PORSCHE Cayenne S Review

Talking about how comfortable a Porsche Cayenne is would be just like describing how sweet a cake can be. The German sports car manufacturer managed to do an excellent job from many points of view, improving the majority of the elements that play a more or less important role in enhancing comfort.

Sure, some of you would say that it’s absolutely stupid to pay such a high price on a model that wouldn’t be able to make you feel comfortable but the new Cayenne exceeds your expectations. And it does it from the first minutes of driving.

The seats are excellently adjusted and provide a perfect driving position, offering all around visibility that could be easily considered among the best in the class. Of course, heating and cooling functions for the seats are included in the package, so you can be sure you’ll have the perfect temperature no matter the season.

And speaking of temperature, depending on the options you choose, the Cayenne S can be equipped with dual, tri- or four-zone automatic air conditioning, each of these systems being offered at a pretty reasonable price.

The suspension system and the three predefined modes, in conjunction with the transmission system, are the ones that ensure that you can calmly enjoy a coffee without spilling it even when driving over speed limiters or uneven roads. The eight-speed transmission system is actually a state-of-the-art piece of technology, managing to combine instant response with fuel efficiency and performance. The transmission is thus able not only to contribute to the overall performance figures of the car, but also to enhance comfort when dealing with a more relaxed driver.

Depending on the price the buyer wants to pay, the car can be equipped with more or less advanced audio system, starting with the standard offering and ending with the top-of-the-line Burmester High-End Surround Sound-System. In just a few words, this configuration turns the Cayenne into a real concert hall, as it comprises 16-channel amplifier with a total output of more than 1,000 Watts, 16 loudspeakers (including active subwoofer with 300-Watt Class D amplifier), a total diaphragm area of more than 2,400 cm2, and a frequency range of 30 Hz to 20 kHz.

The Cayenne is a nice piece of engineering and whatever critics would claim, the Porsche SUV remains one of the more advanced cars on the market. Describing all functions of the car would take years, not only because most of them are top-notch systems, but also because the vehicle, even in standard trim, is offered with an impressive lineup of features.

Ever since it revealed the new Cayenne, Porsche talked about it as a superior combination of performance, efficiency and comfort. Taking the first two separately, Porsche worked on several aspects of the engine, thus obtaining an enhancement not only in mileage, but also in the final output of the V8 configuration.

The new powerplant delivers with 15 horsepower more than the predecessor, but fuel consumption is also reduced by up to 23 percent, according to official figures provided by the German manufacturer. How’s that possible?

Besides the start-stop function now available on the Cayenne S, the direct fuel injection system has been optimized to inject fuel in the combustion chamber at up to 120 bar using electromagnetic injectors. The power and efficiency improvement is the result of the air-fuel mixture being directly created in the combustion chamber, which also allows the whole system to help the engine cooling process.

The eight-speed automatic transmission, also used on some other models of the Volkswagen Group (including the Touareg), is specifically optimized to back the efforts made by the company to reduce fuel consumption and improve performance. For example, the maximum speed of the Cayenne is reached from the 6th gear, while the other two are specifically introduced for improving mileage. If the driver needs instant power, the Tiptronic configuration continues using the 6th gear while if the car continues cruising with constant speed, the unit shifts to 7th and 8th to reduce fuel consumption.

One of the things that should make you proud because you’re driving the Cayenne is the new Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system that’s supposed to provide precise control and superior traction on every type of surface.

Without going too deep into details, the system is a complex of multiple functions, including an electronically variable, map-controlled multi-plate clutch, automatic brake differential (ABD) and anti-slip regulation (ASR), specifically configured to send torque to the wheel that needs it the most and thus maintain control and enhance stability.

We’re not really sure why, but only a few of those who’ve purchased a Cayenne actually know how advanced the car is from the point of view of gadgets. The SUV is more than a toy and those who like to push buttons would surely spend a few days inside just to see what every control does.

