2015 Porsche Cayenne review
Porsche Cayenne highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- A favorite choice for driving fun
- New, more powerful engines also bring improved economy
Cons
- Plug-in hybrid only has 14 miles of all-electric propulsion
- Less passenger and luggage space than rivals
Mileage (EPA estimate)
14 city, 21 highway, 17 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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Sporty and capable, the Porsche Cayenne is invigorated for 2015
In the year Porsche introduced its smaller Macan, it didn’t let the newcomer take all the attention from the Cayenne. Instead, Porsche updated the Cayenne to improve its performance, economy, and equipment, as well as freshen up its styling inside and out. The V8 of the Cayenne S has been replaced by a turbocharged V6, its power rated at 420 hp. The Turbo gains 20 hp for 520 hp from its turbocharged 4.8-liter V8, Porsche shelving both the GTS and Turbo S Cayennes until 2016.
The new-for-2015 plug-in S E-Hybrid enables somewhat limited, battery-only propulsion. Like the entire Cayenne range, the plug-in model gets freshened exterior styling to sharpen its looks, while Porsche has busied itself tweaking the Cayenne’s dynamics to retain its position as the best-driving SUV on the market. There are a dizzying choice of options, none of which are cheap, but not even the comparatively small interior and luggage space seem to deter customers from buying Porsche’s biggest SUV.
All Porsche Cayenne years
What is new for the 2015 Porsche Cayenne?
- The Base, Diesel Platinum, GTS, Platinum, and Turbo S trims have been discontinued for 2015.
- Cayenne trims have been upgraded with Leatherette Seats, Heated Steering Wheel, and Navigation System as standard equipment this year.
- Full Leather Interior features are now available as options on select trims.
- The S trim now comes with Parking Sensors and Turbo Charged Engine as standard equipment.
2015 Porsche Cayenne trims
Diesel
Includes dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic wipers, heated mirrors, power tailgate, rear privacy glass, partial leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, cooled glovebox, and more.
S
Adds 19-inch wheels, sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, driver memory settings, and more.
S E-Hybrid
Adds adaptive suspension dampers, 3.6-kW onboard charger (7.2-kW charger is available), energy management display in the instrument cluster, and more.
Turbo
Unlocks full leather interior with 18-way adaptive sport seats, adjustable air suspension, simulated suede roof liner, 14-speaker Bose® surround-sound audio system with satellite radio, and more.
5 reasons to buy the 2015 Porsche Cayenne
1. Standard all-wheel drive
If you want more capability during rough weather or on your favorite back roads, you'll love the fact that all 2015 Cayenne models come standard with all-wheel drive. You'll get standard antilock brakes, stability, and traction control, as well as optional air suspension. The Cayenne was engineered for extra grip through the corners, so it can even do some light off-roading. It's nice to have peace of mind on the road, and the Cayenne delivers.
2. Sports car performance
Even though the 2015 Cayenne's diesel engine only has 240 horsepower, it's pushing a walloping 406 lb-ft. of torque. Jump up to the S E-Hybrid or Cayenne S and you'll get 416 horsepower or 420 horsepower, respectively. But wait, there's more—the impressive Cayenne Turbo has a big 4.8L turbocharged V8 engine pumping out 520 horsepower! This SUV can definitely help you on the on-ramp or while passing on the highway.
3. Tons of standard equipment
The 2015 Porsche Cayenne takes car ownership to the next level. In addition to standard partial leather upholstery on every trim, you get adjustable driver and front passenger seats, as well as manually sliding and reclining rear seats. Full leather upholstery and power seats are also available, so you'll be comfortable in any Cayenne you choose.
4. Lots of color options
The 2015 Cayenne has 12 unique exterior paint color options and a combination of more than 10 interior colors to choose from. That means you won't be likely to pull up at a stoplight and see the exact same 2015 Cayenne. With a mix of solid, metallic, and special edition colors, it's not hard to find a Cayenne that will look great in your driveway.
5. Space for people and gear
The Cayenne seats five across two rows of seating, which means you can take four of your closest family or friends out on the ultimate adventure. Most trims of the 2015 Cayenne have 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place; with the seats folded down, capacity increases to 62.9 cubic feet. So even if you don't have a car full of passengers, the Cayenne can still take you on trips to the home improvement store.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The BMW X5 brings exciting handling and driving dynamics to crossovers. Available options for the fourth-generation BMW X5 (2019-present) include four-wheel steering and adjustable air suspension. One center 12.3-inch infotainment display isn't enough for the 2019 BMW X5, so you'll get another equally large screen just for driver information.
As an SUV wanting to be a sports sedan, the base 2020 BMW X5 sDrive40i has rear-wheel drive, while higher trims have AWD as standard. The 2020 BMW X5 M50i packs a turbo 4.4L V8 engine under the hood, complete with 523 horsepower. You'll love the X5 for its sharp steering, powerful engine punch, and sophisticated interior design.
