Driven- 2019 Porsche Cayenne Review

When the Porsche Cayenne launched in 2002, many enthusiasts expected it to fail. Over 770,000 copies later it’s clear the brand’s first SUV was a success, and a very good idea. Generation three is longer, lower, lighter and faster. Always a winning combo. Tom Voelk travels to California’s Napa Valley to drive Porsche’s all-new model that shares only one part with its predecessor.
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About Tom:
Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award. He also married way out of his league. Now, stop reading this promotional copy bragging about Tom's photography and editing skills and watch a couple episodes. It's much more interesting.

[@DFWCNC1]

Porsche Cayenne Turbo owner here; PSCB brakes are fantastic, and should be standard on all Porsches. They bite harder than an alligator. Agree with just about everything said regarding this beast. Acoustical glass is oversold, also messes with your phone and toll tag abilities. Plan on $20k of options to get a strong performing car. The Burmester is fantastic, I have it, and love it. Even the base model is a wonderful car, just requires, in my opinion, many options to get a sport performing vehicle out of it. Remote releases on the back seats, or lack thereof, is very disappointing. Cheap out, you will feel it, but if you don't know, you don't know. Great car. Love it.

[@themightymrpink]

Nicely done review as always, Tom Voelk. I’m stoked to see what vehicles you’ll be reviewing for this year, Happy New Year!

[@mceliacin]

Your video’s are always top notch Tom! Very few if any of other car journalists do the brake test and I can appreciate that from your channel!! I’ve been a fan since the NY Time and I don’t think I’m going away thanks again from you and Martin Campbell for such an Amazing job! That’s why I’m always rewatching the old videos.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

CORRECTION- The top speed is 152 miles an hour on both standard and Sport Chrono versions if you are wondering why yours won't hit 157 MPH. Also, I noticed the fuel economy graphic was left off. The turbocharged 3-liter V6 runs on specified premium gasoline with an E.P.A. rating of 19 city, 23 highway, 21 combined. Also the ground clearance number is 9.4 inches, not 10.4.

[@adbt20]

Another great review Tom! And thanks for pointing out ground clearance, it's funny cause here I was thinking it was actually quite decent... but no!

[@timblaker7138]

Tom, thanks for your first review of ' 19 being my win the lottery ride.Happy New Year.

[@Aliakbar.m]

I really like your reviews and want to say Happy New Year! Keep up the good work in 2019!

[@kencoleman8929]

Great review and camera work as always, sounds like a serious upgrade across the range and beautiful as ever. And happy to see your always excellent work being recognized where it counts, thanks for all the info and entertainment you provide all year. Happy New Year Tom, and to think 1 year ago today you were sucking it up to shoot that beautiful Stinger footage !

[@srcultureshock]

Happy New Year Tom! Looking forward to more great reviews!

[@kurtkomaromi3690]

Happy New Year, Tom. Thanks for another great review.

[@-Munditimum-]

Another brilliant video. Great to hear about the camera Tom! Happy New Year!

[@petedavis8701]

Always great reviews

[@michaelboese6679]

Happy New Year !!! Tom !! Another great video keep up the great work. TKU.

[@Cogito1978]

Great job per usual Tom - Thanks!

[@hertzair1186]

Every 911 owner should salute every Cayenne, Macan and Panamera driven they cross on the road…..as Tom inferred….these Porsche SUV’s saved Porsche and the 911 and allowed the 918 and Taycan, etc…..

[@millaracing]

tom. happy new year. nice review. cool to do it at a press launch as it was nice to hear from some of the porsche ambassadors as well.

[@RobG001]

Great review as always, Happy New Year to you and your family...:)

[@JamaicanMeCrazy]

Happy new year Tom. That's a nice car.

[@porsche558]

Hey Tom, glad to hear you were able to get some new camera gear! The new Cayenne looks great.

[@rigtee]

Awesome review!

[@JVild]

Cool to see new content on new year's. Thank you, Tom, and have a happy 2019.

[@CRen46]

Great video really enjoy them please do a detailed version of the Macan S. May your loved ones be blessed, safe and progress for 2019.

