There was a time when SUVs were not as commonplace as they are today. Then, carmakers decided that SUVs were good for their bottom line, and suddenly everyone got in on the act. Even Porsche - purveyor of the iconic 911 - threw its hat in the ring with the Cayenne.

Sure enough, Porsche's foray into the SUV marketplace with Cayenne proved to be a hit. The Cayenne itself is now in its third generation, spawning a compact Macan SUV along the way.

However, today we want to find out if the first-generation Porsche Cayenne (955/957) is a SUV worth your time and money, as a used car. Here's what you need to know.

The many variants, and the one to get

The first-generation, pre-facelift Porsche Cayenne (955) debuted in 2002. It shared its platform with the contemporary Audi Q7 and VW Touareg of that period. At launch, it looked like no SUV that had come before - much like a 996-generation 911-on-stilts.

Engine options started with a 3.2-litre, VR6 engine (250 PS, 310 Nm) all the way to a monstrous 4.5-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine (521 PS, 720 Nm). All 955-generation Cayennes came standard with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.

In 2007, the 957 Cayenne facelift saw Porsche refresh the exterior, interior and engine line up. Design-wise, the 957 looked sharper and more modern, but no less imposing than the 955. It has to be said that the 957's looks has aged better compared to the 955.

From the 957 generation onwards, all the engines received direct-injection (955 engines were port injected). The 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission continued pulling duty for the revised engines. 

The revised engine range now starts from a 3.6-litre, VR6 engine (294 PS, 385 Nm) to a fire-breathing, 4.8-litre, twin turbo V8 (550 PS, 750 Nm).

For as little as RM 30k, you could score a 2005 955 Cayenne (it's the 4.5-litre V8 though). However, at RM 47k, I would plump for the facelifted 2007 957 models (it really still looks fresh today) with a 3.6-litre VR6 engine, chiefly because road tax is still manageable and there's more than enough grunt.

If you're feeling brave, there's a 2010 957-generation Cayenne GTS Design Edition asking for RM 110k. Do know that the GTS variant has the 4.8-litre V8 engine, which won't be cheap to run (more on that below). 

Why buy a 955/957 Porsche Cayenne?

Chiefly, when you buy a Porsche Cayenne, you're are getting a imposing-looking SUV that has oodles of road presence. Not only that, because of its SUV body style, it's practical, spacious, and fit for a family's use

With 541 litres of boot space, split tailgate with electric operation and folding rear seats, the Cayenne will take on most load-lugging with relative ease. 

Sure, it has aged a little, but the 955/957 Porsche Cayenne still has the performance and dynamic chops to go with its considerable size. Even in its base-engine configuration, you'd be hard pressed to call it a slow car.

Moreover, from the very first generation, the Porsche Cayenne was brilliant to drive. For a behemoth weighing 2 tons and more, you could really haul it along. Porsche's DNA is still clearly evident in the Cayenne, despite its weight and raised ride height.

Inside, you also get a high-quality interior that is typical Porsche, meaning not a lot of flair but ergonomically superb. Driving position is flawless, visibility is typically SUV-good. The ambience is more sporty than its rivals - the W164 Mercedes-Benz M-Class and E70 BMW X5.

Do I need to be rich to maintain one?

Well, keeping up with ownership costs of a 955/957 Porsche Cayenne is never gonna be like owning a Perodua Axia. Depending on the generation and variant, we sought the help of our Justin Lee of German Motors and Ray Wong of Ray Car Care for some maintenance insights.

Ray mentions that prices of oil changes is dependent on lubricant choices, as are tyre prices. But, in general, maintaining a Cayenne isn't what you would call pocket-friendly. 

Common issues and problems I need to know?

Both Justin and Ray remarked that the most common issue by far in this generation of Porsche Cayenne is the air suspension (if it came equipped so). And yes, it is not a cheap fix, costing anywhere from RM 2,000 (OEM) to RM 7,000 (genuine) per side. 

Cayennes of this vintage could also need an interior refresh. Budget around RM 10,000 for a complete upholstery job which includes steering wheel, seats, headliner, and door cards. Of course, this budget is dependent on the type of materials selected and how extensive the job is. 

Mechanically, both the V6 and V8 engines are not known to have any major issues. But, Justin did caution that when something does go wrong, it can be expensive. Best to bring the Cayenne you're looking at for a pre-purchase inspection.

Conclusion

For the money, I don't think you can buy much more road presence than a 955/957 Porsche Cayenne. Granted, it is not the most economical to own and maintain (as detailed above), but think about it, these SUVs used to cost north of half a million Ringgit when new.

With that in mind, anyone looking to buy these used would have benefited from massive depreciation anyway. So yes, the 955/957 Cayenne is relatively cheap to buy. Sadly, maintenance and repair costs do not depreciate (it is, after all, a Porsche). 

Just remember to do your homework when buying one, and you'd have a sporty, practical, and powerful SUV in your garage.