Motoring

Much has been said about the Cayenne but the latest SUV from the German marque is a true blue Porsche

The upgraded version of the Porsche Cayenne proves to be synonymous with exhilarating speed and versatility

PORSCHE USED TO build tanks and tractors. This is something not many people are aware of. After all, the brand has become synonymous with exhilarating speed and sexy sports cars. But it does demonstrate the automaker’s versatility in vehicle production. So, it puzzled me when Porsche received mixed reception to its introduction of the Cayenne, the first four-door Porsche, back in 2002.

Opinions have changed drastically some two decades later, with each successive update to the Cayenne. As a matter of fact, it is one of Porsche’s best-selling models and regularly occupies the top spot in certain regions around the world.

We’ve driven a couple of Cayennes here at AUGUSTMAN and we’ve always left the car back at the showroom with a strong sense of longing in the heart. It might not have the good looks of a Boxster or the raw speed of a 911 but it was always a brilliant drive.

And we daresay the third and latest generation of the Porsche Cayenne is the best SUV on the market.

Breaking It Down

You’d be hard-pressed to find the aesthetic changes in the new Cayenne because they’re subtle to the point of invisibility.

The exterior length has been increased by 63mm but the wheelbase remains the same length. The roof has also been slightly reduced. Nine milimetres, if you have to ask. There are a couple more visual updates ‒ headlights have been rearranged and a couple of lines on the car have been accentuated to make it look more athletic. If you weren’t a fan of the Cayenne’s looks in the past, this new iteration isn’t going to change your mind.

Instead, Porsche has reserved most of the major updates for the important technical stuff underneath the hood.

More Vroom For Your Buck

The engines have been downsized but boast more power. We drove the Porsche Cayenne S, which is powered by a 2.9-litre V6 engine. It sounds rather standard on paper until you realise it rockets the car to 100kph in a mere 4.9 seconds with the Sports Chrono package. And that’s not even top of the range. The Cayenne Turbo shaves another second off the century sprint timing.

You’ll need solid brakes for that kind of speed and the Germans have used the Cayenne to debut its new Porsche Surface Coated Brake. The tungsten carbide coating and improved engineering means you can push the car to the limit on corners. And what fun it is, indeed, to careen into those lovely chicanes and feel the car’s response. Rear-axle steering and a new 48V electrical system helps the Cayenne respond quicker to road conditions, letting you focus on the one thing ‒ the pleasure of driving. AM