[@iamnickmartin]

An excellent review.

[@jamespatrick6939]

man, what a car to welcome the 2019! happy new year Tom

[@dhirajjdewan8069]

This is the review I was looking for! Thank you!!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I have a PHEV version that will post in a few weeks, FYI.

[@dhirajjdewan8069]

@@DrivenCarReviews Thank you! You really have the best reviews! I love the way you provide technical info and experience info in the same review.

[@TheHelghast1138]

Happy New Year celebrating an amazing vehicle!

[@Peter-rq4xn]

Good review Tom! Can't help but see that the rear looks very similar to the Lincoln MKC.... Happy New Year!

[@NiggazHomie]

so the big PORSCHE doesn't say anything i guess

[@TheMegaGang]

Love the new cayenne, I have a agate grey gt4 and would love to add this to garage

[@corpnupe85]

Happy New Year!

[@inomad]

Video quality is looking excellent

[@gabrielmillien7439]

Happy new years

[@ivanlowjones]

In lieu of his usual Costco T.P cargo area test, perhaps Tom could've substituted the number of Chardonnay cases the Cayenne can hold. It would seem appropriate for the typical Porsche owner.

[@UncleFranke]

I enjoyed your thorough review. As the owner of a 2014 Porsche Cayenne S, I have driven both. While the 2019 does have some nice enhancements, there is simply nothing like the 400 Hp, 4.8 liter V8. The turbo V6 is very nice, but it is always "wanting" - lacks that V8 feel. Optioned with the air suspension with height adjustment and PASM, along with the Premium Package Plus, my 2014 has copious amounts of road grip and very strong acceleration, along with a very comfortable ride. The new transmission with an electronic controller is a big turn-off. Love the surface coated brakes, but not a fan of staggered tires. Also, the biggest disappointment is the Dodge Durango/Lincoln MKC rear light strip between the tail lamps. I much prefer the tail lamp setup of the Macan or even the 2014 version. Again, I always enjoy your reviews. Thank you, and keep up the great work.

[@nh712__8]

1st😁!! And Happy new year!!

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

Merry Christmas

[@mrbadx19]

100th like, happy new year!

[@curelable]

Glad they kept the spare. My 2014 is a loud bouncy ride. Is the new one improved?

[@JohnDoe-wy1yd]

Dream car!!!

[@mfmf100]

To Toms list of compares I’d add the Stelvio, SRT Cherokees and, if your willing to trade some prestige and handling for money while keeping luxury and power, Nautilus.

[@limpunsing224]

If I want luxury, comfort with ample power & practicality, I'd rather buy the E450 station wagon Great review btw

[@edysinsimon8646]

My favorite SUV is the Cayenne! Make mine the "S" version please!

[@Vscounter]

0:53 reminds me of a old Mazda CX-9

[@K03sport]

The less chrome bits on the outside, the better. Tough to keep alacart pricing in check.

[@stephenhendricks103]

No optional bathroom so I could live in it? Happy New Year, Tom. Now I have to find a tissue to deal with excessive salivation.

[@bentontramell]

Hopefully, they improved the infotainment system. Too many functions nestled in there that can take your eyes off the road. Try changing music tracks.

[@curelable]

New windshields are 1000$, for those that live in areas with lots of trucks and road debris (Texas).

[@dontealexanderdoss8789]

Great review! I think it’s gorgeous and love Porsche’s current direction; however, it unfortunately reminds me of the Ford Edge - as far as aesthetics - when angled behind the rear-most pillar.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Funny, I'm in a Ford Edge this week and one of my observations is that it's no Porsche Cayenne.

[@billgass1378]

I am on my second year with my Cayenne 2019. It has been fun and eager. I have looked at the 2020 model and did not find any difference in style, design, etc.

[@mfmf100]

Good overview. Anyone else find power levels a little disappointing for the price and performance pedigree?

[@hwmason530]

Does it use 48V electrical system? Or it still employs 12V?

[@Flyin_k]

why the new cayenne all the headlight housings and back lights foggin' up ?

