Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 Jeep Wrangler

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Porsche Cayenne has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Wrangler doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Cayenne has standard front and rear seat side-impact airbags and head airbags, which act as a forgiving barrier between the passengers and the door. Combined with high-strength steel door beams this system increases protection from broadside collisions. The Wrangler doesn't offer rear-seat side-impact airbags, only ones for front seat occupants.

The Cayenne has a standard Multi-collision Brake System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Cayenne’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Cayenne offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Wrangler only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Cayenne uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Wrangler uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Cayenne and the Wrangler have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The Cayenne comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Wrangler’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Cayenne’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Wrangler’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Cayenne have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 6.4 V8 in the Wrangler.

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 26 points higher than the Wrangler.

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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the Wrangler:

	Horsepower	Torque
Cayenne 3.0 turbo V6	335 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne S 2.9 turbo V6	434 HP	405 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne GTS 4.0 turbo V8	453 HP	457 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid	455 HP	516 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne Turbo 4.0 turbo V8	541 HP	567 lbs.-ft.
Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	670 HP	663 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	270 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler 3.6 DOHC V6	285 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler 4Xe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler Rubicon 392 6.4 V8	470 HP	470 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the Jeep Wrangler turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Cayenne	Wrangler
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.7 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100.7 MPH	82.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Wrangler 4-door running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Cayenne
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	20 city/22 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/22 hwy
		2.9 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	17 city/20 hwy
		GTS 4.0 turbo V8	15 city/19 hwy
		Turbo 4.0 turbo V8	14 city/19 hwy
Wrangler 4-door
AWD	Manual	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/23 hwy
AWD	Auto	6.4 OHV V8	13 city/17 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/20 hwy

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Cayenne’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Jeep only offers a regenerative brake system on the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/3.6 eTorque/4Xe.

Regardless of its engine, the Cayenne’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Wrangler 4Xe/2-door’s standard fuel tank (19.8 vs. 17.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Wrangler EcoDiesel’s standard fuel tank (19.8 vs. 18.3 gallons). The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank (23.7 vs. 21.5 gallons).

Transmission

The Porsche Cayenne comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Wrangler.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Cayenne E-Hybrid	Cayenne CCB	Wrangler
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	17.3 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	14.1 inches	16.1 inches	12.9 inches
Opt Rear Rotors			14 inches

The Cayenne’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Wrangler 4x4 Sport are solid, not vented.

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 Wrangler 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 Wrangler doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the Wrangler:

	Cayenne	Wrangler
60 to 0 MPH	100 feet	150 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the Wrangler (F:255/55R19 & R:275/50R19 vs. 245/75R17).

The Cayenne’s standard 255/55R19 front and 275/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Wrangler Sport’s standard 75 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Wrangler Sahara 4Xe’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Wrangler Sport. The Cayenne’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Wrangler Sahara 4Xe.

Suspension and Handling

The Porsche Cayenne’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Wrangler’s solid front axle, which allows the Cayenne’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For superior ride and handling, the Porsche Cayenne has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Jeep Wrangler has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

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

The Cayenne offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Wrangler’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Cayenne’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Cayenne has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Wrangler.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the Wrangler.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the Wrangler Sahara 4-door pulls only .64 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 6 seconds quicker than the Wrangler Rubicon 4-door (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 29.9 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

The Cayenne is 8 inches shorter in height than the Wrangler, making the Cayenne much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the Cayenne’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Wrangler uses body-on-frame design instead.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Cayenne has standard flush composite headlights. The Wrangler has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

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 Wrangler doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Cayenne is quieter than the Wrangler Sport 4-door:

	Cayenne	Wrangler
At idle	40 dB	41 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

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

The front step up height for the Cayenne is 8.3 inches lower than the Wrangler 4-door (16.75” vs. 25”). The Cayenne’s rear step up height is 9.8 inches lower than the Wrangler 4-door’s (16” vs. 25.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Cayenne’s cargo area is larger than the Wrangler’s in almost every dimension:

	Cayenne	Wrangler
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.6”/74.9”	37”/65.8”
Max Width	42”	42”
Min Width	42”	39.5”
Height	30.4”	30”

The Cayenne’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Wrangler 2-door’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Cayenne’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Wrangler’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Cayenne has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Payload and Towing

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Wrangler’s (7700 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Cayenne has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Wrangler (1657 vs. 1351 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The Cayenne uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Wrangler uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 45% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Cayenne, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat (memory seat optional for the front passenger), steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Cayenne’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Wrangler doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Cayenne offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Cayenne’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The Wrangler has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Cayenne’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Wrangler.

The Cayenne’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Wrangler’s optional power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its front windows open automatically.

The Cayenne’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Wrangler’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

The Cayenne’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Wrangler.

The Cayenne has a standard locking fuel and charge port door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

The Cayenne’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Wrangler’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Cayenne’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Wrangler’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Cayenne offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Wrangler doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Wrangler has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Sport S/Sahara/Rubicon.

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 Wrangler 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 Wrangler doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Cayenne has standard power remote mirrors. The Wrangler only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Cayenne’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Jeep charges extra for heated mirrors on the Wrangler.

When the Cayenne with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Wrangler’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Cayenne’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Wrangler offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Cayenne and the Wrangler offer available heated front seats. The Cayenne also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Wrangler.

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

The Cayenne offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Wrangler.

The Cayenne has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Wrangler and isn’t available on the Wrangler Sport.

The Cayenne’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Wrangler Sport doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Both the Cayenne and the Wrangler offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Cayenne has available rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Wrangler doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Porsche Cayenne offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Wrangler doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 Wrangler doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Wrangler 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 Wrangler isn’t in the top three.