Two generations in and the Cayenne is still the best selling car in the Porsche range. So, how do you improve it?
You bring out the Cayenne S Diesel, equipped with the smoothest and most refined engine in its class.
Under the bonnet of this monster 4x4 lies a
377bhp 4.2-litre V8 twin-turbo diesel engine. It has an enormous
850Nm of pulling power making it lots of fun when driving on twisty roads. Over-taking slower cars requires little effort - just prod the throttle and the engine responds immediately.
It’s not slow, either. The benchmark sprint time of 5.7 seconds is impressive while the Cayenne S Diesel has a top speed of 157mph.
Even the sound of the V8 engine is filtered into the cabin, giving you a great backing track while tackling switchback roads. Who needs the stereo when you have an engine that sounds as good as this?
The eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox is smooth and very quick to shift up and down. The eight gears make the Cayenne more frugal and seventh and eighth are designed as overdrive gears to improve economy.
This top-of-the-range Cayenne comes with the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system. It works by directing the torque to the front wheels according to the driving conditions to improve stability and traction. You can hone this even further to suit your own driving style by adding the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), which varies torque between the rear wheels using an electronically controlled differential. This means drivers are able to corner far tighter than they would otherwise be able to.
For a big car the Cayenne has the measure of its rivals when it comes to handling - even the impressive BMW X6. There is a fair amount of lean in the corners but it stays planted at speed and there is plenty of grip when driving enthusiastically. The steering is direct and there is a good level of feedback allowing you to have confidence in the car.
The Porsche Cayenne S Diesel makes short work of long journeys. The comfort setting is best used on the motorways where a more compliant ride quality is required. Normal is the default setting and is a mix between comfort and sport. Reserve the Sport setting for when you are driving enthusiastically - it firms up the suspension to enable better cornering at speed.
It’s not all about performance, though. The Porsche Cayenne S Diesel is actually quite frugal - which is another reason for owning one. It will return
34.0mpg on average meaning that one tank could potentially last up to 745 miles - if you can achieve the claimed combined fuel economy. Stop/start technology is fitted to this car making this the only V8 diesel 4x4 to have it as standard kit to date.
There are downsides, though. With all that power, CO2 emissions are high. The Cayenne S Diesel emits 218g/km, translating to a whopping BIK band of 37%. For that reason you can forget about seeing this version of the Cayenne on too many company car lists.
It’s practical, too. With the seats in place the Cayenne has a load space of 670 litres and with the rear seats folded it has capcity for 1,780 litres. The Cayenne trumps BMW’s X6 (570 litres with seats in place) but is still smaller than a Range Rover Sport, which has a capacity of 958 litres with seats in place.
This version of the Cayenne is well kitted-out. Standard equipment includes the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system, leather interior, dual-zone automatic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen and entertainment system, eight-way powered front seat adjustment, front and rear electric windows, 18-inch alloys, Porsche Vehicle Tracking system and a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone.
The Cayenne S Diesel will appeal to buyers that want 4x4 traction, a practical and comfortable car for the family and performance credentials on-demand.
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/news/2012/october/porsche-cayenne-10-on-diesel-5d-tiptronic-s-road-test/
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