Lots of people prefer to hate on the Porsche Cayenne. It dilutes the model’s picture! Stick to sports activities automobiles! Get off my garden! Never thoughts the truth that the Cayenne (in addition to its smaller SUV sibling, the Macan) accounts for the overwhelming majority of Porsche gross sales. To all these haters on the market, I’ve to ask: Have you really pushed one?The third-generation Porsche Cayenne is one in all — if not the — best-driving SUV cash should buy. Even the bottom model is a significantly satisfying steer.
But if any mannequin will change your thoughts in regards to the goodness of Porsche’s flagship SUV, it is this range-topping Turbo. With a 541-horsepower V8 and super-sharp reflexes, the Cayenne Turbo units a brand new benchmark for efficiency SUVs. It’s merely incredible, and 100% worthy of the Porsche crest on its hood.
The want for speedLaunching a 4,795-pound SUV to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds isn’t any small feat. The Cayenne’s twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 delivers 567 pound-feet of torque from simply 1,960 rpm, and the push of energy is unrelenting. The eight-speed Tiptronic automated transmission shifts with a quickness that’ll idiot you into pondering it is a dual-clutch unit, and for those who carry on chugging, you may prime out at 177 mph — in sixth gear, no much less.
Even so, the on-paper specs do not fairly do the behind-the-wheel expertise justice. Whether you are flooring it from a stoplight or dialing in a bit extra throttle to move a slower automobile on the freeway, turbocharged thrust is past ample. There’s a little bit of lag to the preliminary throttle demand, particularly for those who aren’t driving within the extra responsive Sport and Sport Plus settings. Of course, if it is advisable get round one other automobile or shoot the hole proper this on the spot, you may press the game response button in the course of the drive mode selector, which places the engine and transmission on full boil and offers you 20 seconds of full-on assault.On the opposite hand, even with its immense energy, the Cayenne Turbo is not a automobile it’s important to consistently rein in whereas driving within the metropolis. Yes, there is a volcano of pressure underneath your proper foot, however Porsche’s SUV is completely glad to only troll round city in Comfort mode, with straightforward throttle tip-in and silky-smooth transmission tuning. Take ‘er straightforward and also you simply might need an opportunity of hitting the Cayenne Turbo’s EPA-estimated 15 metropolis, 19 freeway and 17 mixed miles per gallon scores, too.Even on 21-inch wheels, the Turbo has an important trip high quality. Optional ceramic composite brakes provide large stopping energy, too.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
Sharp reflexesStraight-line pace is one factor. That the Cayenne Turbo may also put its energy to the bottom with unimaginable poise is one other. The SUV’s base suspension and steering setup is robotically tuned to make it a rewarding driver on winding roads. But my Turbo tester has a number of additional goodies added on that assist flip the whole lot as much as 11.For $1,620 and $1,500, respectively, Porsche matches the Cayenne Turbo with rear-axle steering and its PTV Plus torque-vectoring tech. The former helps give the Cayenne a little bit of a back-end nudge round turns, permitting it to higher rotate ‘spherical a bend. The latter, in the meantime, extra eagerly shuffles energy backward and forward, which improves general steadiness whereas cornering.The $3,590 Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control actively quells undesirable physique actions and works with the air suspension to maintain the trip high quality agency but compliant always. That’s particularly noticeable on this take a look at automobile, which rolls on 21-inch wheels ($1,250) with Pirelli P Zero summer time tires. For as a lot cornering grip as these huge, low-profile tires provide, the air suspension and PDCC tech preserve the trip freed from undesirable harshness. Combine all of it with crisp steering and you have got an SUV that is unmatched in simply how properly it handles canyon roads. None of this greatness comes on the expense of freeway cruising consolation, both.
The Cayenne Turbo comes customary with Porsche’s new surface-coated brakes, that are each a blessing and a curse. Sure, they supply glorious stopping energy and scale back the buildup of brake mud in your fancy-shmancy wheels, however I’ve usually discovered them problematic at decrease speeds. Slowing down on the freeway is completely file, however coming to a cease at 25 mph could be a significantly jerky affair — till you retrain your mind on methods to modulate the brake pedal, anyway. You may go for the ceramic composite brakes fitted to this take a look at automobile, as a substitute, that are set off by their yellow-painted calipers. They’re much more highly effective than the surface-coated brakes and do not have the identical low-speed abruptness to their chew. Of course, they’re additionally a $5,580 possibility.The cabin is snug and properly appointed, and the Porsche Communication Management infotainment tech is simple to make use of.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
Great tech headlines a snug cabinThere’s loads to love in regards to the Cayenne’s inside. The entrance seats are snug and supportive, and I dig the flat, angled panel surrounding the gear shifter, although the piano black end does put fingerprints on full show. The Turbo comes with leather-wrapped the whole lot, from the dashboard to the seats to the seize handles on both facet of the middle console, and each floor feels as beautiful because it appears to be like.
Rear-seat area is about common for the midsize SUV class. At five-feet, eight-inches tall, I’ve no drawback getting snug, with loads of head- and legroom within the second row. Taller passengers will match simply superb, too. When it comes time to haul extra than simply ass, the 26.3 cubic ft of area behind the second row is lower than what you may discover in a BMW X5 or Land Rover Range Rover Sport. So, too, is the 59.3 cubic ft of area obtainable with the again seats folded flat.Infotainment duties are dealt with by the always-lovely Porsche Communication Management system, with a pointy, 12.3-inch show within the heart console. PCM continues to impress with its fast response to inputs, myriad options and reconfigurable dwelling display, and comes customary with embedded navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot and assist for Apple CarPlay (however not Android Auto — nonetheless).However, a great deal of niceties don’t come customary, even on this most costly $124,600 (earlier than $1,250 for vacation spot) Cayenne Turbo. Prepare to pay additional for lane-keeping help with visitors signal recognition ($1,300), adaptive cruise management ($2,000) or a head-up show ($1,720). If you need 14-way energy seats, lane-change help, cooled seats and people cool LED matrix headlights, they’re all a part of the $3,690 Premium Package Plus. And all of that’s earlier than you peruse the Cayenne’s intensive customization choices.At $124,600 to begin, the Cayenne Turbo actually is not low cost, but it surely’s probably the greatest efficiency SUVs obtainable right now.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
The driver’s SUVAll instructed, the Cayenne Turbo examined right here stickers for $146,590, and represents a spec extra targeted on efficiency than consolation and tech. Still, it is a tremendous well-equipped automobile — for this value, it’d higher be — with issues like a panoramic sunroof, the aforementioned air suspension, heated seats and extra all bundled in as customary gear.That stated, I’d suggest saving some coin and going with the $82,900 Cayenne S. You get a more-than-plentiful 434 horsepower from a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo V6, and I desire its extra subdued entrance finish styling to the mouth-breather look of the Turbo. You can get all the identical inside choices, and because the S is as finely tuned as every other Cayenne, it too provides a cushty, thrilling drive.Turbo or not, the Cayenne is each bit a Porsche.
Steven’s Comparable Picks