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Ok, so the big question is: how many cupholders? :) Just kidding...Happy New Year Tom!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

There are never enough cupholders.

[@mmickles1]

Would also like to see your opinions on the Macan S. Thanks!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

If I were to buy a practical car, the Macan S would be at the top of the list. Great car.

[@mmickles1]

@@DrivenCarReviews Just realized you reviewed the 2016 Macan S. Thanks for the review and the candid response!

[@frozencarguy6274]

I like it.

[@user-gx1om5oh9k]

I see you i love you Porsche cayenne

[@seang2822]

Think you meant to say Audi Q7 when you said Q5 and the comment about the 5s

[@mikescott6097]

Those rims on the blue model at the demo were depressing lol

[@markgullion1300]

Strange to see someone turning a key in 2019.

[@jcy3827]

Expensive litter

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Optional optional, optional. Optional, optional optional! Optional.

[@TinLeadHammer]

1:51 - rubber bearings?

[@asingreat4630]

7:25 what’s with those leather seat dents?

[@jeholloway2]

Acoustic glass degrades cell phone reception. This according to Porsche. Does it also add weight? If so how much?

[@chltmdwp]

I'm confused, you called Cayenne as a crossover, yet towards the end you called it as SUV. so which one is it?

[@salilgupte4507]

The issue is that a fully optioned equivalent engine X5 can give you almost exactly the same experience for only slightly less prestige...at $15k less.

[@maciekozi69]

midsize crossover in us = big suv in europe :D

[@dygardion9130]

Welcome to Napa valley!

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I love that place.

[@dygardion9130]

Driven Car Reviews great place to be! Been calling it home my whole life!

[@mlee6136]

Really dont get why luxury suv's don't have remote rear seat back releases.... most if not all entry level suv's come with them.

[@nateisright]

I miss Biscayne blue.

[@tayl0rd553]

Are you sure about that ability to close off the grille? We have a '17 Cayenne Turbo S with active grille shutters, and when the vehicle is off, the entire radiator is blocked off.

[@chhoeurtbuntha7033]

♥️♥️♥️

[@Adityakumar-du6cz]

I see cayene i click

[@sudindesai0928]

I will go for range rover sports Rather

[@robr1969]

Was all the haze in the air from the forest fires?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Nope. Just a hazy day.

[@scottanders5333]

He didn’t seem too excited about his product

[@adbt20]

Tom is so good at reviews he almost makes me reconsider my disdain for this vehicle... almost. But I'm still convinced, when you really boil it down, the Cayenne is only good at two things : 1. Being a jack of all trades and MASTER OF NONE 2. Being a status symbol. Granted, those are 2 legitimate qualities. Just not any that I value myself. Just my 2 cents

[@miscool]

what car do you have or drive? out of curiosity?

[@martinkleinman2522]

Oy -- it starts at $68K. Le sigh. What do you hear about the turbo Mazda CX-5? That's more in my price range.

[@britishentertainment7610]

Im sorry but ibe heard that cx5s are unreliable. 2.5 turbo has crazy performace

[@alborak4097]

I have one

[@shamus12]

From a tech and forward-looking perspective, how does one not chose the Jag I-Pace over the Cayenne? Other than prestige of course.

[@KhanhLe-ib2po]

Cause the only thing going for the I-Pace is that it’s electric. Most, if not more, techs can be found on the Porsche

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Have you tried to actually buy an I-Pace? Pretty sure you'd find them hard to find.

[@yallway2262]

WOW cheaper than a land cruiser or suburban fully loaded

[@1ce2berg]

That's a deal man. But then again it's the base model not the S or Turbo (which tops at 200k). But honestly the base is good enough

[@toh3211]

Didn't this come out months ago?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

It did, but they held the press event in December.

[@ecupip]

Hey product manager. Make sure you don’t stand by a copy that has window trim that’s misaligned. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@DrivenCarReviews]

It's a design element. There's a small groove that runs along the top of the windows that disappears 3/4 of the way down the D pillar.

[@Dennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

Nice Volkswagen.

