A 3.2-liter VR6 initially powered the base Cayenne, but with 247 hp, it was disappointingly underpowered for this kind of vehicle. This engine also had to work hard to move the Cayenne’s body, so was barely more efficient than the V8. For these reasons, it’s one of the few Cayenne powertrains we’d avoid.
A larger 3.6-liter VR6 followed in later years with 296 hp – we spotted a 2011 Cayenne with the 3.6-liter VR6 and a six-speed manual that sold for under $19,000 late last year, which is a lot of car for the money. The VR6s can last for thousands of miles by following a good maintenance schedule.
Much better turbocharged V6 engines were introduced with the third-gen Cayenne, and these units were much more in keeping with the rest of the SUV’s attributes.
The naturally aspirated V8 in the earlier Cayenne S models can last a long time with proper maintenance. There were also diesels for greater efficiency, while the hybrids mostly delivered better performance, not exceptional gas mileage.
