Coupe, huh?
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What differentiates a crossover from a crossover-coupe (or “coupeover,” in Roadshow parlance)? If you are the Porsche Cayenne, not a lot. The two variants of the German automaker’s bigger SUV share all the things from engines to suspension parts to inside trimmings and onboard tech, with solely a sloping roofline setting them aside.

LikeRobust twin-turbo V6 performanceOne of the best-handling luxurious SUVs roundCoupe type causes few sacrificesInfotainment tech sport is powerful

Don’t LikeAdded price does not appear price itMost driver-assistance aids are elective

That’s not essentially a nasty factor, although; the 2020 Porsche Cayenne is without doubt one of the finest high-performance premium SUVs obtainable immediately. Whether you go for the bottom mannequin or the just about superlative Turbo S E-Hybrid, the Cayenne is an absolute delight to drive, with luxurious appointments and a few of the finest infotainment tech round. S marks the spot Fantastic as all Turbo-badged Cayennes are, it is the midrange S that I truly discover most interesting. The twin-turbocharged, 2.9-liter V6 is a honey of an engine, producing a wholesome 434 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque (the latter of which comes on sturdy at simply 1,800 rpm). Despite its substantial 4,725-pound curb weight, the Cayenne S Coupe can scoot to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds (4.6 seconds should you go for the costly Lightweight Sport Pack, which provides a carbon-fiber roof). That’s fairly rattling fast for a crossover this huge.

All Cayenne Coupes come commonplace with Porsche’s Sport Chrono bundle, which, along with the lap timer on the sprint (which is healthier used as a clock), provides you the all-important push-to-pass Sport Response button in the course of the drive-mode selector. I by no means get uninterested in urgent this when I’m about to overhaul a slower automobile on a two-lane highway, although with 434 hp on faucet, a fast stab of the throttle gives ample motivation, too. Even extra spectacular is how agile the Coupe is whereas cornering. Like each present Porsche, the steering is completely weighted, however not so fast as to make the massive Cayenne unnecessarily darty. My tester’s $2,170 adaptive air suspension retains the experience agency however snug, and the $1,500 torque-vectoring tech shuffles energy aspect to aspect below cornering for max grip. No, the Cayenne S Coupe will not idiot you into considering it is a 911 on a winding highway, however I dare you to search out one other massive crossover-coupe that is as participating.

At its highest level, the Coupe’s roofline is 20mm decrease than the usual Cayenne.
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Your native vendor can be joyful to promote you a Cayenne S Coupe with both upgraded surface-coated or ceramic-composite brakes — $3,490 and $9,080, respectively. Honestly, although, the usual metal stoppers like these fitted to my tester work nice. If you are planning to take your Cayenne Coupe on a observe (you are not), then you definately may wish to contemplate one in every of these extra highly effective braking choices, however I’m joyful to report the bottom setup is nice. Plus, these metal brakes are simpler to modulate at slower, in-city speeds, which is the place the vast majority of Cayenne Coupes will spend their time. Likewise, it is right here the place Porsche’s coupeover is as snug as every other Cayenne variant, with an awesome experience high quality due to the aforementioned air suspension — even on my tester’s upgraded 21-inch wheels.

If there is a draw back to the Cayenne S Coupe’s highly effective engine and nice on-road manners, it is that gasoline financial system is not something to jot down dwelling about. The EPA estimates this mannequin will return 18 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 22 mpg freeway and 19 mpg mixed. If you drive your Cayenne with gusto — and who may blame you? — anticipate to see effectivity numbers within the mid-to-high teenagers on the reg. More type, much less house Unsurprisingly, the obvious method to spot a Cayenne Coupe is from the rear. The roofline has been lowered by 20 millimeters at its highest level, these rear hips are 18mm wider and the license plate is housed within the rear bumper, versus greater up on the hatch.
Overall, I like the way in which the Cayenne Coupe seems… till you get it above 56 mph. That’s when the flush-fitting rear spoiler motors up and out, and it is large. The total panel between the rear glass and the taillights turns into a wing, and there is even a small lip spoiler on prime, for no matter that is price. Combine that with the roof spoiler atop the hatch, which itself has openings within the center for higher airflow, and the Cayenne has not one, not two, however three wings. Thankfully, you do not have to take a look at the Cayenne Coupe while you’re driving it, however I form of hate what the large spoiler does to this crossover’s in any other case engaging design when in full-on peacock mode. Plus, due to the required aero work, there is not any manner for Porsche to mount a rear window wiper to the Cayenne. Company engineers inform me it does not want one, however particularly after driving this factor throughout an unusually wet Los Angeles week, I proceed to disagree. Otherwise, this physique type’s trade-offs aren’t as dangerous as you may assume. Rearward visibility continues to be lots good, and there is 22 cubic ft of house at the back of the Coupe, which expands to 53.3 cubic ft with the rear seats folded. These are solely reductions of 5 and 7 cubic ft versus the usual Cayenne, respectively, so it actually is not something to lose sleep over. Up entrance, the Coupe is as roomy and techy as each different Cayenne mannequin.
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A comfortable cabin with nice tech The Coupe’s rear seats are straightforward to get out and in of, due to the truth that Porsche lowered the rear bench by 1.2 inches in contrast with the traditional Cayenne. You do need to duck your head a bit as you get in, however there’s loads of headroom as soon as inside, a sensation amplified by the Coupe’s commonplace panoramic glass roof. A two-passenger rear seating association is commonplace, however a three-across bench just like the one in my check automobile is offered at no cost. Up entrance, the Coupe is as plush and properly appointed as the remainder of the Cayenne vary, with supportive seats for the motive force and passenger and a cleanly organized heart console that includes flush, backlit controls. A 12.3-inch touchscreen takes heart stage on the dashboard, operating Porsche Communication Management software program, the identical as you may discover within the firm’s different new vehicles. I like PCM for its reconfigurable dwelling display screen, wealth of performance, crisp graphics and fast responses. And hey, should you do not feel the identical manner about PCM that I do, Apple CarPlay comes commonplace, although it nonetheless does not have Android Auto. Porsche’s full roster of driver help tech is offered within the Cayenne S Coupe, together with all the things from the corporate’s InnoDrive freeway assistant, which mixes adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help, to traffic-sign recognition, a surround-view digicam system, Night Vision Assist, head-up show and lane-change help. The solely concern? All of those goodies price further, even on the $89,950 (together with $1,350 for vacation spot) Cayenne S Coupe. Despite the sloping roofline, the rear seats provide loads of house.
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More cash, similar Cayenne S vs. S, the Coupe is $4,300 dearer than the historically formed Cayenne, although it is price noting the swoopy-roof model comes with the next stage of ordinary tools, together with inch-larger wheels, the Sport Chrono pack, energy sport seats and the aforementioned glass roof. Like each Porsche, the sky is the restrict in the case of customization, with a frivolously optioned model like my check automobile nonetheless breaking into six-figure territory at $102,110 (together with vacation spot). My massive beef with the Coupe is that I do not assume it actually differentiates itself sufficient from the usual Cayenne to warrant that worth hike. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz not less than make their coupeovers look a little bit completely different, and typically they offer them distinctive engine choices, too. Porsche’s competitor simply has its modestly completely different roofline. Of course, I suppose when your start line is the already-damn-near-flawless Cayenne, it does not make sense to mess with success.