[@YTM965]

bring on the electric

[@johnvolkman7208]

Get insurance while you're at it - - - - - --

[@paulm6481]

Beginn8 g to look more and more like a hatchback

[@sc0368]

Not good in deep snow

[@swanblake]

Umm this suv did end cars for enthusiasts Tom. Look out at the roads, only SUVs. We were right in 2002

[@weirdshibainu]

You heard wrong. It wasn't that the Cayenne would end all cars at large, but that the Cayenne was anathema to the history and DNA of what made Porsche great as a SPORTS CAR company and that by introducing the Cayenne, that Porsche would no longer be completely true to it's heritage. Like it or not, consumers prefer SUV's, just as they now prefer, by a wide margin, automatics over manual transmissions.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Fortunately, you can buy any car you want.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@DrivenCarReviews As long as it's an SUV.......

[@stephenhendricks103]

If there were no Cayenne there would probably be no pure sports cars from Porsche, at least none at a price point less than a McLaren or a Lamborghini. The moral is simple. Be careful what you wish for.

[@dlg5485]

So called "purists" never seem to understand that these luxury brands needed to begin offering these higher volume SUV and sedan models to generate the revenue needed to be able to continue developing their lower volume world class sports cars. Any reasonable person gets this, but it's still irritating to listen these twits raising hell every time a brand like Porsche expands their product lineup. I'd probably never own a Cayenne, but I'm glad Porsche sells a bunch of them because I do plan to purchase a 911 someday.

[@epbrown01]

I've owned 4 Porsches (so far) and plan to get a Cayenne eventually. Porsche struggled for over 50 years because they only made toys, so revenue was a crap shoot. Say what you will about Weideking, but he had two great ideas - merging product lines so the Boxster and 911 used most of the same chassis, and expanding the line-up so people would buy Porsches even when they weren't toy shopping.

[@keithjackson4985]

I still don't like these but am happy for the revolution in SUV's because of them. I hate Porsche's option mindset but love Hyundai's. I know Hyundai and Porsche have very little in common. I just hope Hyundai keeps kidnapping German engineer's?

[@corpnupe85]

Keith Jackson Porsche > hyundai by an incalculable margin.

[@keithjackson4985]

@@corpnupe85 Only by a calculable price! Lol

[@snowcountry322]

the reviewers look bored...

[@lionheart.5983]

Beautiful car but front looks like 🐸🐸

[@jesusmarywillsaveyou]

Porsche/VW/Audi = most overrated automaker. The technology highlighted in this video was long time ago in forward thinking automaker such as Land Rover. Go KZbin the Range Rover Velar, or Evogue, or Land Rover Discovery. Then you’ll witness well designed interiors, forward thinking technological road handling capabilities like you never thought. Like I said the VW Group has too much on their plate to really focus on delivering well thought out products .

[@harambo9805]

😂 I guess you prefer being in the shop every week then.

[@jesusmarywillsaveyou]

Harambo you’re the second person who has told me something like this (from another video review). I’ve never owned a Range Rover or Land Rover, but I’ve also never heard of them being very prone to issues. I’ll keep an ear out for that. As far as I’m familiar they’re very reliable. Even with all the modern tech added. But, if you can lead me to any videos that effectively prove that LR/RR’s spend more time in the shop then I’ll be very happy to watch it. Thanks

[@miguelircontar]

You sure this isn’t a 2009 Porsche ?

[@ducatil-twin3379]

Or wait 5 years and get one for $10,000.

[@essel23fly]

Doubt it. The ones that are worth that are the early ones since they had defects

[@portratratra]

A comedy car, imo. It looks embarrassing.

[@squidproquo2241]

LOL! Amazing, if Japanese used the same design over and over again people would go ballistic if Europeans do that it is refinement of design. LOL! Anyway this is a European junk a lemon out of factory that could be owned only by the really rich so that they could keep up with the repair and maintenance costs. otherwise I wouldn't even lease this junk because it would mean to bring a junk product within the US economy from outside. Doesn't worth for a car designed 50 years ago and did not change at all.