The plan was simple, we were given an array or Cayennes to sample. We did them in the most logical order of course – starting in the base car before progressing onto the Cayenne S and ending our day in the blustery Cayenne Turbo. A natural progression in a SUV that makes for unnatural progression when you plant your right foot. But, with ungodly acceleration I’ve already gotten ahead of myself – let’s start with the new looks.
It isn’t terribly different is it? Not until you’ve rounded the back of course, where the blob-like lamp clusters of old have been replaced with a black bar – just one example of how much emphasis on horizontal lines have gone into the new car’s design. I mean at the back and front, in the profile too - all clues to the new car’s extra athleticism.
The familiarity is by design – with hallmarks returning most notably around the front wings and C pillar. It gets a sleeker nose than before, a more aggressively raked roof line and the alloy wheels are one inch larger. As for the flagship Turbo- that comes with 21s. Generally it is 6cm longer and 1 cm lower than the car it replaces – now features an active aero rear wing – adaptive in four settings from Eco to Air Brake. There’s even a setting on the wing that’s particularly erect called ‘Compensation’. Apparently it is in reference to the open sunroof but, we giggled.
Eventually we settled into the belly of the leathery beast (not upon it) and were greeted with a driver-centric cockpit including an instrument panel designed (and tilted) for the benefit of the driver. Multimedia glass measures 12.3 inches, is mostly devoid of knobs and controls and has your connectivity options licked. There’s even voice command that responds to instructions such as “I'm cold” or “Take me to KFC”, or whatever you fancy.
Driving, handling and ride qualities are sourced from the 911 – that includes Adaptive Air Suspension (new PASM), Electromechanical rear axle steer (also from the 911). And this is new – PSCB or Porsche Surface Coated Brakes now with tungsten for reduced dust. The use of a lightweight battery makes the new car 10kg lighter despite all the new technology – not to mention park assist, predictive pedestrian mitigation and more.
Initial verdict
So that’s it – the new car is prettier, more usable, has more space and technology. Oh, and it’s quicker and lighter. In fact they all are, but if I had to pick one I’d settle on the Cayenne S. Naturally, the Turbo is even more of a monster but on the mountain passes we were invited to carve up, the S was all we needed with its biturbo 2.9l V6 good for 324kW.
To put it into perspective, the base car makes 250kW and the Turbo has 404kW to play with. But seeing as there’s an R800,000 price difference we’ll stand by our decision and opt for the goldilocks of Cayenne’s, the S.
2018 Porsche Cayenne Pricing:
| Cayenne | R1,142,000.00 |
| Cayenne S | R1 296,000.00 |
| Cayenne E-Hybrid | R1,690,000.00 |
| Cayenne Turbo | R2,158,000.00 |
