While it is easy to be tempted by the corporate’s quickest choices, the reality is, Porsche instills gobs of brilliance into even its most-basic fashions. That’s very true with the 718 and 911 sports activities automobiles, nevertheless it extends to Porsche’s four-door fashions, as nicely. Case in level: this 2019 Cayenne.Porsche will quickly supply the Cayenne in S, E-Hybrid and Turbo variants right here within the United States, and I am going to guess my backside greenback we’ll finally get a GTS trim, too. But for the sake of this assessment, I’ll deal with the bottom mannequin. It’s the inspiration on which each and every different Cayenne shall be constructed. As an entry-level providing, this Cayenne is something however fundamental.New look, in and outIt all begins with stronger underpinnings. The new Cayenne has solely grown barely in its third era — it is 2.4 inches longer and 0.9-inch wider than earlier than. Yet due to a better use of aluminum all through its physique construction, regardless of this slight enhance in dimension, the Cayenne is 120 kilos lighter than its predecessor.I’ve heard some folks say the brand new Cayenne is a bit uglier heading into 2019, however I absolutely disagree. Especially from the rear three-quarter view, Porsche’s largest SUV seems to be to be higher sorted than earlier than by way of design. I like the slim, full-width taillamps, with commonplace LED lighting. Up entrance, the headlamps get LED bulbs, as nicely. And whereas I do not love the mouth-breathing look of the sportier Cayenne Turbo, I feel the bottom mannequin’s grille seems to be simply positive. Certainly higher than earlier Cayennes, anyway.The inside will get an enormous improve by way of each supplies and design. The angled middle console adopts the flat floor launched on the brand new Panamera, with backlit buttons that present haptic suggestions when pushed — Porsche calls this Direct Touch Control. It’s a super-clean look, although beware, you will be wiping off greasy fingerprint smudges on the common (professional tip: do not eat french fries in your Porsche). The Cayenne’s massive seize bars flank both aspect of the console, and although they are a good carryover contact from earlier iterations of Porsche’s flagship SUV, they’re positioned low sufficient that I am unable to think about them being helpful as “oh shit” handles must you truly enterprise off street.Front passengers are handled to supportive leather-based seats, and there is sufficient house behind them for adults to comfortably benefit from the second row. Fold the again seats flat and the Cayenne affords 60.4 cubic toes of cargo house, which is not as spacious as a BMW X5 (72.3 cubic toes), however bests the Land Rover Range Rover Sport (56.8).I feel the brand new Cayenne seems to be greatest from this angle; these slim, LED taillights are actually sharp.
Marc Urbano/Porsche
Big screens, huge techA widespread trait between all Porsche autos is the big, fastened tachometer with digital pace readout, proper within the middle of the gauge cluster. But whereas different fashions have fastened gauges on one or either side, the Cayenne will get a pair of 7-inch digital shows, the place you may toggle between numerous panes of car information, or audio and navigation info.Smack-dab in the midst of the redesigned dashboard is a 12.3-inch Porsche Communication Management infotainment display screen — each Cayenne will get this big-screen remedy. Furthermore, all Cayenne fashions get on-line navigation, Apple CarPlay (however not Android Auto — nonetheless) and quite a lot of apps and providers bundled into Porsche’s Connect Plus bundle. Cayenne drivers can use Connect Plus to sync with Amazon Music and even good dwelling capabilities from Nest.I am an enormous fan of the PCM infotainment setup. Not solely is the high-resolution display screen straightforward to learn, with brilliant, crisp graphics, it is actually nice to make use of. Responses to inputs occur immediately, with no lag whereas swiping between screens or shifting by means of menus. Yes, the menus could be a little intimidating at first — it takes a number of tries to essentially get the grasp of the general construction. But the extra I take advantage of PCM, the extra I just like the format, to not point out the wealth of customization choices. The dwelling display screen, for instance, might be rearranged to indicate only a few or an entire bunch of widgets, all of that are reconfigurable.The 12.3-inch Porsche Communication Management display screen affords high-resolution graphics, and the infotainment system inside is a pleasure to make use of.
