Porsche Cayenne 3.0: Overview, Winter Driving and Buying Tips

Porsche Cayenne: what this car really is

The Porsche Cayenne is a large, fast family car that tries to be a sports car and an everyday SUV at the same time. The third generation, presented in Stuttgart in August 2017, was built on an aluminium-rich body structure and is therefore lighter than many of its rivals - and that is exactly what gives it a lightness on the road you rarely meet in this size class. The car we have for sale is a white 2020 Cayenne Coupe with the Sport Chrono package, a 3.0-litre petrol engine producing 250 kW, an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, with five seats and five doors.

This generation's engine range ran from the 3.0 V6 up to the 4.0 twin-turbo V8, with a plug-in hybrid alongside; no diesel version was offered. The motoring press has repeatedly pointed out that the so-called entry-level V6 never feels like the cheap option - it is a smooth, muscular engine that suits a long-distance driver particularly well. The whole generation used the eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic and all-wheel drive.

Who the Porsche Cayenne suits

The Cayenne is a five-seater, not a seven-seater - if you need a third row, you will have to look elsewhere. What it is, though, is one of the most comfortable long-distance cars in its class: composed suspension, a roomy and luxurious cabin, and enough power to overtake without planning it in advance.

• Suits drivers who cover a lot of highway miles and value a quiet, planted feel.
• Suits a family that is happy with five seats and needs a proper boot.
• Suits a business owner who wants a representative car that does not go unnoticed.
• Does not suit anyone looking for cheap running costs - repair bills in this class are above average.

Equipment and interior

The equipment list on our Cayenne is long and substantial. Inside there are leather seats in a deep red shade, carbon fibre trim, sports seats and a sports steering wheel, electrically adjustable front seats with memory, seat heating and a heated steering wheel. Four-zone climate control and double glazing keep the cabin climate and noise levels under control. Entertainment comes from a BOSE sound system with subwoofer, plus Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation and wireless phone charging.

Safety and driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and lane change assist, blind spot warning, collision mitigation braking, traffic sign recognition and front and rear parking sensors with a 360-degree camera. The exterior is finished off with matrix LED lights, a glass panoramic roof with switchable transparency, a spoiler kit, sports suspension and 22-inch RS Spyder Design alloy wheels. The car is currently on non-studded winter tyres.

The Porsche Cayenne in an Estonian winter

All-wheel drive combined with proper winter tyres is what makes the Cayenne work in winter. The consistent view on owner forums is that the car behaves calmly and predictably in snow precisely when it is on genuine winter rubber - one owner of this generation described an unexpected rear-end slide that happened on all-season tyres, and on sheet ice nothing short of studs really helps. Low-profile tyres on big wheels also demand more attention to potholes.

Porsche dealers' winter advice is simple and applies to any car like this: have the battery checked before the cold arrives, look after the coolant and winter screenwash, and keep an eye on tyre pressures, which drop in low temperatures. The car has a tyre pressure monitoring system that will flag it. Exactly how this engine starts on a very cold morning and how quickly the cabin warms through is not something public sources confirm reliably - that is worth feeling out for yourself on a test drive.

What to check on a used Cayenne

This generation is a solid car overall, but a few themes come up repeatedly.

• Infotainment: on 2019-2021 cars there have been complaints about PCM slowness, freezing and Bluetooth glitches; later software improved matters, so ask about software updates.
• Air suspension: the optional system has shown overnight sagging on one corner and fault messages. Our car has sports suspension, but if you are buying an air-sprung example, check the ride height.
• For the 2020 model year, US complaint statistics are topped by brakes, followed by electrical issues and the drivetrain; occasional 360-degree camera faults are also listed.
• Recalls: the 2020 model year saw a recall over a faulty weld on a gearbox oil line. Have the VIN checked to confirm all work has been carried out.
• More generally, squeaking brakes, gearbox "jerkiness" and cooling system leaks have been mentioned - none of these should be put off.
• Service schedule: from 2019, annual servicing, an intermediate service every two years and a major service every four. Budget separately for tyres and brakes.

The Porsche Cayenne from Autosky Rent

This particular white Porsche Cayenne is for sale and is located in Tallinn - you can come and view it and take a test drive at an agreed time. Alongside outright sales we also take cars on consignment, and our partner network gives customers better terms on servicing, tyre work, car washing and fuel, which you notice day to day with a car of this class.

If you would rather not own the car outright, Autosky Rent's core service is full-service long-term rental. Depending on the package, the monthly payment covers motor insurance and comprehensive insurance including superkasko, servicing and repairs for normal wear, summer and winter tyres with seasonal changes and storage, a replacement car when needed, 24h roadside assistance across Europe through the insurance partner, handling of insurance claims, and Autosky Rent's 24/7 customer support. That gives you one predictable monthly cost without unexpected bills. Full-service rental suits private and business customers alike - get in touch and we will talk through whether buying or renting makes more sense for you.