Depreciation is one of the automotive world’s great equalizers. A luxury SUV that was once well beyond reach can, after a few years on the road, land squarely in the same price bracket as a brand-new mainstream crossover — and that’s exactly the situation buyers find themselves in today with the third-generation Porsche Cayenne. The 2019 model year, which kicked off that generation, has depreciated to the point where well-priced examples trade for roughly the same money as a new Honda CR-V. The gap in prestige, performance, and interior quality between the two, however, remains enormous.
We’re taking a closer look at the 2019 Porsche Cayenne and its reliability record, comparing it with a new CR-V in terms of running costs and features. If you’re on the hunt for wallet-friendly luxury, this might be the right choice for you.
The 2019 Porsche Cayenne: An Overview
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo driving front 3/4Porsche
2019 Porsche Cayenne
Engine/Powertrain
3.0L turbo V6 / 2.9L twin-turbo V6 / 4.0L twin-turbo V8 / 3.0L V6 + 1 electric motor
Power
335–541 hp
Torque
332–568 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
0-60 mph
~ 3.5–5 seconds
Top Speed
~ 165 mph
The 2019 Porsche Cayenne was the very first model year of the Cayenne’s third generation, which had been revealed two years earlier. The model is built on Volkswagen’s MLB platform, which it shares with several other models in the Volkswagen Group. These include the Audi Q7 and Q8, the Bentley Bentayga, the Volkswagen Touareg, and the Lamborghini Urus.
The third-gen Cayenne’s design evolved rather than revolutionized its predecessor’s look, with revised door surfacing, a reworked front end, and a lowered roofline that lends the SUV a noticeably sportier stance. The signature teardrop headlight shape carried over unchanged.
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo rear logo badgePorsche
Four powertrain options are available for the 2019 model. The base trim runs a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 335 hp, while the Cayenne S steps up to a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 434 hp. At the top of the naturally aspirated range sits the Turbo, whose 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 delivers 541 hp. Rounding out the lineup is the Cayenne E-Hybrid, which pairs the 3.0-liter V6 with an electric motor for a combined 455 hp. All variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 2019 Cayenne’s interior is, as expected, plush and comfortable, with plenty of tech on board (although, of course, this is now seven-year-old tech, so you can’t exactly expect 2026-level features). The most interesting aspect of the Cayenne’s cabin is the level of customization on offer when it comes to colors and materials. Of course, this doesn’t really apply when shopping for a used car, but it does mean you are likely to run into a wide range of interior configurations when browsing through listings: the sheer number of options made available to customers when the model was released means that no two Cayennes are exactly the same.
The infotainment system is controlled via a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Thanks to the Porsche Connect Plus system, there is a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot on board, as well as Apple CarPlay connectivity (but not Android Auto). Some models are equipped with the optional rear seat entertainment package, which adds a further two 10-inch screens on the back of the front seats.
The 2019 Cayenne On The Used Market Today
Shopping for a 2019 Porsche Cayenne on the used market means navigating an exceptionally wide price range. Mileage, service history, and trim level all play significant roles in determining asking price, with Turbo variants commanding the highest figures.
The lower end of the range sits around the $24,000 mark, while the upper end is around $65,000. A substantial number of 2019 Cayennes for sale today are roughly equal in price to a brand new Honda CR-V, which starts at $32,370 and goes up to $36,850.
The 2019 Cayenne’s Reliability
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo tire wheel rimPorsche
Despite being the first year of a new generation, the 2019 Cayenne has a great reputation for reliability. The third-gen model has earned itself the top spot in CarBuzz’s ranking of Cayenne generations according to reliability, as there are very few issues associated with it.
That said, as with any vehicle, a handful of problem areas are worth monitoring. The most frequently reported concerns include squeaky brakes, lurching and surging transmissions, and vibration at higher speeds — the latter being largely confined to V6-powered examples.
The 2019 model achieves a JD Power Quality and Reliability score of 79/100. According to the NHTSA, it has accumulated only 33 complaints and is associated with six recalls — a respectable record for a model now in its seventh year of life. The most frequent culprits in the NHTSA complaints database are the airbags, electrical systems, and driver assistance features such as forward collision avoidance.
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo interior steering wheelPorsche
As long as careful, regular maintenance is performed according to schedule, your 2019 Cayenne is unlikely to experience major issues, and should provide you with many years of trouble-free ownership.
2019 Cayenne Versus 2026 Honda CR-V: Running Costs
2026 Honda CR-VHonda
While the 2019 Cayenne has a great reputation for reliability, and the 2026 Honda CR-V is a brand-new vehicle (meaning mechanical issues are highly unlikely), we have still taken a look at expected running costs for both models. This will help give you a more complete picture of what you can expect in terms of ownership experience from two models that have roughly the same upfront cost, but are very different in nature. We have made an estimate of what each model’s approximate running costs are, based on a variety of sources including RepairPal, Edmunds, Porsche, and Honda.
2026 Honda CR-VHonda
For the 2019 Cayenne, expect annual maintenance costs of around $1,200, with average repair costs over the first five years of ownership sitting near the $8,700 mark. By contrast, a brand-new Honda CR-V is projected to cost as little as $100 in maintenance during the first year, with that figure not expected to exceed $1,000 until after year three. First-five-year repair costs for the CR-V are estimated at around $900.
