Somewhere hidden in Porsche’s headquarters in Stuttgart, we believe this iconic car manufacturer possesses a crystal ball that predicts the future. After all, Porsche was one of the earliest sports car marques to offer a SUV, one that certainly divided opinions.
Sime-Darby Auto Performance, the official distributor of Porsches here in Malaysia recently organized a media drive down to Johor Bahru for the launch of the new Porsche Cayman GT4. Members of the media were assigned to the Porsche Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Diesel. After having sampled all three variants, the toughest choice was deciding which one was the one.
Starting as an entry-level model is the Porsche Cayenne, powered by a 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6, good for 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque. When coupled with the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, the base Porsche Cayenne can hit 100 km/h from a dead stop in just 7.7 seconds, before reaching a 230 km/h top speed.
Moving one level up is the Cayenne Diesel. Similar to the base Cayenne, the diesel-powered variant also sports a V6 engine, though coming in at just 3.0-litres. Horsepower is rated at a modest 245 hp, but torque figures are impressive, as the Cayenne Diesel boasts a maximum of 550 Nm of torque, readily available from a low 1,750 rpm. 0-100 km/h times are marginally better, at 7.3 seconds, though top speed is ‘just’ 221 km/h. The diesel Cayenne also features the same eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox.
The top-of-the-line variant we tried was the Cayenne S. This hotter variant is also fitted with a 3.6-litre V6 engine, though different from the one found on the base model. The force-fed six-cylinder engine in the Cayenne S produces 420 hp at 6,000 rpm and 550 Nm of torque. Being a performance variant of the Cayenne, it is no surprise to see that the large 2 tonne SUV can propel itself from standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds, with a top speed of 259 km/h.
But how does the Porsche Cayenne drive? We shall start with the base Cayenne as a benchmark. Our base variant here has been fitted with the optional Sport Exhaust system, which gives the Cayenne a throatier exhaust note. Even gear shifts are more audible thanks to the Sport Exhaust set up, with each up shift resulting in a lovely crackle. Give it the beans, the Cayenne takes a fair bit of time to reach 200 km/h. Despite that, the Cayenne takes twisty roads with pride, thanks to the optional air suspension with self-levelling, ride-height control and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). Even with kerb weight of over two tonnes, this large SUV handled corners with little to no body-roll.
Next up is the diesel-powered Cayenne with its monster 550 Nm of torque. Overtaking has never been any easier, to be honest. On the base Cayenne, the Tiptronic gearbox had to downshift two or three gears before it accelerates, but on the diesel variant, a maximum of two downshifts is needed before the strong acceleration pushes you back into your seats. Being the diesel variant also meant that fuel efficiency is its strong point, as the diesel variant was the most efficient one during the drive, sipping only 7.8 litres of diesel per 100 km while being the cleanest of the bunch, emitting just 179 g of CO2 per km.
Lastly we had a go at the Cayenne S, also with 550 Nm of torque, but with nearly double the horsepower of the Cayenne Diesel. The Cayenne S here was also fitted with the optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) set up, which provided excellent stopping power and remained fade free for the entire drive. Put your foot hard down, the V6 up front growls in a matter that can be best described as aural pleasure. Unlike the base Cayenne, the Cayenne S here does not feature the Sport Exhaust system, instead relying on the factory system. The Cayenne S is also the quickest to hit 120 km/h from 80 km/h, taking just 3.7 seconds!
Inside, all three variants were similar, with nearly 120 buttons littered throughout the entire cabin. Yes, that is almost 120 buttons, excluding the rotary controls inside the new Porsche Cayenne. Elsewhere, the Cayenne S is equipped with optional ventilated seats all round, which was an added bonus for hot climate countries like ours. Fit and finish of the Cayenne is top notch, with high quality leather used extensively.
Ride comfort, as long as the air suspension is set to comfort, is pretty darn good. Choosing Sport or Sport Plus mode will result in a bumpier ride for those at the back, but body roll certainly gets reduced. Though, drivers and passengers above 180 cm may find the interior a bit too tight for their liking. Since I am no where that tall, I can fit in just nice.
Overall, the Porsche Cayenne definitely scores well for its excellent interior and powerful engines. Exterior may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the luxurious interior will definitely win some over. The diesel-powered Cayenne definitely deserves a second visit, as this particular variant offers stellar performance coupled with outstanding fuel economy.
Prices start from RM640,000 for the base model Cayenne and Cayenne Diesel, while the hotter Cayenne S has a starting price of RM760,000. Check out Alia’s post here to find out more about the recently-launched Porsche Cayenne.
Porsche Cayenne Photo Gallery (photos by Aaron Lee & Eric)
