2021 Porsche Cayenne

Since the early 2000s, the Porsche lineup has expanded to include practical performance cars, including the Panamera sedan and wagon, Cayenne midsized SUV, Macan compact SUV, and Taycan EV. Every Porsche we’ve tested has achieved stellar road-test and owner satisfaction scores, thanks to sharp handling, a controlled ride, superb braking performance, and beautifully crafted interiors. Although Consumer Reports’ survey data shows that its vehicles can be expensive to maintain and repair, the brand tends to do well in our reliability rankings. Porsche’s rich history and prestige adds to the appeal. Even today, the name Porsche brings to mind the rear-engine 911, which rightfully remains a dream sports car for generations of enthusiasts. For less money, the mid-engined 718 Boxster roadster and Cayman coupe offer some of the most superb driving experiences possible.

The redesigned Cayenne shares basic components with most of new Audi models and brings new infotainment and driving assistant systems with new connected technology based on cloud computing. The Cayenne is a substantial luxury SUV that drives almost like a sports car. Few SUVs can match it when it comes to handling agility. It can be driven with gusto on winding roads. But the ride has an underlying firmness and some jolts come through. With the base 3.0-liter V6 turbo, acceleration is robust once on the fly but the Cayenne exhibits some initial hesitation off the line and the rough engine stop/start feature undermines smoothness. The infotainment system and other controls are tricky to use. Interior fit and finish is impeccable, however. The seats are very comfortable and supportive. While forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard, blind spot warning is optional. Higher performance versions and a plug-in hybrid are also available.