive landscape that’s shifting towards electrification and in love with downsizing, Porsche discovered the best way for its Cayenne S SUV to both retain performance and meet Europe’s strict emission standards was to swap a V6 engine for a V8.

Truth be told, the V8 is both more thirsty for fuel and produces more emissions than the V6 that powered the Cayenne S before the facelifted model arrived. However, Porsche’s engineers explain that the rationale behind the move was the need to extract more power to meet customer expectations, and to do that with the previous turbocharged V6 would have meant working it even harder, and that would have been less efficient in the end.

So instead of the 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 engine that made 324kW of power and 550Nm of torque, the new Cayenne S has a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that makes 349kW and 600Nm. In 2023 the automotive world received one more V8, not one less – a remarkable achievement for anyone who’s a fan of big-capacity performance.

The result of this change is that Porsche’s Cayenne S is quantifiably better – faster, more powerful and more engaging to drive. Which is really the key to understanding the Cayenne, Porsche’s family car.

This was the German brand’s first SUV and when the first-generation model arrived back in 2002, Porsche fanatics were beside themselves. The shock, horror and disappointment was felt around the world as Porsche abandoned its “sports car only” philosophy to chase more customers.

Now, slightly more than 20 years later, no one cares. Indeed, Porsche is largely an SUV company today, with sports cars making up less than 30 per cent of its sales.

For all the hand-wringing and carry-on from 911 owners, the Cayenne has been a critical and, more importantly, commercial success. The additional sales it brought to the brand helped to secure Porsche’s financial position and has allowed it to expand and flourish. The Cayenne is now a staple of the Porsche brand, almost, but not quite, as important as the 911.

It gives the Stuttgart-based manufacturer a challenger to the popular Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport, which make up a significant part of the luxury market these days.

If buyers want performance and handling, Porsche needs to be the obvious choice

And that helps to explain why Porsche invested so heavily into this mid-life makeover for the third-generation model that first launched in 2017. There’s a refreshed look, with changes to both the front and rear of the design, as well as the aforementioned return of the V8.

Inside, the cabin has been given an overhaul, taking elements from the all-electric Taycan, including a new, curved digital instrument panel, a toggle-style gear selector and the option to add a second infotainment touchscreen to the dashboard, this one in front of the passenger.

It all adds to the premium look and feel of the Cayenne, whilst retaining that family friendly space and practicality that has made it so important to Porsche.

But for all the luxury, the Cayenne, like any and every Porsche, must retain a sporty and dynamic character on the road. If buyers want luxury or technology, there are plenty of other brands to choose from, but if they want performance and handling, Porsche needs to be the obvious choice.

Unsurprisingly, the decision to fit the twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet has ensured the Cayenne S retains that trademark Porsche ability on the road. While it’s quite happy playing the role of relaxed urban runabout, get out of the city and find some winding roads and the Cayenne will come alive and immediately feel in its element.

It rides, steers and flows through corners with better manners than a two-tonne SUV has any right to. It may be capable of taking you and the kids to the shops or school, but it’s also genuinely fun to drive – whether the kids are in the back or not.

For anyone worried, though, that Porsche has abandoned all sense of corporate responsibility and is looking to burn through the world’s fossil fuel resources as quickly as possible, you can relax. The 2024 Cayenne range still includes a V6-powered entry-level model, a V6 plug-in hybrid and a V8 hybrid, so there are more fuel-sipping options available for people who are that way inclined.

And Porsche has already confirmed it plans to convert the Cayenne range to an all-electric line-up by the end of the decade. So, for lovers of V8 engines, now is the time to enjoy yourself.