Compare the2022 Porsche CayenneVS 2022 Audi A6 Allroad

Both the Cayenne and the A6 Allroad have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available night vision systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Cayenne’s reliability 13 points higher than the A6 Allroad.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche 15th in initial quality. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 5 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The Cayenne S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 99 more horsepower (434 vs. 335) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cayenne GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 118 more horsepower (453 vs. 335) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 369) than the A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (455 vs. 335) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 369) than the A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 335 more horsepower (670 vs. 335) and 294 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 369) than the A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the Audi A6 Allroad:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running on electricity gets better mileage than the A6 Allroad:

The Cayenne E-Hybrid can drive on battery power alone for up to 17 miles. The A6 Allroad must run its internal combustion engine to move.

The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the A6 Allroad (23.7 vs. 19.3 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Porsche Cayenne, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6 Allroad.

For better stopping power the Cayenne CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A6 Allroad:

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the A6 Allroad:

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the A6 Allroad (F:255/55R19 & R:275/50R19 vs. 245/45R20). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A6 Allroad (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 245/45R20).

The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A6 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne offers optional 22-inch wheels. The A6 Allroad’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the A6 Allroad.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A6 Allroad.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the A6 Allroad Prestige pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.6 seconds quicker than the A6 Allroad Prestige (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the A6 Allroad Prestige w/All-Wheel Steering’s (35.1 feet vs. 36.4 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the A6 Allroad’s (39.8 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A6 Allroad Premium Plus (8.2 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the A6 Allroad Prestige (9.6 vs. 7.3 inches).

The front grille of the Cayenne uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and 2.9 inches more rear legroom than the A6 Allroad.

A trailer sway program standard on the Cayenne, uses the Porsche Stability Management sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in service department satisfaction. With a 37% lower rating, Audi is ranked 12th.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The A6 Allroad has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Cayenne offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The A6 Allroad’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Porsche Cayenne and the Audi A6 Allroad, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by 90% during the 2021 model year.