The Luxury SUV That Now Costs Less Than A Loaded Toyota 4Runner
The feeling of watching a luxury car or luxury SUV cruise by while you are sitting in a 15-year-old vehicle just hanging on to life can be a bit disheartening. Newer mainstream vehicles are increasingly crossing into luxury territory, and today you can buy a fully-loaded 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro for around $75,000, which offers a huge amount of off-road prowess, plush cabin features, optional extras, and a nice 14-inch screen.
But what if you want something genuinely luxurious? Something made by one of the most revered German high-end brands out there? This Porsche SUV now costs less than a new, fully-specced 4Runner.
Luxury SUVs Can Lose Serious Money In Just A Few Years
If you are looking at buying a new luxury vehicle, you should know that CarEdge predicts the average depreciation rate is around 51 percent over five years, while mainstream vehicles lose around 48 percent. That doesn’t sound huge, but luxury vehicles are generally a lot more expensive; in short, typically, you are going to lose more money, quicker.
Luxury SUVs aren’t protected from this value plunder just because SUVs are some of the most popular vehicles on the road today either. New, expensive models packed with tech and performance features are almost perfectly designed for depreciation. Once something newer and shinier comes along, they start to look a little dated; plus, new luxury SUV purchases center around buying the newest and the best.
Heavy Depreciation Can Put Expensive SUVs Within Reach Of Used Buyers
If you are looking at buying used, though, the heavy depreciation of luxury SUVs is great. CarEdge says models like the Mercedes-Benz GLE lose 46.7 percent of their value over three years, and the Land Rover Range Rover loses around 47 percent over the same time.
That means the used market can contain some properly extravagant machinery for surprisingly normal money. A BMW X5, Audi Q7, or GLE that once sat comfortably beyond the reach of a lot of us can become obtainable once depreciation has done its thing. The trick is buying expensive hardware after somebody else has paid for the privilege of making it cheaper.
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Has Already Taken A Big Depreciation Hit
At just two years old, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne can now be found on the used market for less than a fully-loaded 4Runner. That may sound unbelievable, but the iSeeCars estimate of 17.7 percent depreciation over three years and 45.6 percent depreciation over five years now makes the Cayenne a very affordable luxury SUV, and average used prices (for one trim in particular) back that up.
At $63,300 Used, The Base Cayenne Undercuts A New 4Runner By Over $10,000
The 2024 Cayenne is available in five trims, and originally had a starting price of $80,850. The trims are the base trim ($80,850), the E-Hybrid ($93,350), the S ($97,350), the S E-Hybrid ($100,750), and the Turbo E-Hybrid ($148,550).
According to Kelley Blue Book, the national average fair purchase price for the E-Hybrid is $77,900; for the S, $80,900; for the S E-Hybrid, $80,000; and for the Turbo E-Hybrid, $110,000. However, the base trim is now available on the used market for $63,300, or over $10,000 cheaper than a top-tier 4Runner.
Turbocharged V6 Delivers 348 HP And Porsche Performance
Aside from the coat of arms on the front, where a used ’24 Cayenne base trim makes a lot of sense is if you want race-inspired power and feel to go alongside your comfortable cabin. This is courtesy of the 3.0-liter turbocharged VW EA839 90-degree V6 good for 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque under the hood. Power is sent through an eight-speed auto box to the AWD system, translating to 0–60 mph times of between 5.7 and 5.9 seconds, and a top speed of 154 mph.
The TRD Pro is equipped with a 326-horsepower/465-pound-foot i-FORCE MAX inline-four made for rock crawling and off-roading, and it can still deliver rest-to-60 times in around 7.4 seconds. We know the 4Runner TRD Pro and Cayenne are different beasts, but when it comes to power and speed, there is no competition.
The $63K Cayenne Still Delivers A Porsche Cabin And A Sports Car’s Road Manners
While it is dependent on what circles you move in, the Porsche badge tends to carry a bit more on-road kudos than a Toyota one.
