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A look back at the controversial Porsche Cayenne and its rise to excellence

The presentation of the Cayenne was not the easiest, but today it is almost untouchable.

In the late 1990s, Porsche's most controversial decision seemed to be the abandonment of air cooling in favor of water cooling in its sports cars. It was a big upset, and Porsche purists greeted these first water-cooled cars with little enthusiasm. But an even bigger surprise awaited the following decade when, in 2003, Porsche unveiled an SUV called the Cayenne.

The introduction of the Cayenne

The Cayenne was initially seen as an overpriced Volkswagen Touareg and simply a way to stabilize Porsche's finances after years of uncertainty. However, more than two decades after its introduction, it has become much more than that. It claims to be one of the best SUVs ever made, and today it is undeniably a true Porsche. Not all Cayennes are equal, with teething problems especially at the beginning. Here is a ranking of Cayennes, from worst to best.

Porsche Cayenne 955 (2002-2006)

Sometimes the first generation of a product represents the best, purest version of an idea. This is not the case for the 955 generation Cayenne. Not only does it borrow its styling from the 911 and the Boxster 996 and 986 respectively, never very popular with Porsche fans, but it is also the version of the Cayenne which most closely resembles its Volkswagen counterpart, the Touareg.

The beginnings of the Cayenne

That said, the base Cayenne still surprised the public with its performance, both on the road (which was somewhat expected) and off (which was really surprising). The 955 was good at everything, and it paved the way for Porsche to become the powerhouse it is today.

Porsche Cayenne 958.1 (2011-2014)

The second generation of Cayenne (excluding the 957 which was more of a restyling) really allowed the Cayenne to assert itself. First, it bore very little resemblance to the Touareg with which it still shared a platform. The styling was cleaner overall, and while it still borrowed from the 911, the 991 generation was a prettier car than the 996. The 958 saw the Cayenne Turbo become faster and more aggressive, and the overall platform became sharper and offered sportier driving characteristics.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid

This generation also introduced the Cayenne E-Hybrid to the masses, technology that Porsche still relies on today. The 958 is a great SUV and even a good Cayenne, but compared to some of its siblings it seems less special.

Porsche Cayenne 957 (2007-2010)

The facelifted first generation, aka the 957, is an impressive SUV. Not only did the styling become less strange, but it also retained some of the uniqueness that distinguished the 955. Most important is the introduction of the Cayenne Turbo S.

Special editions

The 957 saw Porsche get creative with special editions. The Cayenne GTS remains a fan favorite with a naturally aspirated V8 and optional six-speed manual transmission. Even higher on the collector ladder is the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia, a limited edition paying homage to the Cayennes built for the Transsyberia Rally.

Porsche Cayenne 958.2 (2015-2018)

When the second generation facelift arrived in 2015, the model was truly hitting its peak. Each trim level, from the base V6 model to the ultra-powerful Turbo, offered an excellent driving experience with impressive on-road qualities and off-road capabilities. The style was successful and the technology offered was fantastic.

Internal competition with the Macan

All of these factors were important because, for the first time, a Cayenne model was being introduced in the face of internal competition from the Macan, a smaller, more agile and less expensive SUV. Despite this, the Cayenne held its own, and by the end of 958.2 production, it could be said to be the most well-rounded SUV on the market.

Porsche Cayenne 9Y0 (2019-2023)

2019 saw the introduction of the third generation, named 9Y0. This generation shares its platform with the Audi Q7 and Q8, as well as the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. Despite this, the Cayenne remains an exceptional SUV in this prestigious company.

Continuous improvements

Although the Bentley is more luxurious and the Urus is more capable, the Cayenne Turbo S remains superior in terms of driving pleasure. The 9Y0 continues to build on the Cayenne's traditions with sharp styling that complements the brand's other vehicles. This generation is also available in a coupe version.

Porsche Cayenne 9Y0.2 (2024-present)

It almost seems cheating to consider the current model the best, but in the case of the restyled third generation it is absolutely true. The changes for the 2024 model year are massive.

Return of the V8 and hybrid technologies

The .2 model sees the return of a V8 in the Cayenne S, offering plenty of power and personality. The base and S versions are available as plug-in hybrids. Turbo models are extremely powerful with over 700 combined horsepower from their turbo V8 engines and hybrid systems.

Interior and comfort

The interior of the new Cayenne is excellent, with cutting-edge connectivity and a functional design. Porsche has also improved the suspension to improve ride quality and precision on the track.

In terms of a full SUV, nothing really comes close to the 9Y0.2. In a world where there are more SUVs than ever, that's saying something.

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