Choosing to buy a used car can open up a much wider range of possibilities when selecting your next set of wheels. Thanks to depreciation, models that were previously out of your budget can become affordable, although of course you will have to take some precautions in regards to maintenance and long-term reliability.If you play your cards right and choose a model that is relatively recent – and has gone down in price without suffering from major reliability issues – you could snap up a real bargain. Take the Porsche Cayenne, for example. The current generation arrived on the market for the 2019 model year; a vehicle from that first year will now cost you about as much as a brand new Honda CR-V, while being a lot more luxurious and plush.We are taking a closer look at the 2019 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 PorscheThe 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 design of the third-gen Cayenne is similar to that of its second-gen predecessor, with some modifications to the door design and a reworked front end. The roofline was also lowered, giving the vehicle a sportier appearance. The teardrop shape of the headlights remained unchanged.Porsche A total of four powertrain options are available for the 2019 model. One is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, which produces 335 hp and powers the base trim level. Another is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, which produces 434 hp and powers the Cayenne S. The most powerful version in the lineup is the Turbo, which sports a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 541 hp. There is also a hybrid version dubbed the Cayenne E-Hybrid, which pairs the 3.0-liter V6 with a single electric motor for a total output of 455 hp. All models are equipped with 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 When it comes to shopping for a 2019 Porsche Cayenne on the used market, the price range is an extremely wide one. Some of the factors that influence the price of your new (to you) car include mileage, maintenance history, and variant of the model, with the Turbo version fetching the highest prices.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 Porsche 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 being said, as with any car, there are still a couple of problem areas you might need to keep an eye on. Some of the most frequently reported issues include squeaky brakes, lurching and surging transmissions, and vibration while at higher speeds (the latter is confined to V6-powered vehicles).The 2019 model achieves a JD Power Quality and Reliability score of 79/100. According to the NHTSA, it has only accumulated 33 complaints and is associated with six recalls; not bad at all for a model now in its seventh year of life. When looking at the NHTSA complaints record, the most frequent culprits are the airbags, electrical systems, and driver assistance features such as forward collision avoidance.Porsche 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 Honda 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.Honda For the 2019 Cayenne, you can expect an annual maintenance cost of around $1,200, while average repair costs for the first five years of ownership sit around the $8,700 mark. Meanwhile, for a brand new Honda CR-V, annual maintenance cost is expected to be as low as $100 during your first year of ownership, and isn’t predicted to rise above the $1,000 mark until you’re past the third year. Repair costs for the first five years are predicted to be 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. 2019 Cayenne Versus Honda CR-V: Where The Cayenne Shines Porsche 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.PorschePerformance: 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 horses. While even the V6-powered Cayenne will achieve 0-60 mph in around five seconds, for the CR-V, that trip takes somewhere between 7.5 and 8 seconds. There is a similarly large discrepancy in terms of top speed, which is around 130 mph for the CR-V and around 165 mph for the Cayenne.Sources: Porsche, Honda, RepairPal, Edmunds, NHTSA, CarComplaints