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2024 Porsche Cayenne vs Audi Q8: What To Buy?
Drawing on its extensive sports car legacy. Porsche instils a captivating driving experience in its vehicles, even in SUVs like the Cayenne. Despite its mid-size classification, the Cayenne exhibits agility in corners and boasts quick acceleration. Particularly with its high-performance powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid and twin-turbo V8. Beyond performance, Porsche’s largest SUV maintains a luxurious feel with a refined ride, a quiet cabin, and advanced tech features, balancing athleticism and practicality. In contrast, the two-row Audi Q8, a sleeker variant of the Q7, shares the same robust foundation but at a higher starting price. The Q8 delivers a harmonious blend of comfort and performance with a turbocharged V6 engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD, prioritizing a plush interior and cutting-edge technology.
| Porsche Cayenne | Audi Q8 | |
| Dimensions | 194.1 in x 78.1 in x 65.2–66.1 in | 196.3 in x 78.5 in x 67.1 in |
| Engine | 3.0L turbocharged V6 + AC motor | 3.0L turbocharged V6 |
| Horsepower | 512 hp | 335 hp |
| Torque | 553 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.9–4.0 sec | 5.3 sec |
| 0-100 MPH | 10.4–10.5 sec | 14.3 sec |
| Top-Speed | 163 mph | 130 mph |
Porsche Cayenne
Engine & Performance
Porsche gives you a bunch of choices for the Cayenne, starting with a turbocharged 3.0L V6 that has 348 hp. If you’re into saving some gas, there’s a plug-in hybrid version called the E-Hybrid. It brings together an electric motor and a turbocharged V6, giving you a total of 463 hp. The Cayenne S steps it up with a 468-hp twin-turbo V8 that sounds awesome and accelerates like a champ. If you want a bit of both worlds, there’s the S E-Hybrid, using a turbocharged 3.0L V6 and an electric motor for 512 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. We might also get a super-powerful GTS model, but Porsche hasn’t officially confirmed that. No matter which engine you pick, they all work with a smart eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
Price & Mileage
The Porsche Cayenne starts at $80,850 for the regular Cayenne and can go up to $100,750 for the Cayenne S E-Hybrid. We like the basic Cayenne, which already comes with cool stuff like a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10-speaker stereo, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, among other popular features. If we were to choose, we’d add some thoughtful extras to make it even better. According to the EPA, the standard Cayenne should give you around 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. The S model with the V8 engine gets about 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
Acceleration & Features
The Cayenne Turbo GT rockets to 60 mph in an incredible 2.8 seconds, and it covers the quarter-mile in just 11.2 seconds at 121 mph. Activate the launch-control system in the Sport or Sport Plus drive modes, and the Cayenne E-Hybrid hits 60 mph in a quick 4.2 seconds. A time matched by the Cayenne S and 0.7 seconds faster than a 2019 Cayenne. Inside, the Cayenne treats the driver and front passenger to a lineup of digital displays stretching across the entire dashboard. The central stage belongs to a 12.3-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. On the right, there’s a secondary 10.9-inch display for the front passenger. The driver gets a separate 12.6-inch screen behind the steering wheel. Showing vehicle speed, the tachometer, a trip computer, and other functions.
Audi Q8
Engine & Performance
Audi equips every Q8 with a turbocharged 3.0L V6, delivering 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro AWD. The vehicle features a 48-volt hybrid-assist system, which smoothens stop-start operation, providing a quiet and seamless experience. Although the Audi Q8 exhibits ample power for highway passing. It tends to feel a bit hesitant in city driving unless the gas pedal is pressed firmly. The transmission generally responds well. The best cooperation between the engine and transmission was observed in Dynamic mode, eliciting snappier responses. However, some drivers may wish for a more robust and engaging sound from the engine and exhaust.
Price & Mileage
The Audi Q8 has a starting price of $74,895 for the Premium trim, and it goes up to $82,995 for the Prestige. If we were picking, we’d go for the Audi Q8 Premium trim and add some select options to make it even better. While the EPA hasn’t released estimates for the updated Q8. The previous year’s model had somewhat average EPA estimates lower than some other AWD competitors. The government estimated that the 2023 Q8 is capable of 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
Acceleration & Features
Despite the additional weight from the hybrid system, the Q8 manages to outpace the Q7 on the track. The standard AWD, featuring a default 60 per cent rear torque bias, allows the Q8 to excel in a 5.3-sec 0-60-mph sprint. Inside, the Q8 showcases a modern infotainment system with two vibrant touchscreens seamlessly integrated into the dashboard and centre console. However, responsive voice commands and convenient steering-wheel controls offer alternative operation methods. Standard features include a Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Optional extras encompass wireless charging and two Bang & Olufsen audio systems. The standard digital gauge cluster, known as Virtual Cockpit, stands out with configurable settings and excellent navigation.