The biggest downside to grabbing a new Cayenne is the Porsche tax. While there’s no denying that the German brand makes fantastic cars, the premium they charge is quite high and the depreciation can be brutal. Fortunately, the used market is filled with countless great examples of written-down but solid Porsches that have a lot to offer.
The Cayenne loses half its value in the first five years
Like most luxury vehicles, the Cayenne does not hold its value well in the first few years of its life cycle. After about five years, the Porsche SUV is worth about half of what it cost new. This means you should be able to pick one up on the second-hand market for an absolute bargain.
Current Market Prices Vs. Original suggested retail price
The Porsche Cayenne now concludes the 2025 model year, meaning the 2020 model is now five years old. The starting MSRP for a 2020 Cayenne when it was brand new was $68,150, rising to $85,650. This was before any additional features or dealer markings were implemented.
At this moment, the current average value of a used 2020 Porsche Cayenne is $50,634well below the basic recommended retail price. While this isn’t half the MSRP, keep in mind that virtually no car sells for MSRP, with most leaving the dealer floor for thousands of dollars more.
Current value used
Model | Average used price |
|---|---|
Base | $44,073 |
S | $50,810 |
E-hybrid | $54,397 |
Turbo S | $81,374 |
Turbo S E-Hybrid | $106,993 |
Depreciation Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne experiences a huge drop in value as soon as you drive it off the dealer floor. You’ll get a huge discount if you can find one that’s only a year old. This major dip continues towards the end of year three. If you play your cards right, you can get a fairly new Cayenne for cheap.
After three years of ownership, the Cayenne’s depreciation becomes more stable and a little more palatable. In general, the Cayenne seems to halve in value every five years. If you pick up a five-year-old Cayenne, you can expect it to be worth half of what you paid for it in five years.
Depreciation rates
Years old | Depreciation |
|---|---|
1 | 23% |
3 | 41% |
5 | 50% |
7 | 64% |
10 | 75% |
Porsche has a talent for reliability that is reflected in the Cayenne
Despite their penchant for creating some of the best performing vehicles in the world, Porsche is also quite well known for its reliability. Typically, vehicles that are designed to be pushed hard or those that prioritize luxury above all else fall short in reliability. This is not the case with the Cayenne.
2020 Cayenne Reliability
Finding a Porsche owner who is dissatisfied with his purchase is difficult enough. The current generation of the Cayenne proves this. Although there are occasional complaints about certain issues, Porsche’s extensive dealer network is usually on site and issues are resolved quickly.
While it is difficult to find reliability scores for the 2020 model year, we can extrapolate a lot based on the reliability scores of the surrounding model years. The 2019 model scored 79 out of 100 for quality and reliability on JD Power, while the 2021 model scored 89. Since there is very little difference between those models and the 2020 model year, you can expect similar results.
Maintenance and repairs
Average annual maintenance cost: $1,231 (RepairPal)
Average maintenance costs in the first ten years: $21,225 (CarEdge
Recalls: 5
Worst Cayenne model to buy used: 2011
One of the biggest disadvantages of owning a luxury car is the maintenance costs. This is especially true for the Cayenne. Even though you saved money on the initial purchase, the repair costs will continue to haunt you. CarEdge estimates that the average Cayenne will cost $7,073 more to maintain in its first ten years than the average luxury SUV.
When picking up your used Cayenne, also take the recalls for this model into account. They are quite serious and you should make sure that these issues are resolved for the model you are interested in.
Porsche performance and confidence
Few SUVs can keep up with the Cayenne. While some may have more power and a few can reach 60 miles per hour, the Cayenne looks at the bigger picture. The performance is impeccable, and it’s every bit as much a Porsche as any other vehicle in its range.
There are three performance levels when it comes to the Cayenne: the base model gets the 335-hp V-6, the S gets the 434-hp V-6, and the Turbo gets the insane V-8 instead. A seemingly psychic eight-speed transmission is found across the board, along with standard all-wheel drive.
The Cayenne is impressive in its ability to switch between refinement and its hidden raw character. At highway speeds it’s quiet and understated, and the luxury really accentuates. However, once you hit a few bends in the road, you’ll quickly find out just how well Porsche has tuned this insane vehicle.
For a performance SUV, the Cayenne gets pretty decent fuel economy. It won’t easily be blamed for saving the planet, but 20 miles per gallon is well within the range of what we would consider acceptable. The turbocharged S model can also keep pace with the base model in terms of fuel economy.
Any car with a V-8 will not be fuel efficient. It is therefore not really surprising that the Cayenne Turbo loses compared to the two other V-6 models. This certainly isn’t just another place where the Cayenne will save you money.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 3.0-liter turbo V-6 | 2.9-liter Twin-Turbo V-6 | 4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V-8 |
|---|---|---|---|
Transfer | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 335 hp | 434 hp | 541 hp |
Couple | 332 LB-FT | 405 LB-FT | 567 LB-FT |
Powertrain | AWD | AWD | AWD |
Fuel consumption (city|highway|cmb) | 19|23|20 MPG | 18|22|20 MPG | 15|19|17 MPG |
The Cayenne offers an interior you can be proud of
Porsche is known for its luxury, but also for its performance. It’s no surprise that the Cayenne’s cabin is an exceptionally pleasant place to be. The 2020 model features all the modern technology you would expect from a more expensive vehicle, as well as plenty of comfort features.
Key interior features
Massaging chairs
Heated and ventilated seats
Passive access system
Burmester sound system with 21 speakers
Four-zone climate control
The Cayenne’s interior is essentially a choose-your-own-adventures book. Everything from the color of your seat belt to the materials used on each surface can be customized. It’s also incredibly spacious, with room for those sitting in the front and back, leaving plenty of room to stretch your legs.
Technology is clearly a focal point in the Cayenne. It is equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen as standard. A WiFi hotspot and wireless Apple CarPlay are standard, without Android Auto. An entertainment system can be chosen as an option, with two ten-inch displays mounted on the back of the front seats.
Sources: JD Power, RepairPal, CarEdge, EPA
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