Average fuel costs are also going to be much lower for the CR-V, which achieves a fuel economy of 28/34/30 MPG against the 2019 Cayenne’s 19/23/21 MPG. Although insurance costs depend on a multitude of different factors, all other things being equal you can also expect to pay much less to insure a new Honda CR-V than a 2019 Cayenne, as the latter is a more powerful and luxurious vehicle.
If, however, these increased costs are not a barrier to ownership for you, and you think the opportunity to get a luxury SUV at a reduced price is an acceptable trade-off, then a 2019 Porsche Cayenne could be your perfect used car purchase.
Honda CR-V Depreciation and Other Statistics
2026 Honda CR-V side profile off road in green while drivinngHonda
The Honda CR-V might have lower running costs compared to a used Cayenne, but opting for a brand-new car is a surefire way to lose money in the long run. The 2019 Cayenne is most likely going to keep depreciating over the next few years before finding a plateau to settle on — buying a 2026 CR-V means a guaranteed loss of thousands of dollars before you even finish paying the loan off.
According to CarEdge, CR-Vs depreciate by an average of 29% after the first five years on the road. That’s pretty good when compared to other new SUVs. CarEdge assumes an average new purchase price of $38,131 when including available options, which equates to a five-year used price of $27,069. Most new cars lose value quickly in the first few years on the road, then the rate at which value drops slows considerably.
The same source explains how a CR-V will cost you an average of $36,935 over the course of its first five years on the road. Here’s how that breaks down:
- Depreciation: $11,062
- Insurance: $9,795
- Fuel: $7,700
- Interest: $5,953
- Maintenance: $2,425
Cayenne vs CR-V Average Insurance Costs Compared
2026 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid rear 3/4 angle in blueHonda
Buyers can contemplate the differences between these two models all day — luxury vs economy, style vs blending in, etc. However, none of that means much if you can’t afford to protect your asset in the worst-case scenario of a crash or other incident after buying it. Some may feel like insurance is a scam when they consider how much money they pay every month, only to have to argue for coverage when you need it, but having it is the law, and it will come in handy one day.
It’s no surprise the Porsche Cayenne is more expensive to insure than a Honda CR-V. According to The Zebra, Cayennes cost an average of $1,333 for a six-month policy, which comes out to about $222 per month for the average driver with no recent accidents. On the flip side, average buyers with good driving records only pay about $796 for a six-month policy on a CR-V, which comes out to $133 per month.
2019 Cayenne Versus Honda CR-V: Where The Cayenne Shines
2018 Porsche CayennePorsche
A comparison between a luxury car and a more affordable one is always going to have limited usefulness, as the two models live in very different areas of the automotive world. However, since depreciation has now brought the 2019 Cayenne’s price point down to the level of the 2026 CR-V, we are highlighting a few areas where the Cayenne has the upper hand despite its age.
Wide variety of interior styles and features: The 2019 Cayenne was a highly customizable model when released. As a result, the vehicles you will find on sale today have a veritable rainbow of interior colors and materials on board. There is something out there for every driver, from understated beige and black to bright neon green.
Luxury and comfort: Being a high-end vehicle, the 2019 Cayenne will surpass even a brand new Honda CR-V in terms of plushness. While the CR-V is stylish, comfortable, and practical for its price point, the quality of the materials and design will be very different from that of a luxury car, even a seven-year-old one.
2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo driving rear 3/4Porsche
Performance: The two models are in completely separate classes on the performance front, with the Cayenne’s base model outpacing the CR-V by nearly 150 horsepower. Even the V6-powered Cayenne dispatches 0–60 mph in around five seconds, while the CR-V takes somewhere between 7.5 and 8 seconds to complete the same run. The top speed gap is equally stark: around 130 mph for the CR-V versus approximately 165 mph for the Cayenne.
The Other Stuttgart Solution
Side shot of a 2018 Porsche PanameraPorsche
While there is nothing wrong with buying a used Cayenne, or a new CR-V, for that matter, shelling out for an SUV could be seen as a little safe and boring these days. It’s what everyone drives, so for anyone wanting something that genuinely feels a bit special and different — without compromising on practicality and usability — perhaps a Panamera is the more suitable choice.
Hailing from the same years, the Panamera shares much in common with the Cayenne. This is a good thing: as explained above, the powertrains are largely reliable, running costs aren’t crippling, and the real good news is that depreciation has played its part here, too. Much in the same way that a 2019 Cayenne can be secured for around $25,000 to $35,000, a Panamera of a similar vintage can be netted for a comparable sum.
Our price trends tool shows that 2017, 2018, and 2019 models all hover around $40,000 on average. Naturally, higher-mileage examples will drop comfortably into the $30,000s, while higher-spec grades command significantly more. It’s not a sensible decision, per se, but it does come with a Porsche badge and everything that represents — quality, performance, and prestige — and the sensible Honda simply cannot compete on those terms.
Sources: Porsche, Honda, RepairPal, Edmunds, NHTSA, CarComplaints, TheZebra, CarEdge
