2025 Porsche Cayenne V8

Is the 2025 Porsche Cayenne V8 a Good SUV?

"Any Cayenne with a V8 belongs in this conversation, but the GTS is the one that's most likely to be called out as high-performance. It joins the fray for 2025 with 493 horsepower and some sporty suspension bits borrowed from the exclusive Cayenne Coupe Turbo GT. It's not the fastest Cayenne, however; that honor belongs to the Turbo E-Hybrid, a 729-hp behemoth that's said to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, nearly a full second quicker than the GTS. Across the Cayenne V8 lineup, you'll find a consistent excellence in refinement, build quality and tech integration that makes Porsche's asking prices seem almost reasonable."—Ranked #1 out of 4 Midsize High-Performance SUVs

Which 2025 Porsche Cayenne V8 Should I Buy?

MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Porsche Cayenne V8 that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.

1. 2025 Porsche Cayenne S (4.0T AWD)

• Base Price: $101,600
• MPG Combined: 17
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 4.0-liter V8
• Aspiration: Turbocharged
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Horsepower: 468 
• Torque: 442 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 4.7 sec
• Weight: 4,874 lbs
• Length: 194.1 in
• Towing Capacity: 7,716 lbs

Now here's a Cayenne we can get behind. The V8 in the Cayenne S is back and better than ever, laying down serious turbocharged power with a righteous soundtrack. The base Cayenne is no slouch these days with its turbocharged V6, but we'd have to have the V8. It transforms the character of the Cayenne, as V8s are wont to do.

2. 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS (4.0T AWD)

• Base Price: $124,900
• MPG Combined: 18
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 4.0-liter V8
• Aspiration: Turbocharged
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Horsepower: 493 
• Torque: 486 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 4.4 sec
• Weight: 4,956 lbs
• Length: 194.1 in
• Towing Capacity: 7,716 lbs

A key question for Cayenne V8 shoppers will be: Should I get the S or the GTS? Our answer is that sometimes mystique drives interest in certain Porsche models more than objective merit, and the Cayenne GTS may fall into that category. It has less sound insulation than the S, for one thing, which strikes us as particularly undesirable in a six-figure luxury SUV — yet it weighs more anyway. The two models share Porsche's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8; the GTS just gets a different tune that adds a modest 25 horsepower. Sure, the GTS comes standard with some sport-tuned suspension features that can't be had on the S, but if you want a four-door that really handles, why not consider the Panamera GTS? The Cayenne S, to us, is the ultimate Porsche SUV for discerning buyers. But if you think the S doesn't have enough flash for the cash, we can understand the appeal of the more extroverted GTS.

3. 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid (4.0T PHEV AWD)

• Base Price: $157,000
• MPG Combined: N/A
• EV Range: 20 mi (est.)
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 4.0-liter V8
• Aspiration: Turbocharged
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic
• Horsepower: 729 
• Torque: 700 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 3.5 sec
• Weight: 5,664 lbs
• Length: 194.1 in
• Towing Capacity: 6,614 lbs

The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid certainly delivers the thrills when you put your right foot down. A delectable turbocharged V8 paired with a powerful electric motor will do that for you. Here's the thing, though: It is, without exaggeration, half again as expensive as the non-hybrid Cayenne S, which shares that excellent V8 and is seriously fast in its own right. Why pay $50k more for the Turbo E-Hybrid, especially given that its electric range is expected to top out under 30 miles? We don't see a strong argument here.