Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 Audi e-tron

Both the Cayenne and the e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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 20 points higher than the e-tron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the e-tron:

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the Audi e-tron (base engine):

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 453 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The e-tron’s range is only 181 to 226 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 30 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 10 hours and 30 minutes.

For better stopping power the Cayenne CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the e-tron:

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 e-tron 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 e-tron doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the e-tron:

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the e-tron (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 265/45R21).

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 e-tron’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne offers optional 22-inch wheels. The e-tron’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Cayenne has a standard space-saver spare (not available on E-Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the e-tron; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 e-tron 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 e-tron.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the e-tron Chronos Edition pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the e-tron Chronos Edition (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 4.9 feet tighter than the e-tron’s (35.1 feet vs. 40 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the e-tron’s (39.8 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Porsche Cayenne may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1200 pounds less than the Audi e-tron.

The Cayenne has .9 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear legroom than the e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Cayenne’s rear seats recline. The e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Cayenne has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the e-tron with its rear seat folded (60.3 vs. 56.4 cubic feet).

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the e-tron’s (7700 vs. 0 pounds).

Standard trailer sway control 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 e-tron 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 third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Consumer Reports rated the Cayenne’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the e-tron’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The e-tron doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The e-tron 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 e-tron doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Cayenne will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Cayenne will retain 47.75% to 53.12% of its original price after five years, while the e-tron only retains 45.77% to 45.79%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Audi e-tron isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The e-tron isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the Audi e-tron by 15% during 2022.