The Cayenne has long been the most performance-oriented of the luxury SUVs; but it continues to impress in somewhat unexpected areas—like interior spaciousness and versatility, and actual ruggedness and capability.
The Range Rover Sport has a mix of on-road performance and off-road ability similar to the Cayenne's, and its recent redesign shed pounds and added new performance computer systems; a new SVR trim goes after the hottest sporty SUVs.
And for a very capable alternative, check out the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT; it has performance that rivals that of the Cayenne Turbo, at a much lower price.
Infiniti's road-focused crossover, formerly the FX, is now called QX70; it continues to offer strong V-6 and V-8 powertrains in an attractive body but it doesn't come close to the Porsche's level of available performance assistants and equipment.
The Audi Q7 is a natural alternative to the Porsche Cayenne, as it's based on the same platform but is more spacious inside, with an available third-row seat, a different range of engines, and its own take on luxury and style.
Its supercharged V-6 engine also emerges as stronger in many respects compared to the Cayenne's base V-6.
BMW's X5 was new for 2014 and has since added a new version of the X5 M, which gives the Cayenne Turbo some good competition.
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 2016 Porsche CayenneBrowse Used Listings |  2016 BMW X5Browse Used Listings |  2016 INFINITI QX70Browse Used Listings |  2016 Jeep Grand CherokeeBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Land Rover Range Rover SportBrowse Used Listings |
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The 2016 Porsche Cayenne offers more than enough on-the-road (or on-the-track) performance to satisfy enthusiast cravings, and it's likely to surprise and delight with its versatility and ruggedness. |
The benchmark of mid-size luxury SUVs, the 2016 BMW X5 offers handsome looks, a choice of powertrains, an abundance of tech features, sporty on-road dynamics, and even some off-road capability. |
Though aging, the 2016 Infiniti QX70 still offers an appealing mix of sporty dynamics, coupe-like looks, and luxurious appointments. |
The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a lot more than first appearances might suggest: a true luxury vehicle, a capable off-roader, and a fuel-efficient diesel highway hauler—potentially all in the same build. |
The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport adds two new dimensions to its performance profile: a turbodiesel V-6 and a supercharged HST edition. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $58,300 | $54,700 | $45,850 | $29,995 | $64,950 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 14 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy | 13 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Premium Unleaded V-6 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-6 | Premium Unleaded V-6 | Regular Unleaded V-6 | Intercooled Supercharger Premium Unleaded V-6 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| N/A | Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD |
| Style Name | ||||
| AWD 4-Door | RWD 4-Door sDrive35i | RWD 4-Door | RWD 4-Door 75th Anniversary | 4WD 4-Door V6 SE |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Four Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Sport Utility | Sports Activity Vehicle | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2016 Porsche Cayenne vs. 2016 BMW X5 | 2016 Porsche Cayenne vs. 2016 INFINITI QX70 | 2016 Porsche Cayenne vs. 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2016 Porsche Cayenne vs. 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport | |
