PORSCHE Cayenne S Review

Porsche has always been a high performance luxury auto producer, so focusing more on a project that was in the end supposed to bring us the first SUV in the history of the company was quite a risky job. Customers had no idea what to expect when the Porsche SUV was prepared to enter production, while the German manufacturer was still unsure whether the public would have a positive reaction to the new model.

The first generation Cayenne was unveiled in 2002 and reached US soil one year later to become one of the best selling SUVs in the segment. Developed on the same platform as Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7 but customized in a way only Porsche knows how, the Cayenne was described by its creators as "the first vehicle to really put the sport into sport-utility."

And after tens of tests conducted all around the world, critics had to remain tightlipped: the Cayenne was indeed a state-of-the-art model regardless the chapter we're talking about. Sales increased rapidly in most markets. The Cayenne quickly turned into a hate it or love it kind of model, as some people criticized it for the design, while others simply adored it.

Since the Cayenne proved to be more successful than anybody had expected, the German carmaker decided to make one more step to expand the lineup and announced both a diesel and a hybrid version of a SUV that was regarded as the perfect blend between agility, comfort and fuel efficiency. Some said that with the release of the two new variants, Porsche was moving further from the image it has built in the past, but this didn't stop the company either.

The Cayenne Diesel saw daylight in February 2009 (with the public debut taking place at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show) and came with a 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine, obviously provided by the new owner Volkswagen. The Hybrid on the other hand was announced at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show, while the first incarnation of the project was presented two years later at the same Swiss event.

The second generation Cayenne was brought to life at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show and was launched straight from the beginning with the diesel and hybrid versions released during the first generation. The new model, still sharing parts with Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7, is the last Porsche SUV to be produced by the iconic sports car manufacturer as Volkswagen Group, the German conglomerate that incorporates all three units, decided to hand Porsche the development of all SUVs to be sold under the Group's brands.

Since we've already tried the first generation Cayenne, we also wanted to see what the guys over at Porsche implemented for the second contraption, so we took the Cayenne S for a testdrive. Continue reading to find out what's so special about the new Cayenne.

Ever since it came to be, the Cayenne divided the auto enthusiasts into two separate parts: those who like it and those who don't. Only a few can actually claim that the Cayenne is nothing more than a "regular" design, which makes the Porsche SUV a true hate it or love it. But things changed for the second generation model.

The new generation is much more refined, with multiple design elements that improve both the front and the rear sides. Although all of them are designed to enhance aerodynamics and contribute, more or less, to the final performance on the road, the Cayenne doesn't look bad at all.

Reshaped headlights with LED daytime running lights just underneath the light clusters, a larger grille with bigger air intakes plus circular fog lights are each contributing to a more modern but, at the same time aggressive, appearance when viewed from the front.

The side view is different as well and this is the best way to see the things Porsche has improved to enhance aerodynamics. The overall shape of the car is much more intended for high performance, although it was proved that the Cayenne behaves pretty well in most environments. Porsche has changed the shape of the exterior mirrors also in an effort to improve aerodynamics, although some people complained that visibility is a little bit affected due to this fact. The turn signals have been revised as well to better match the design of the front fascia and have been installed over the line that divides the front bumper from the two front fenders.

The rear side has been retouched for a more rounded design, now hosting taillights with LED clusters, new exhaust pipes for a more aggressive stance plus a chrome strip for a bit more luxurious feel.

The new Cayenne is 44mm (1.73 inches) longer than its predecessor but this isn't at all a bad thing. By increasing the length, Porsche has obtained both a more spacious interior plus increased stability at higher speeds, while the German manufacturer claims fuel efficiency and performance figures are not affected.

Can you imagine yourself sitting on an armchair, near a fireplace, enjoying a glass of red wine during a cold winter night? This is exactly how you feel in the new Cayenne, of course without the wine part.

The second-generation Cayenne is one of the most comfortable rides in the SUV sector, not only from the leather-wrapped seats standpoint, but also thanks to the overall atmosphere in the cabin. Everything seems to be in the right place and the driver doesn't need more than a simple move to access or press a certain button from the center console or dashboard.

When jumping inside the new Porsche Cayenne, you’ll most likely feel just like a kid would do when stepping inside a play center. Buttons all around, a large LCD display, very comfortable seats and basically whatever you want, placed close to your hand. Talking about ergonomics would be just a waste of time because the Cayenne is way above the superior limit when it comes to this aspect, as both the driver and the passenger can access any feature they want with a simple move, without any effort at all.

There are some differences between the old and the new Cayenne when it comes to the interior and, although some people claimed the first generation was already a state-of-the-art model from a comfort point of view, Porsche’s engineers pushed things one step further. The 48 mm increase in length translates into more interior space which, in turn, means greater comfort for all passengers, regardless if we’re talking about the driver, the front or the rear passengers, be them adults or children.

The rear bench can be adjusted from now on by moving forward or backward by 160 mm, while the backrest angle has three different pre-defined positions.

Just like you’d expect from a Porsche, the atmosphere inside the new Cayenne is, let’s say, breathtaking. Leather all around, an exceptional material quality that feels great to the touch and stylish, elegant lines everywhere. The old handles “mounted” on the center console are still there to provide the driver and the front passenger with extra support when the Cayenne releases the beast hidden under the hood.

