Cayenne coupe handles the curves
David Linklater.
Less is more when it comes to the latest Porsche SUV model, writes
Say what you will about Porsche SUVs, you can’t claim there’s a lack of choice. Joining the already extensive Cayenne SUV lineup is a new range of coupe models.
Certainly not the concept of a posh SUV that’s also a coupe. BMW did it first back in 2007 with the X6 and everybody laughed. Then it sold hundreds of thousands of the things and everyone copied, including Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
Now Porsche has come to the party with the Cayenne coupe. It is available in standard, S (as tested here) and Turbo versions, each aligning with a Cayenne SUV variant.
The coupe is different to the SUV from the B-pillar back and includes an adaptive rear spoiler (it extends further past 90kmh) and what Porsche calls ‘‘two different roof concepts’’: a fixed panoramic glass unit (2.16 square metres) or contoured carbon.
In either case, there’s a bit of visual trickery going on: the arches are the same colour as the body but the higher section of the roof is black and therefore near-invisible from the side, meaning it looks like the roofline has a much steeper rake than it really does.
Styling is always a matter of taste, but it’s fair to say the Cayenne coupe is much more idiosyncratic looking than rival models from BMW and MercedesBenz.
In fact, it looks a lot like a scaled-up Macan, which already has a touch of the SUV-coupe about it (although it’s not pitched as such by Porsche).
The coupe does convey a sportier feel than the Cayenne wagon (is that right, ‘‘wagon’’?) but mostly because you’re sitting so much lower.
The car itself is 20mm lower than the standard model and the seating position is actually 30mm lower. The default for the rear is two individual seats, further adding to the coupe feel, although our test car had the no-cost-option ‘‘2+1’’ layout.
Beyond that the S coupe is not hugely different to drive from the standard equivalent. Nothing wrong with that: the Cayenne is one of the most composed and engaging premium SUVs you can buy, with rapid performance and uncanny body control.
Our test car was further sharpened with a shouty exhaust system ($5860) and 22-inch wheels ($7600).
While it’s undeniably less practical than the wagon version, the Cayenne coupe still gets a generous 625-litre boot. So there isn’t huge compromise.
Styling is always a matter of taste, but it’s fair to say the Cayenne coupe is much more idiosyncratic looking than rival models from BMW and MercedesBenz.
These kinds of SUVs make absolutely no sense and aren’t supposed to, so you’ll probably choose based on brand preference and/or design.
There’s a new BMW X6 in the mix and a new Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe on the way next year.
Audi has its Q8 and you could even argue the Range Rover Velar (now available in a throaty SV AB V8 model) has a touch of the SUV coupe about it.