The 2019 BMW X5 sDrive40i includes:
12-way power, heated front seats
19-inch V-spoke wheels
First- and second-row power sunroofs
Power folding heated side mirrors
If you're looking for a rugged, family-friendly SUV, check out the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 2017-2021 Grand Cherokee is available in a two-row design and is powered by a standard 295-hp 3.5L V6 engine. Want more seating? The Grand Cherokee L three-row model was launched for 2021.
The Grand Cherokee has a diverse set of trims and engine options, including a 240-hp turbodiesel engine, a performance-focused SRT powered by a 475-hp V8 (2015+), and a 707-hp supercharged V8 Trackhawk (2018+).
Standard features on the base 2017-2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo include:
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (2018+)
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
17-inch aluminum wheels
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a luxury SUV that delivers a smooth ride and premium materials in a spacious vehicle. The 2017-2019 GLE is powered by a standard 302-hp V6 (329-hp for 2019) and features optional all-wheel drive. Two twin-turbo V6 engine options are available, with one featuring additional power via an electric motor. AMG performance trims are also available for 2017-2019, with twin turbocharged V6 and V8 engine options.
In 2020, Mercedes updated the GLE for its fourth generation with a new 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower. A 3.0L turbo V6 and a 4.0L turbo V8 also entered the revised lineup, both with a mild hybrid system and 362 hp and 483 hp, respectively.
Standard features on 2017-2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class models include:
Premium vinyl upholstery
LED daytime running lights and taillights
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Eight-inch display (12.3-inch touchscreen for 2020+)
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Porsche Cayenne an overall reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Average. This rating ranks Porsche Cayenne 25th out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Porsche CayennePorsche Cayenne features and specs
S 4WD/AWD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- 4WD/AWD
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
- Cruise Control
- Leather Seats
- Leatherette Seats
- Memory Seat(s)
- Navigation System
- Overhead Airbags
- Parking Sensors
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Air Conditioning
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels
- A/C Seat(s)
- Automated Cruise Control
- Bluetooth Technology
- BOSE Sound System
- Burmester Audio
- CD Audio
- Front Seat Heaters
- Full Leather Interior
- Full Roof Rack
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leather Seats
- Memory Seat(s)
- Navigation System
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Parking Sensors
- Rear Air Conditioning
- Rear Entertainment System
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Sunroof(s)
Drive Wheels
All Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)
Engine size
3.6L
Horsepower
420
Torque (ft-lbs)
406
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
26.4
Wheelbase
114"
Overall length
191.1"
Width
78.7"
Height
67.4"
Head room
F 39.6"
Front tires
P265/50VR19
Rear tires
P265/50VR19
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
772/7716 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2015 Porsche Cayenne FAQ
No, Apple CarPlay connectivity was not added until the 2017 model year, and Android Auto connectivity is not available on the Cayenne as of the 2021 model year.
Yes, there are two rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware on the 2015 Porsche Cayenne.
The 2015 Cayenne is available in four trims: Diesel, S, S E-Hybrid, and Turbo.
Yes, a rear camera is an optional extra as part of the Premium Package on the 2015 Cayenne.
More about the 2015 Porsche Cayenne
Exterior colors:
Black
Carmine Red
Carrara White Metallic
Jet Black Metallic
Mahogany Metallic
Meteor Gray Metallic
Moonlight Blue Metallic
Palladium Metallic
Peridot Metallic
Rhodium Silver Metallic
Umber Metallic
White
Interior colors:
Agate Gray
Black
Carrera Red
Cream/Saddle Brown Two-Tone
Espresso
Espresso/Cognac Two-Tone
Luxor Beige
Luxor Beige/Black Two-Tone
Luxor Beige/Saddle Brown Two-Tone
Saddle Brown
Saddle Brown/Black Two-Tone
Interior details
The 2015 Porsche Cayenne features standard partial leather upholstery, manually adjustable driver and front passenger seats, and manually sliding and reclining rear seats with 40/20/40 split-folding backs. Full leather upholstery and power seats are available. Most trims of the 2015 Cayenne have 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place. With the seats folded down, capacity increases to 62.9 cubic feet.
Child seat details
The Cayenne has two full sets of LATCH connectors for securing child car seats. Its child seat accessibility was not rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Performance
All engine options of the 2015 Porsche Cayenne are paired with an eight-speed shiftable automatic transmission. The 3.0L diesel engine propels the 2015 Cayenne from zero to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, while the S E-Hybrid does the sprint in 5.4 seconds (according to the manufacturer, when new). The performance-oriented S trim has a 5.2-second trip to 60 mph, while the Turbo trim gets a sports-car-like 4.2-second zero-to-60 time (according to the manufacturer, when new). All-wheel drive is standard on all trims. The 2015 Cayenne starts at an EPA-estimated 20/29 mpg city/highway.
Emissions
According to EPA estimates, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne's tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions range from 260 to 536 grams per mile, depending on the engine and drivetrain:
3.0L plug-in hybrid V6 engine (AWD) - 260 grams per mile
3.0L diesel V6 engine (AWD) - 445 grams per mile
3.6L supercharged V6 engine (AWD) - 461 grams per mile
4.8L turbocharged V8 engine (AWD) - 536 grams per mile
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