A decade ago, the Porsche Macan arrived as the smaller sibling of the well-established Cayenne, broadening Porsche’s range of family-friendly models.
For shoppers undecided between one Porsche SUV or the other, there’s some interesting overlap between the price of a new Macan and a nearly-new Cayenne. In the case of the 2024 Macan, it’s priced from $65,200 and comes with standard all-wheel drive and 261 hp to play with. Meanwhile, the Macan T starts at $70,600 – and makes the same 261 hp – while V6 power enters the picture with the $78,500 Macan S. Finally, the 434-hp Macan GTS represents an enormous leap to $93,400 before options, extras, and taxes.
For the purpose of this story, we’re going to use a hypothetical spending limit of $80,000 as our guideline. With that in mind, we’ve also summarized some important implications to keep in mind if you’re cross-shopping these two sport utilities.
The New Porsche Macan for $80,000
If you’ve got $80,000 to spend before taxes and fees, you could consider a nicely equipped Macan T with a few upgrades, or an entry-spec Macan S with 375 hp, but not much left for accessories. The latter delivers plenty of bang for the buck, with a ride that’s both agile and forgiving.
The Used Porsche Cayenne for $80,000
For the same $80,000, you might be wondering what kind of used Cayenne is available instead. Depreciation being what it is, a lightly used example presents an opportunity to access a bigger and more capable offering from this brand.
For $80,000 or less, look for a two- to four-year-old Cayenne with some remaining factory warranty, while a certified pre-owned (CPO) purchase could add even more to that. Here’s some more information on extended warranty coverage. Models like the Cayenne S tend to fall well within our imaginary price limit at a few years old, though you’ll find higher-performing GTS models from earlier in this Cayenne’s generation in our budget, too.
Lifecycles and Platforms
The Porsche Macan is currently in its 10th year of production of the first-generation machine. The 2024 Macan benefits from a raft of year-over-year updates and refreshes applied since its original release back in 2014, and the model continues to be built in Leipzig, Germany.
The current Cayenne is in the seventh year of its third generation on sale. This third and latest generation of the Cayenne was launched for the 2018 model year and offers both conventional and sportback body configurations. The Cayenne is built in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Performance and Fuel Costs
The 2024 Porsche Macan’s standard engine is a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 261 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Macan models with this engine have a combined fuel economy rating of 11.0 L/100 km. With a twin-turbocharged 2.9L V6, the more powerful Macan S – as well as the GTS – has a combined fuel economy rating of 12.2 L/100 km. Both engines require premium-grade gas.
Around our $80,000 price range, a used Cayenne will come with either a V6 or V8, both of them turbocharged. With the former, look for horsepower in the mid-300s and fuel economy around 11.5L/100 km. With the Cayenne GTS’s twin-turbo V8, fuel consumption increases to 14.2 L/100 km.
Size and Dimensions
The Porsche Macan is 4,727 mm (186.2 in) long, or 190 mm (7.5 in) shorter than the Porsche Cayenne. The Macan is also slightly more narrow, while its wheelbase is 89 mm (3.5 in) shorter than the Cayenne’s, which comes in at 2,896 mm (114 in).
With all seats upright, the Macan has 488 L of cargo capacity compared to 772 L in the Cayenne. With the second row folded, the Macan offers 1,503 L of space, while the Cayenne has 1,707 L.
The Macan has a towing capacity of 2,000 kg (4,409 lb), with the Cayenne offering 3,500 kg (7,716 lb).
Making a Decision
If you’ve poured over this analysis a few times and haven’t yet come to a conclusion, consider your driving style as a potential deciding factor. The Cayenne shines more as a comfortable and relaxing all-surface cruiser that’s particularly great for long-distance driving, while the Macan’s smaller, livelier feel connects more directly with the road below. Ultimately, the Macan and Cayenne are separated by much more than their size and specs, and each has a distinctive character to call their own.
You may also like
