The Porsche Cayenne is a powerful, luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) produced by the German car maker and now in its third generation. Renowned for its power and sports car pedigree, Porsche is now extending the Cayenne family to include an e-hybrid plug-in variant plus an even sportier version; the Cayenne Coupé.
The Car
Lighter and faster the third-generation Cayenne has aged gracefully. Porsche are not a company to be radically altering the looks of the vehicles; they evolve over time. The slimmer ‘coupé’ style model, might appeal if the chunky muscular regular Cayenne doesn’t. Regardless of that and the fact that some other super-car brands have released their own SUV models, this car remains the best driving SUV on the market.
The Cabin
Leather, naturally, is the upholstery of choice. Being a Porsche, the attention to detail is unequalled. The seats for example come with all manner of electrical adjustments. Couple this with a steering wheel that also offers plenty of settings and not even the tallest person will have any problems getting settled into the comfortable, supportive seats. In hot or cold weather this car can be driven for hours in total climate control comfort that includes both seat cooling and heating.
All the major controls are ergonomically designed and feature at the heart of the dashboard a giant 12.3in touchscreen and infotainment centre. The screen is superb with crisp, responsive graphics.
The Cayenne is a big SUV so there is plenty of legroom for all. As standard, the rear seats that can slide forward and backwards to prioritise rear space or boot capacity. Passengers can also vary the angle of the backrest to improve comfort, while the seat splits in three parts. The boot is spacious and more than able to swallow the family luggage although those buyers who choose the Hybrid option will lose around 100 litres of space thanks to the battery pack. Not a big deal of itself but important perhaps if there’s a lot to carry.
The Drive
The Porsche Cayenne is based heavily on the iconic 911 sports car and the latest model offers rear-axle steering for the first time, as found on the magnificent GT3-RS. In addition to these typical sports car features, the on-road capabilities are further improved by active all-wheel drive as standard, air suspension and Porsche’s own Dynamic Chassis Control electronic roll stabilisation system. In short, this big SUV handles almost as well as the 911 from which it derives its styling.
On the latest model drive is through a new eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox which offers shorter response times and sportier ratios to enhance both on-road performance and off-road capability. For quiet cruising, the long eighth gear ensures low torque, optimised fuel consumption and relaxed driving.
At the top, and naturally the most expensive, level there’s a crazy 542bhp V8 with a 0-62mph time of just 3.9 seconds. This in a car weighing two tonnes. In this version the driver will soon discover there is simply not enough road available to match the performance. For buyers who prefer more sedate progress, there’s a selection of engines, all sprightly enough in their own right, plus of course the Hybrid.
As previously mentioned, the Porsche Cayenne is possibly the best SUV currently available. Prices vary depending upon the model choice. Here at MHH International this is one of our most popular export cars. Please contact the team for more details.