Overall, it’s hard not to feel special in Porsche’s new SUV and no matter how hard we’d try, it’s almost impossible to find a thing to criticize. Visibility is great (probably with a minor setback brought by the shape of the exterior mirrors), the driving position is remarkable, while comfort is basically how it should be in every car on the road.

Porsche’s engineers have made the new Cayenne more attractive in terms of exterior styling, so the car doesn’t look so scary when it comes to city driving. The car is indeed an SUV but it surely doesn’t feel like one when you need to squeeze through the other cars on the road on tight portions of the road. Not to mention the driving position that gives you a perfect angle on the road and superior visibility.

The SUV ground clearance of 8.7 inches (220 mm) means that the Cayenne can run over basically everything and when we say everything, we really mean it. Of course, we’re not talking about the other cars on the road but, with a little effort, this could be possible as well…

Anyway, speed limiters and road kerbs are absolutely nonexistent and the suspension system does an excellent job minimizing shakes produced by uneven roads. The new Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission has been specifically optimized to meet all driving styles, thus having a significant contribution to the overall comfort provided in urban environments.

As for fuel consumption, the new Cayenne achieves surprising ratings for an SUV. Official figures are pointing to 14.5 l/100km (16.2 mpg) and reality isn’t much different. The best we could get was 17 l/100km (13.8 mpg), after treating the car like an old lady suffering from rheumatism.

But the German carmaker has made real efforts to make the Cayenne more fuel efficient. First of all, it implemented a Start-Stop function that automatically idles the engine when not in motion and, although it could be a little annoying for those who want to turn the Cayenne into a racecar, it does improve mileage when driving in crowded cities.

Second of all, the engineers have reduced the overall weight of the car, thus improving efficiency, while also implementing some other technologies, such as optimized thermal management on the engine and transmission cooling system, on-board network recuperation, and intelligent lightweight construction. All of these lead to a fuel consumption reduction by almost 23 percent, if we are to trust what Porsche said when the Cayenne was officially rolled out.

Judging by what a car must have when talking about urban cruising, the Cayenne seems to be a pretty decent solution. Perfect visibility at both the front and the rear (leaving the exterior mirrors aside), high ground clearance, front and rear parking sensors plus rear-view camera, a very advanced transmission system for increased comfort and many, many infotainment functions that could keep passengers entertained while waiting for the damn traffic light to turn green.

If you’re planning to use the new Cayenne as your everyday ride, although it would be a real waste of money given the fact that the car has so much to offer, you wouldn’t be disappointed at all. A large trunk that measures 670 liters means that you can carry almost everything you want, regardless if we’re talking about shopping bags or six suitcases as Porsche said. As if this isn’t enough, those who’d like to live in the car can pretty much put their furniture in the trunk if the rear seats are folded, thus obtaining a maximum volume of 1780 liters.

It’s almost amazing how fun driving the Cayenne outside the city is. This car has a lot to prove and probably the only place where it can be really put up to test is either a circuit or the Autobahn in those areas without speed limits.

The 4.8-liter V8 engine that unleashes 400 horsepower is more than potent and just keep in mind that more powerful options are also available in the new Cayenne range. The Cayenne S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.9 seconds but you won’t even notice this time when pushing the throttle pedal. The feeling you get when running at full power is worth every cent you must pay for the car and probably the first proof of this are the two handles mounted on the center console. Just like on the old Cayenne, the two allow the driver and the front passenger to hold onto their seats when the car unleashes its maximum output.

An overtaking maneuver shouldn’t take more than… let’s say… a few seconds, mostly because the only thing you have to is to steer left and steer right. The Sport mode is the icing on the cake and whenever you feel like driving (and we mean, real driving), just do it and we bet you’ll be surprised.

Although we’re not sure that mentioning fuel consumption is really important when talking about such a car, we have to do it. Porsche says that the Cayenne achieves 8.2 l/100km (28.6 mpg) in its artificial paradise, but real-life figures are a bit different. Numbers could easily go over 10-11 l/100km if you’re putting the Cayenne up to test, but seriously now, does it really matter given the fact that you’re driving a car whose maximum speed goes over 250 km/h (155 mph)?

The 8-speed Tiptronic transmission seems to be perfectly optimized for providing the optimum blend of fuel consumption, ride comfort and performance. No matter if you’re driving in Sport or Comfort, the throttle response is among the best in the class, which not only increases performance figures but also contributes to safety.

And because we’re talking about safety when leaving the city, the Cayenne comes with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) - active all-wheel drive with electronic controlled, map-controlled multi-plate clutch that helps the car glue to the ground regardless of the driving conditions. And trust us, such a system really deserves the praises, mostly because it does a good job to hold the horses of the 4.8-liter powerplant.

It would be a waste of time to mention all the features the Cayenne S has to offer for those who are willing to leave on longer journeys, but the car is an excellent companion for this type of adventures. Not only that it has a very, very wide range of safety features, but it’s also capable of providing an impressive level of comfort to all passengers, keeping them entertained just like on a playground.