2024 Cayenne S First Drive: Same Utility, More Sport

With a powerful V-8 engine, a more advanced suspension, and a new digital cockpit the 2024 Cayenne S might be the perfect luxury SUV.

A little history before I get to my review of the 2024 Cayenne S. The year was 2003 and I had just ordered my first brand new Porsche. A Guards Red Boxster. I was thrilled, but at the same time I felt that Porsche was betraying me. I had been a fan my entire life, and I was finally in a place where I could order my first Porsche sports car.

Right when Porsche began to build an SUV called the Cayenne. What in the world was this abomination? Porsche was the 911, the 944, the 928. Cars that as a kid I drooled over. Nobody drools over an SUV. I don’t care what badge is on the hood. That was 2003 me. 2023 me realizes that Porsche knew what they were doing. They began the luxury SUV trend and now everyone from Ferrari to Aston Martin builds an SUV.

The 2024 Cayenne S has been refreshed with some significant upgrades. Despite how I felt about the Cayenne when I was younger, I was anxious to get behind the wheel and see what the new Cayenne is all about. I reached out to my friends at Porsche Main Line.

They are a 2023 Premier Porsche dealer with a great staff and an incredible selection of Porsche vehicles in stock. They were kind enough to toss me the keys to a new 2024 Cayenne S and let me spend the day getting to know the vehicle. Would this new Cayenne finally make me a believer? When I picked up the SUV the temperature was in the upper 40s and it was chucking down rain. Perfect SUV weather.

2024 Cayenne S

In a day and age when automotive manufacturers are downsizing engines and V-8s are becoming a thing of the past, Porsche played the contrarian. They replaced the old 2.9L V-6 that powered the 2023 Cayenne S with a twin turbo V-8 for 2024. As a result, the new Cayenne S makes 468 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Increases of 34 and 37 respectively. The new model also sports new two-valve shock absorbers with separate rebound and compression stages. On the inside the driver experience is greatly enhanced as well. There is a 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch PCM display.  Everything is sleek and futuristic. On paper things are looking good for the new SUV.

Build Sheet

One thing Porsche has perfected over the years is how to make an expensive vehicle a very expensive vehicle by charging large sums of money for most options. A 2024 Cayenne S has a base MSRP of $95,700. The one I tested stickered for $121,720 thanks to the below options.

• Algarve Blue Metallic – $850
• Leather interior in Black/Mojave Beige – $4,180
• Adaptive Air Suspension with PASM – $2,390
• Trailer Hitch without Tow Ball – $660
• Heated Steering Wheel – $280
• Roof Rails in Black Aluminum Finish – $830
• 21-inch Cayenne Turbo Design Wheels in Vesuvius Grey – $3,350
• Roof Lining in Race-Tex – $1,690
• Compass Display on Dash with Porsche Off-Road Precision App – $330
• Window Trim in High Gloss Black – $400
• Premium Package Plus – $8,090
• Porsche InnoDrive with ACC and ALK – $1,320

Some notable options not included in this build are Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, Sport Chrono, Sport Exhaust, Rear Axle Steering, and the Off-Road Package.

Design Impressions

Looks are subjective of course, but to my eyes, this is a good-looking SUV. From the front the power dome style hood is more pronounced. The headlight treatment is a nod to the Taycan styling.

The vehicle looks taught and muscular without being over the top or busy. Often 21-inch wheels can make an SUV look bit silly, but the Cayenne has tires with enough sidewall to make the larger wheels look smaller than they actually are. And the optional wheels on this SUV includes painted wheel arch extensions which give the vehicle a more luxurious look.

The inside is just a lovely place to be. Anyone that has spent time in a Taycan or 992 will feel right at home in the Cayenne. The materials are top notch, and the build quality is excellent. It is expensive but it feels like it.

‘2024 Cayenne S First Drive: Same Utility, More Sport’ continued…

Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.