While the 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman is beginning to draw much of the attention from the sports car set, those set on the luxury SUV market can keep their focus on another Porsche offering that continues to thrill the SUV set while maintaining its value. The 2020 Porsche Cayenne is still a top-rated luxury SUV, ranking number one atop Consumer Reports Top Five Luxury SUVs.

To impress in the luxury SUV market requires combining a decked-out cabin’s luxury characteristics with features like leather touch-points, higher-end trim, and top-level sound absorption without sacrificing the characteristics common to SUVs as a whole. 

Luxury SUVs at the upper end of the scale include dazzling displays, high-performance engines, lots of glass in the roof, and posh leather, wood, suede, and chrome. The 2020 Porsche Cayenne checks off most of these boxes while providing impressive handling and a good selection of standard safety features.

Consumer Reports calls the 2020 Porsche Cayenne the best luxury SUV

Consumer Reports placed the 2020 Porsche Cayenne at the top of their list based on overall features and performance scoring calculation. Porsche’s midsize SUV scored 88 overall points using the CR rating system, topping its compact sibling, the Macan, and the midsize Lexus RX, which tied 82 points each. 

The overall score given to each auto comes from combining its performance on CR’s road tests with its most up-to-date reliability and owner satisfaction ratings. The availability of safety features like forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection and blind spot warning (BSW), and government and insurance-industry crash test data round out the scoring process.

What features stand out on the Cayenne?

Agile handling was the attention grabber for CR critics who test-drove the 2020 Cayenne. A performance designed 3.0-liter V6 turbo impressed the drivers with robust acceleration after the Cayenne was already moving. Its 21 mpg fuel economy holds its own among its competitors, which is an impressive attribute for an SUV that focuses on delivering performance. 

The Cayenne features an impeccable interior, finishing out with the best of luxury models with supportive and comfortable seating. Also among the Cayenne’s standout features are forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, which come standard, while blind spot warning (BSW), lane departure warning (LDW), and lane keeping assistance (LKA) are optional upgrades. 

However, one of the Cayenne’s most valuable features is its capacity to maintain its value longer than the luxury SUVs of competitors.

The 2020 Porsche Cayenne leaves some room for improvement

Though the 2020 Cayenne did enough to impress CR’s critics, its score of 88 indicates that the midsize SUV still has some room for improvement. Most notable among those mentioned is the Cayenne’s sluggish acceleration performance from a standstill and rough engine stop/start characteristics, which compromise its smoothness. Buyers also have to keep in mind that Cayenne’s Lexus and BMW competitors have a higher estimated fuel economy.

The 2020 Cayenne demonstrated an underlying firmness prone to transferring jolts into the cabin on rough roads and terrain, suggesting improvements to the SUV’s ride are in order. Porsche might also put more attention into making the Cayenne’s Infotainment and other control systems more user-friendly as they remain cumbersome and fastidious to use.

Choose the 2020 Porsche Cayenne for SUV luxury

When it comes to meeting the expectations of luxury SUV buyers, the 2020 Porsche Cayenne ticked off most boxes in both performance and luxury. As the Consumer Reports 10 Best Luxury SUVs list top selection, leading by an impressive margin over the Porsche Macan and the Lexus RX, Cayenne is the clear choice for potential buyers of luxury SUVs in 2020.