When news surfaced that Porsche was creating an SUV, fans were horrified. The idea of a Porsche SUV, apparently, was simply too awful for purists to stomach - let alone the reality of it.
Hell, some even dubbed it the mutated version of the 911 when the Cayenne first saw daylight in 2002.
While true blue followers of the German sports carmaker struggled with this blasphemous fact, the Cayenne did not disappoint with its powerful V8 engines - although they must have been kicking themselves in the balls when the V6 variant (tested here) was launched here in 2010.
Exterior
Love it or loathe it, the Cayenne has magically done wonders for Porsche's profitability. While it won't win any beauty contests, the appeal of the Cayenne grew in the local market with its generous and practical proportions that do not look out of place.
Standing at 4,846mm long, 1,939mm wide and 1,705mm tall, the SUV no longer sports curvy corners. Instead, it has been shaved down and trimmed out, with more angular, racy lines. Even the restyled bumpers and front grille looks more menacing than before.
Hell, some even dubbed it the mutated version of the 911 when the Cayenne first saw daylight in 2002.
While true blue followers of the German sports carmaker struggled with this blasphemous fact, the Cayenne did not disappoint with its powerful V8 engines - although they must have been kicking themselves in the balls when the V6 variant (tested here) was launched here in 2010.
Exterior
Love it or loathe it, the Cayenne has magically done wonders for Porsche's profitability. While it won't win any beauty contests, the appeal of the Cayenne grew in the local market with its generous and practical proportions that do not look out of place.
Standing at 4,846mm long, 1,939mm wide and 1,705mm tall, the SUV no longer sports curvy corners. Instead, it has been shaved down and trimmed out, with more angular, racy lines. Even the restyled bumpers and front grille looks more menacing than before.
But it's the back that won't require a pair of keen eyes to spot the differences. It's now bolder and more beautiful, thanks to the pair of stretched taillights that sport fresh light clusters.
Plus, diffuser-styled bumper that houses the squared-off tail pipes set the second generation Cayenne apart from its previous model.
Plus, diffuser-styled bumper that houses the squared-off tail pipes set the second generation Cayenne apart from its previous model.
Interior
With an upwardly sloping centre console, along with bits and pieces of metallic trims that aren't overly done and quality materials surrounding you, the cabin is simply sumptuous.
It's now less of a drab and more upscale. As a result, the look and feel of the Cayenne's interior is easily the best there is in its class.
The layout, too, is near faultless. From the driver's seat, you will have absolutely no qualms reaching out to buttons and controls. And despite the array of identically sized and shaped buttons available for your exploration, there isn't a time when you'll feel overwhelmed.
With an upwardly sloping centre console, along with bits and pieces of metallic trims that aren't overly done and quality materials surrounding you, the cabin is simply sumptuous.
It's now less of a drab and more upscale. As a result, the look and feel of the Cayenne's interior is easily the best there is in its class.
The layout, too, is near faultless. From the driver's seat, you will have absolutely no qualms reaching out to buttons and controls. And despite the array of identically sized and shaped buttons available for your exploration, there isn't a time when you'll feel overwhelmed.
Space wise, the Cayenne will not disappoint. At 670 litres, the boot space is even larger than the BMW X5, which holds 620 litres.
Knock the rear seats down flat and the luggage capacity of the Cayenne will increase a couple of notches to 1,780 litres - more than enough to haul your golf and grocery bags.
Perhaps apart from being spacious, the Cayenne is comfort personified. High quality materials and admirable build quality further enhances the car's desirability, offering what many carmakers can merely dream of.
Knock the rear seats down flat and the luggage capacity of the Cayenne will increase a couple of notches to 1,780 litres - more than enough to haul your golf and grocery bags.
Perhaps apart from being spacious, the Cayenne is comfort personified. High quality materials and admirable build quality further enhances the car's desirability, offering what many carmakers can merely dream of.
Drivetrain
The Cayenne, despite its sizeable proportions, is very enjoyable to drive. It has driving mannerisms similar to a much smaller car. More notably, it doesn't feel nearly as cumbersome as the Audi Q7 or as heavy as the BMW X5 when manoeuvring in narrow roads and around town.
And when the roads are clear and open, the Porsche SUV is certain to delight drivers. In this aspect, the engineers working on the Cayenne has struck a nice balance between sportiness and comfort. It's hard not to be impressed with this car, really.
It isn't so much of how the car is able to dispatch the car off the line to the 100km/h mark in a respectable 7.8 seconds. Nor is it about how seamlessly all 300 horses get sent to four wheels as you mash the accelerator. Instead, it's how incredibly agile and poise the Cayenne is, regardless it's in three-digits speed or not.
Like we've always believed - fast doesn't equate to fun and it isn't exactly everything when it comes to cars. And for the Cayenne, it further enriches this very fact. It corners with aplomb and absolute confidence and the fact that the heavy steering is extremely precise helps a lot in this aspect.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is smoothly mated to the V6 powerplant. Played around together though, and you'd get the sense that gear changes themselves are more satisfying than manual overwrite - given the lack of Porsche's PDK dual-clutch gearbox in our test car.
The Cayenne, despite its sizeable proportions, is very enjoyable to drive. It has driving mannerisms similar to a much smaller car. More notably, it doesn't feel nearly as cumbersome as the Audi Q7 or as heavy as the BMW X5 when manoeuvring in narrow roads and around town.
And when the roads are clear and open, the Porsche SUV is certain to delight drivers. In this aspect, the engineers working on the Cayenne has struck a nice balance between sportiness and comfort. It's hard not to be impressed with this car, really.
It isn't so much of how the car is able to dispatch the car off the line to the 100km/h mark in a respectable 7.8 seconds. Nor is it about how seamlessly all 300 horses get sent to four wheels as you mash the accelerator. Instead, it's how incredibly agile and poise the Cayenne is, regardless it's in three-digits speed or not.
Like we've always believed - fast doesn't equate to fun and it isn't exactly everything when it comes to cars. And for the Cayenne, it further enriches this very fact. It corners with aplomb and absolute confidence and the fact that the heavy steering is extremely precise helps a lot in this aspect.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is smoothly mated to the V6 powerplant. Played around together though, and you'd get the sense that gear changes themselves are more satisfying than manual overwrite - given the lack of Porsche's PDK dual-clutch gearbox in our test car.
But of more interest to us is how aurally satisfying the car is despite having only a V6 underneath the Cayenne's bonnet. Activate the sport mode and the exhaust note amplifies a tad as it hunkers down and responds with a pleasing certainty.
And when the time comes to bleed off the speed, the brakes are more than up to the task of putting the SUV of over two tonnes to a halt.
Conclusion
The Porsche Cayenne is going for $287,188 (w/o COE, as of 22nd May 2013). While it's relatively pricey, it's a very desirable car that has a well respected badge. And for buyers who have the Cayenne in sight wouldn't be bothered too much about the fuel consumption of 8.9km/L instead of its stated 10.1km/L.
More than that, it steers, speeds and stops better than its peers in the market and it's a very practical and well built package.
Why are the Porschephiles complaining again?
And when the time comes to bleed off the speed, the brakes are more than up to the task of putting the SUV of over two tonnes to a halt.
Conclusion
The Porsche Cayenne is going for $287,188 (w/o COE, as of 22nd May 2013). While it's relatively pricey, it's a very desirable car that has a well respected badge. And for buyers who have the Cayenne in sight wouldn't be bothered too much about the fuel consumption of 8.9km/L instead of its stated 10.1km/L.
More than that, it steers, speeds and stops better than its peers in the market and it's a very practical and well built package.
Why are the Porschephiles complaining again?