Probably the first thing that catches the eye when jumping inside the car is the 7-inch touchscreen that provides instant access to all features of the car but also to vital information regarding its systems. Next to the screen, there are the buttons that give access to the air conditioning controls which, in standard form, are connected to a dual-zone climate function that can be improved as the trim level becomes more expensive.

The car is offered as standard with a pretty decent audio configuration but audiophiles would be really satisfied with the options list because Porsche retails two other advanced solutions. First, there’s the BOSE audio system that comprises 14 loudspeakers (including active subwoofer and centre-fill speaker) plus a 585-Watt 9-channel amplifier. The result is absolutely amazing but that’s not all.

A second option, called Burmester High-End Surround Sound-System takes you in a virtual trip to a digital life, offering 16-channel amplifier with a total output of more than 1,000 Watts, 16 loudspeakers (including active subwoofer with 300-Watt Class D amplifier), a total diaphragm area of more than 2,400 cm2, and a frequency range of 30 Hz to 20 kHz.

In standard form, the audio system offers more than you’d actually need, but it’s worth mentioning that you’ll receive an FM twin-tuner with RDS, 30 memory presets, dynamic autostore and speed-sensitive volume control backed by10 loudspeakers and a total audio output of 100 Watts.

There are multiple options when it comes to audio compatibility, so the car can be equipped with USB, AUX-in port for connecting an MP3 player to stream music through the car’s audio system plus iPhone and iPod connectivity.

All the aforementioned functions are included in what the German manufacturer calls the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system that was specifically designed to provide a friendly interface for a wide array of infotainment technologies.

Last but not least, the car employs all kinds of goodies, such as front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, Lane Change Assist, cruise control, Bluetooth, Porsche Entry and Drive (the Germans’ keyless entry system), power sunroof and many other optional features that make the car one of the most advanced pieces of technologies on four wheels.

The overall design of the Cayenne denotes safety and it’s more than safe to claim that the Porsche SUV is one of the safest rides out there. Not only because it’s pretty big, but also because the German company has equipped it with all kinds of technologies to protect the passengers.

It all starts with the bodyshell construction that has been optimized to direct impact force in a manner that protects the cabin. A system of side and cross-members at the front of the car plus high-strength steel reinforcements and side intrusion beams in each of the doors makes the cabin an untouchable part of the car, even in the case of a frontal impact.

Depending on the optional features installed on the car, the Cayenne S can be equipped with most of the safety features available in the automotive industry. Regardless if we’re talking about airbags or other type of passive safety features, Porsche is offering them all, alongside three-point seatbelts for all five seats.

The icings on the cake are the so-called Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system and the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB). While the former is some sort of a stability control function that’s based on the ABS function but uses top-notch sensors and other services inside the car, the latter relies on cross-drilled discs able to resists temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees Celsius.

Beside all these goodies, the Cayenne has been gifted with numerous electronic functions, including the all-wheel drive system, most of them specifically designed to help the driver control the beast in unexpected conditions.

Just like most Porsches out there, the Cayenne is all about the feeling you get when driving it. Although an SUV, the car behaves remarkably in most conditions, making the driver feel confident and secure but, at the same time, storing a massive amount of power that would transform it into a pure racer.

The good thing about the Cayenne is that Porsche managed to do it a lot more fuel efficient and lighter but, at the same time, it increased its performance a lot. The new model continues the tradition started by its predecessors, proving that SUVs, although bigger, heavier and sometimes harder to control than other vehicles, could actually become a traditional buddy for high-performance circuits.

The bad side of the Cayenne is the price. Although a pretty nice piece of a car, it’s almost impossible to have one unless you’re a wealthy businessman. It is a Porsche after all and you have to pay a price to buy one, but a top-of-the-range configuration could go way over the EUR100,000 milestone that most of the times is a psychological barrier for all those who look for a new car.

It’s hard to find an ugly bit on the new model, especially because the company has worked a lot on the new design, thus resulting in a more aerodynamically-shaped vehicle able to reach new performance limits. The front, the rear and the side profiles have been redesigned for a new more appealing look that gives the bystanders a hint about the goodies hidden underneath the hood.