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An entire lot higher to driveThe Cayenne will get a brand new base engine for 2019, and it is a whole champ. Gone is the previous, naturally aspirated, 3.6-liter V6; as a replacement is a turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 — the identical one you will discover underneath the hood of the 2019 Macan S. With 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque on faucet, the turbo engine boasts features of 35 horsepower and 37 pound-feet over the previous V6. More importantly, that elevated energy arrives sooner — all 332 pound-feet of twist comes on at simply 1,340 rpm, in comparison with 3,000 rpm within the previous Cayenne.Every Cayenne sends its energy to the bottom through all-wheel drive, and the turbo engine mates to a brand new eight-speed automated transmission for 2019. With smoother, faster shifts — to not point out the wholesome enhance in energy — this helps the Cayenne publish improved acceleration occasions. Porsche says the 2019 Cayenne will dash to 60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds, in comparison with 7.3 within the last-generation mannequin. Opt for the Sport Chrono pack and your Cayenne will do the 0-to-60 dance in simply 5.6 seconds. Considering this factor weighs 4,377 kilos, that is rattling fast.But the Cayenne is not a greater performer simply because it is faster off the road. On the hilly roads north of Napa, California — the identical attractive route the place I examined the 911 Carrera T, one other ode to Porsche’s base-model excellence — the Cayenne reveals off its newfound verve.The new chassis strikes a wonderful steadiness between journey consolation and sharp dealing with, Porsche’s non-obligatory adaptive air suspension aiding on this ready-for-anything conduct. Cayennes come commonplace on 19-inch wheels, with 20- and 21-inch rollers out there as choices. I respect the excessive sidewall and comfortable journey of the 19-inch setup, but when corner-carving is a excessive precedence, you will need to go for one of many bigger fitments, if just for the extra aggressive tires. The 21-inch wheels and staggered Pirelli P-Zero tires of my check automotive present wonderful cornering grip, however surrender slightly in the best way of cruising consolation. Personally, I might in all probability go together with a 20-inch choice. Split the distinction, ya know?Sharp steering and a taut chassis make the Cayenne really feel like a a lot smaller car from behind the wheel.
Marc Urbano/Porsche
Like different Porsche automobiles, the Cayenne’s steering is strictly proper. The SUV is fast to answer inputs, with a degree of suggestions that is properly matched to the load of the steering wheel’s motion. You can rapidly and precisely negotiate a good sequence of switchbacks, and also you by no means really feel such as you’re making an attempt to tame some outsized, cumbersome beast. Porsche even affords rear-axle steering right here, too, serving to the Cayenne really feel like a a lot smaller, nimbler car.The 2019 Cayenne introduces the primary utility of Porsche’s new Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB) — a $3,490 choice on this base mannequin. You’ll acknowledge these brakes due to their silver calipers; the usual stoppers are darkish grey, whereas Porsche’s carbon ceramic choice stands out with a brilliant yellow end. They’re fairly huge, with 16.3-inch discs up entrance and 14.4-inch discs on the rear. But most impressively, Porsche says these new brakes are extra responsive than the usual setup whereas nonetheless posting a 90-percent discount in brake mud. Porsche homeowners hate brake mud, I am instructed.In motion, the PSCB setup takes some getting used to — I discover them super-touchy at gradual speeds. But on the street, these new brakes supplies safe, unrelenting stopping energy. That’s nice in the event you’ll be driving your Cayenne with gusto on a regular basis, however truthfully, the usual brakes — 13.8-inch entrance and 13.0-inch rear metal models — really feel simply positive, even with the kind of frivolously spirited driving I am doing on this Northern California check route. The PSCB setup will come commonplace on the much-more-powerful 2019 Cayenne Turbo, and I feel they’re going to make a much bigger affect in that utility.Really, it would not matter which brake choice you select. With its higher energy supply, properly tuned chassis and nice steering, the 2019 Cayenne is actually pleasant to drive. It’ll do positive work as a cushty commuter automotive day in and time out, however must you push this Cayenne a bit more durable, it will reply like a correct Porsche ought to.The base Cayenne begins at $65,700, however like all Porsche autos, the choices add up fast.
Marc Urbano/Porsche
A robust case for going baseWith costs beginning at $65,700, not together with $1,050 for vacation spot, the 2019 Cayenne is positioned fairly competitively throughout the luxurious SUV house. The aforementioned BMW X5 is available in at $60,700, however a Range Rover Sport will set you again $69,050 earlier than choices. Although, talking of choices, Porsche’s record of extras is as in depth as ever, and the add-ons add up fast. You’ll spend $3,150 for the Palladium Metallic paint seen right here, $1,850 for a panoramic sunroof, $5,500 for the 21-inch Exclusive Design wheels, $1,900 for 14-way energy seats, $2,730 for matrix-design headlights, $530 for heated seats and far, far more. All of a sudden, your $65,700 base Cayenne prices $86,670. But that is the story with each Porsche.What I like greatest concerning the base 2019 Cayenne is the way it on no account seems like a compromise. You get the identical ranges of luxurious and onboard tech as another Cayenne, and even in its least-powerful guise, this SUV actually scoots. I am keen to guess the extra Cayenne fashions shall be lots pleasant to drive, too. But for people who do not need to shell out for S and Turbo equipment, this base variant is spectacular stuff.Editors’ notice: Travel prices associated to this function have been lined by the producer. This is widespread within the auto trade, as it’s miles extra economical to ship journalists to automobiles than to ship automobiles to journalists. While Roadshow accepts multiday car loans from producers in an effort to present scored editorial opinions, all scored car opinions are accomplished on our turf and on our phrases.The judgments and opinions of Roadshow’s editorial group are our personal and we don’t settle for paid editorial content material.
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