If producing an SUV was not enough to shock Porsche enthusiasts, introducing diesel motors to the range certainly was. The Porsche Cayenne went into production in 2002 and was not only the first off-road vehicle from the German automaker since it's Super and Junior tractors produced in the 1950s but also the first four-door ever for the brand.
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The Cayenne was created to compete in the quickly expanding SUV market after the launch of the Mercedes-Benz ML and BMW X5 models during the late 1990s. However, Porsche was the first of the automakers which specialise in sportscars, to expand its range to include SUV models which have subsequently become one of its most popular ranges only to be bested by the Macan compact SUV model which remains it's best-selling model globally.
While the modern Cayenne range omits diesel derivatives and instead feature plug-in hybrid models, the second-generation Cayenne ranges included diesel variants. The German automaker included V6 and V8 diesel motors amongst the four petrol engines that were available at the time.
Comparison
Offering both a smaller and larger capacity V6 petrol engine as well as a naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol V8 motors, we will be comparing the petrol units that most-closely matchup with the diesel offerings in terms of capacity and air induction.
| Cayenne Diesel | Cayenne Petrol | Cayenne S Diesel | Cayenne Turbo Petrol | |
| Engine | 3.0-litre, turbocharged, V6 | 3.6-litre, naturally-aspirated, V6 | 4.1-litre, twin-turbo, V8 | 4.8-litre, twin-turbo, V8 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Power | 193 kW | 220 kW | 281 kW | 382 kW |
| Torque | 550 Nm | 400 Nm | 850 Nm | 750 Nm |
| Fuel consumption | 6.6 L / 100km | 9.2 L / 100km | 8.3 L / 100km | 12.2 L / 100km |
Verdict
Owners Porsche SUVs can be divided into two major groups, those that want the speed and dynamics incorporated into a larger more practical package and those that want power and utility in combination with unique styling. Both are valid reasons to consider a Porsche SUV and both types of owners are catered to within the range of engines available in the second-generation Cayenne.
The V6 or V8 petrol will offer owners faster acceleration and higher top speeds as both models provide more power when compared with its diesel counterparts, however, this comes at a cost. While you will benefit from a more exciting driving experience both petrol variants have much higher fuel consumption ratings, 2.6 L / 100 km more for the V6 variant and 3.9 L / 100 km more for the V8, to be exact.
The diesel variants also offer more torque which will be more appealing to those wanting to heavily load the vehicles and or tow trailers. So for those looking for the utility in the Cayenne the diesel offerings might just meet your requirements. In conclusion, when considering the entry-level models, we believe that the diesel offering will give the most value for money and should have the lowest running cost of all the models.
However, when moving up the range, there is no denying the difference the 100 kW deficit will have on the performance between the Cayenne S diesel and Cayenne Turbo petrol but if you are in the market for the perfect balance between performance and cost of ownership, a used Porsche Cayenne S diesel is the one to have.
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