It was the antithesis to everything Porsche had come to symbolize up to that point. But it has become a testament to Porsche's marketing savvy and opportunism — the company has taken advantage of the ongoing, albeit dwindling, SUV craze and the trend of conspicuous consumption.
After taking the 2007 model year off, the Porsche Cayenne returns to the market for 2008 with slightly different styling, most at the front, updated powertrains and some added features. As before, it's available in Base, S and Turbo versions. A new GTS version slots between the S and Turbo models. And as if having an SUV isn’t enough of a departure from Porsche's sports-car heritage, a gas/electric hybrid-powered version of the Cayenne is expected to debut by the decade’s end.
Porsche partnered with Volkswagen to develop the Cayenne. It shares the platform and some mechanicals with the VW Touareg and, to a lesser degree, with the Audi Q7 (Volkswagen owns Audi).
While the Porsche Cayenne has a profile similar to the Touareg's, designers did their best to infuse it with Porsche styling cues. This is most noticeable at the front end, where large air scoops under the headlamps mimic those of Porsche's 911 Turbo and GT2 models.
The base Porsche Cayenne comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that remains uncharacteristically ordinary by Porsche standards. In our test drive, this engine proved more than capable of brisk acceleration and maintaining high speeds on the highway, it just didn't offer the overwhelming surge of power we expect from a Porsche.
The Cayenne S features a much more powerful 4.8-liter V8, which takes the vehicle to 60 mph in a respectable 6.6 seconds. A slightly more powerful version of this engine comes in the Porsche Cayenne GTS and shaves about a half second off the S’s 0-60 time.
An even more extreme Turbo model features a twin-turbocharged V8 that cranks out 500 horsepower. It can sprint from zero to 60 mph in about five seconds, and is stratospherically priced.
A six-speed manual transmission comes standard on the Porsche Cayenne base and GTS models. An optional Drive-Off Assistant system available with this transmission automatically applies the brakes when the vehicle comes to a halt on steep grades to prevent it from rolling back when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake. A six-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic manual-shift capability is standard on the S and Turbo and is optional elsewhere in the line.
The company’s engineers designed the Porsche Cayenne to be as capable off-road as it is on asphalt, if only to silence traditionalists who would otherwise dismiss it as an SUV poseur. In reality, few owners likely take their Cayennes anywhere close to a trail, and the vehicle would probably sell just as well (if not better) as a sportier car-based crossover.
The Porsche Cayenne features a host of hardcore components for off-roading, including permanent four-wheel drive, an inter-axle differential lock, high-tech hill descent/ascent control and a transfer case for low-range gearing. An available Advanced Off-Road package includes front and rear stabilizer bars to enhance suspension performance on rough terrain. The Porsche Cayenne's robust chassis enables it to tow more than 7,700 pounds, which is high for a midsize SUV.
See photos of the Porsche Cayenne
A sophisticated independent suspension (double-wishbone construction up front, multi-link array at the rear) affords lively handling for a three-and-a-half-ton SUV, though you won't confuse the Porsche Cayenne with a 911. An optional air suspension is self-leveling (meaning it helps keep the vehicle level while hauling or towing heavy loads) and is adjustable for six different ride heights. Porsche's Stability Management and Traction Management systems are also included for added control over a wide range of roads and driving conditions. A sport mode stiffens the suspension for sharper handling, while a Trailer Stability Control function helps prevent a potentially dangerous pendulum action when towing a trailer. Standard on the GTS (and optional on the other versions) is Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, which is an active anti-roll system that further enhances the SUV’s handling.
The Porsche Cayenne’s four-wheel-disc antilock braking system includes a Brake Assistant function that automatically provides full braking power in what the system perceives to be a panic-stop situation. It also comes with an off-road function that can shorten the vehicle’s stopping distance on loose surfaces by temporarily locking the wheels to allow road material to collect into blocks under the tires. Seventeen-inch wheels are tires are standard on the base version, with 18-inch rims and rubber coming with the S and Turbo versions; the GTS rides on massive as 21-inch wheels that are otherwise optional across the line.
Standard equipment on the Porsche Cayenne is plentiful, and includes front, front-side and side-curtain airbags with a rollover-detecting function, leather upholstery and a power-closing rear lift-gate. Available high-intensity headlamps include Dynamic Curve Lights, which pivot to help light the way through curves at night. One of the longest options lists in the industry not only includes expected items, such as a Bose surround sound audio system, navigation system, power moonroof, a rearview backup camera and heated seats, but a seemingly endless assortment of trim items and treatments that allow the ultimate in personalization.
See Specs of Porsche Cayenne Variants
Is the Porsche Cayenne for You?
Buy the Cayenne if
You want to stand out; you're a Porsche fan who needs the versatility of an SUV and finds the VW Touareg too plebian.
Keep Looking if
Cost and fuel consumption are issues; you require seven-passenger seating. The Touareg meets your needs just as well.
Who Fits?
Four adults have plenty of room for long trips and a fifth can squeeze into the rear seat for moderate jaunts. The climb in and out isn't as pronounced as with the largest SUVs, though shorter drivers will notice the absence of adjustable pedals.
Closest Competitors in India
BMW X5; Mercedes-Benz M-Class; Volkswagen Touareg
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