The new 4Runner has been exceptionally well-received by owners, who rate it 4.3 out of 5 overall on Kelley Blue Book, and thanks to its TRD-tuned FOX QS3 shocks, 33-inch Toyo A/T tires, stabilizer disconnect mechanism, Crawl Control, and TRD performance air intake, it is definitely the one we’d choose for a trip out to the boonies.
The Cayenne is worth considering because of how it strikes a balance between plush and everyday-usable. There is still 27.2 cubic feet of storage space with all the seats in place, 60.3 cubic feet with all the seats folded away, seating for up to five people, and it has been rated 83 out of 100 overall on J.D. Power, which includes a driving experience rating of 85 out of 100, and a reliability rating of 82 out of 100.
High-End Cabin Gives The Base Model Genuine Luxury
Because the base trim is the only one that comes in under the price of a new 4Runner TRD Pro, you do get the most basic cabin setup compared to the higher trims, but this is a two-year-old Porsche we are talking about. The dashboard gets a 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, while the rising center console combines glossy touch control with proper physical climate switches and a volume knob.
The standard cabin is fitted out with leatherette upholstery instead of the full-leather finishes found higher up the range, but the steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the front seats are heated and power-adjustable, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. If you can find a model with it equipped, a 10.9-inch passenger-side display was also originally an option. We can well see why the 2024 Cayenne is rated 4.3 out of 5 for comfort by owners.
Porsche’s Standard PASM Suspension Delivers Sports Car Composure Without The Expensive Upgrades
Perhaps the biggest reason to buy a used Cayenne over a 4Runner TRD Pro, though, is how it behaves on the road; this comes down to the track-worthy DNA Porsche has woven through its entire design. The standard eight-speed Tiptronic S is quick to respond, while Porsche Traction management varies the AWD split to keep the Cayenne planted without making it feel like what it is: a heavy SUV.
The base Cayenne also gets steel springs and Porsche Active Suspension Management as standard, with two-valve dampers that separately control compression and rebound. That is quite a serious setup for something that can be considered quite affordable today, and it means a nicely tuned ride for comfort without abandoning the sharp responses you’d expect from the German marque.
The best bit is that none of this relies on the expensive air suspension, rear-wheel steering, or active anti-roll systems found further up the range. The base model’s standard PASM and 20-inch wheels are enough to give it remarkable composure, while the AWD rig quietly sorts out the grip when you need it. It is less “luxury SUV trying to be sporty” and more Porsche sports car that happens to have more room inside. One owner of a 2024 Cayenne sums up driving one nicely.
The steering is very Porsche, and perhaps the sharpest in the industry — move the wheel 2mm and it turns the wheels, no dead space. The ride is a bit firm, but creates a sporty feel. Brakes match the throttle — very responsive and impressively so when decelerating from high speeds. Wind noise absolutely minimal at freeway speeds. Extremely strong confidence with the AWD, steering, and nearly no body roll on windy mountain roads.
A Used Cayenne Makes A New 4Runner TRD Pro Look Expensive
When it comes to the new price of a fully-loaded 4Runner compared to the used price of a 2024 Cayenne base trim, there is a glaring difference between the two. However, there is also a glaring difference in ownership costs over the mid-term. According to Edmunds, the average five-year cost for a 4Runner TRD Pro is $63,360; Edmunds also estimates that it will cost you $85,639 to own a ’24 Cayenne base trim over the same time.
Porsche is one of the more reliable German high-end brands out there, but parts and labor on them are not cheap. Toyota, on the other hand, is known to be affordable to maintain and run. FuelEconomy.gov also estimates that a base Cayenne can achieve 19 combined mpg and will cost you an estimated $4,100 a year for gas; the 4Runner TRD Pro can achieve an estimated 23 combined mpg.
The new 4Runner TRD Pro and a used Cayenne are built for completely different jobs. One wants to disappear down a muddy trail, while the other would rather attack a set of bends without spilling your coffee. But if what you actually want is a proper German luxury SUV, and you have TRD Pro money to spend, a used 2024 Cayenne base trim looks like a very nice alternative.
Sources: Toyota, Porsche, Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, CarEdge, and iSeeCars.
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