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The 2022 Porsche Cayenne is one of the most alluring SUVs in the market, and it's also quite fun-to-drive.
Porsche launched the 2022 Cayenne was with no major changes, and it retains all the qualities that made it an instant hit around the world. Offered for a base selling price of $72,200 and going all the way to $171,300 for the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, there is a Cayenne for everyone out there. The enticing design language coupled with unmatched luxury on the inside makes it a perfect choice for those who cannot compromise on the opulence of a mid-size luxury crossover SUV.
Coming in with multiple powertrain options depending on the trim that you opt for, the performance of this Porsche is not something anyone would complain about. The acceleration times are one of the best in the segment and the handling is pretty athletic for such a heavy SUV. The changes for this 2022 model come in the form of an upgraded infotainment system and the inclusion of the Platinum Edition package. Competing with the likes of the Audi Q8, BMW X5, and Maserati Levante, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Porsche Cayenne.
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Under the hood of the base 2022 Porsche Cayenne lies the tried and tested 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with direct injection producing 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The transmission duties are handled by an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and the Cayenne gets a full-time AWD drivetrain as standard.
Like what you would expect from a Porsche, the Cayenne with this turbocharged engine puts the power down well and the mill feels smooth and torquey throughout the rev range. Even with a curb weight of 4,582 lbs, the 2022 Cayenne did the 0-60 MPH run in 5.9 seconds, which turned out to be on par with most of the segment rivals.
If you want a mid-size luxury SUV that is equally frugal and powerful, look no further than the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. Available for a base selling price of $86,500, this plug-in hybrid moniker offers superb gas mileage and tank range, making it the ideal choice for those who are looking for a daily driver.
The 2022 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid offers a combined gas mileage of 21 MPG according to the EPA. The city and highway gas mileage are identical to the combined gas mileage too. It could do 17 miles in the electric power alone, and with a tank capacity of 19.8 gallons, the combined range of 415 miles is better than most rivals.
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Like in the case of the outgoing 2021 model, the 2022 Porsche Cayenne GTS is the fastest trim of the lineup. This trim comes with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 motor mated to the 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission and AWD drivetrain. Putting out 460 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque, this SUV could do the 0-60 MPH run in just 4.6 seconds.
Even though the performance numbers of the Cayenne GTS aren't superior to the likes of the Audi SQ8, BMW X5 M50i, and Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR, the 0-60 MPH and quarter-mile times are in the same ballpark as these rivals. The fruity exhaust note and the superb grip level are other factors that make the GTS the best choice for enthusiasts.
Americans tend to tow a lot with their SUVs and pickup trucks and hence towing capacity is one of the biggest criteria of many buyers out there. Unlike some of the segment rivals, the 2022 Porsche Cayenne doesn't disappoint in this regard as all the trims offer more than adequate towing and payload capacities.
Get the base turbocharged V6 equipped trim, and you are looking at a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs. All the other engine options are also rated to the same maximum towing capacity. You can also get many optional features and packages to make the towing experience easier.
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Porsches are quite notorious for the exorbitant pricing of optional extras and packages, and the same holds true for the 2022 Porsche Cayenne. This is one of the few luxury SUVs in the segment which misses out on many essential features like memory seats, panoramic sunroof, surround-view camera, and ParkAssist as standard. However, adding these features from the optional list is an expensive affair.
The long list of optional comfort and assistance systems includes a head-up display, night vision assist, lane change assist, adaptive cruise control, and comfort access. The interior features like heated and ventilated seats and 4-zone automatic climate control are pricier than all the rivals. The premium package and assistance package are ridiculously priced too.
Being a 5-seater luxury crossover SUV, the overall space inside the 2022 Porsche Cayenne is pretty decent. The front seats are wide and accommodating and there are multiple bottle holders and cup holders on offer. Even the rear seat passengers are also greeted with many cubbyholes and other storage options.
Even though the front and rear headroom, legroom, and shoulder room information aren't released by Porsche yet, the space is identical to the outgoing models. This is almost similar to the likes of the Audi Q8 and the BMW X5 making it a perfect cruiser for family buyers. The features and customization options for the interior are longer than any other rivals too.
Step into the cabin of the 2022 Porsche Cayenne and you are going to be met with one of the most opulent cabins in this price range. Most of the dashboard and door cards come covered with soft-touch plastics and leatherette and that makes the cabin look and feel very premium.
Leather can also be seen on the seats, steering wheel, and armrest. Multiple interior color options are available, and you can also get full-leather upholstery too. The optional features like powered seats with comfort memory, adaptive sport seats, panoramic sunroof, and many more add to the luxury factor. The straightforward design of the cabin coupled with the sporty gauge cluster and neat infotainment system looks very elegant.
The 2022 Porsche Cayenne S gets the coveted 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine producing 434 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It gets the same automatic transmission and AWD drivetrain as the base Cayenne, and it has a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs.
The 0-60 MPH is done in 4.2 seconds and the quarter-mile takes about 12.8 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 165 MPH. Coming at a base selling price of $86,500, the Cayenne S is more value for money than the top-spec GTS trim as it gets almost the same performance as the latter for much lesser money.
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The 2022 Porsche Cayenne gets most of the driver-assistance techs and features, however, they are all part of the optional packages. This includes adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blindspot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, infrared camera, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist.
Nevertheless, the basic safety features like ABS, airbags, traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, and reverse camera are standard. The automated emergency braking and forward collision monitoring are standard too. Both the NHTSA and IIHS haven't crash-tested the 2022 Cayenne yet.
The 12.3" Porsche Communication Management infotainment system offers quite a lot of personalization and configuration options. Being placed in the center of the dashboard, it is easy to use, and the interface is top-notch. This updated infotainment gets support for over-the-air updates as well.
The infotainment features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and USB connectivity are offered as standard in all the trim configurations. The standard 14-speaker Bose audio system gets the job done perfectly, and you can also opt for the 21-speaker Burmester audio system. There is an optional rear seat entertainment system too.
Mohith is our in-house motorcycle mechanic and automotive geek. He loves riding and driving at the limits, and you would frequently notice him on racetracks at the weekends. Mohith is someone who would redline anything that comes with a motor - even our office lawnmower. He often does cross-country road trips in his trusted 300ZX and you could find him riding his CB750 quite often through the streets of Pasadena as well as on the Moore Motorsports racetrack.