Porsche Cayenne Turbo Test Drive Review

2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Review

Car Tested: 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo; Road Test No. 1042; Test Location: Mumbai

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 2,22,11,461/-

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo is a practical, fun and powerful SUV for any terrain

The world is shifting towards SUVs, even in the premium performance car segment and that trend can be credited to Porsche which was among the first sports car manufacturers to launch an SUV, way back in 2002. Porsche being a maker of fantastic sports cars, did receive criticism but the success of the Cayenne has proved how there was S missing in SUVs and the Stuttgart automaker was the one to inject sportiness in what was otherwise a body type oriented only towards off-road. The latest generation of the Cayenne drops the diesel powerplant altogether but is faster, sportier and more tech-laden. We road test it to tell you why the Porsche Cayenne is one of the best SUVs in the world.

Motor Quest: Launched in 2002, the Cayenne was received well for offering sporty performance with the Porsche DNA. The second generation model was launched in 2011 and last year, Porsche unveiled the third generation of the Cayenne. It shares its MLB Evo platform with the Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus.

Exteriors – You will probably need a magnifying glass to spot the changes in the new Cayenne Turbo over its predecessor. The design is clearly evolutionary than revolutionary and you’ll have to look twice or maybe thrice to spot the changes as they are very subtle but rather effective. Keep the old and the new Cayenne Turbo side by side and it is easy to see that the newer version looks leaner, tighter and cleaner than the older model. The front grille looks neatly integrated and more elegant than before and the headlights look sharper thanks to the 3D effect given to them.

The Cayenne looks very appealing with many trademark Porsche elements

The sporty alloys look befitting to a car that exudes such performance and we still love how effortlessly the lines merge into the rear. It is at the back where the change is very apparent. The single strip of LED that runs across the boot to either tail-light makes it look like a modern Porsche. The tail-lights also have the 3D effect which looks very cool when lit up. The quad exhausts and the adaptive spoiler on the hatch gives a hint of the power underneath. If that is not enough to tell you about the prowess of the Cayenne, the Turbo badge certainly will.

Interiors – Step inside the relatively low slung interiors and you know where your money is spent. The cabin is truly luxurious and lives up to the brand’s premium image. The layout, unlike the exterior, is a massive departure from the older car. The dashboard looks similar to the Panamera with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominating it. The centre console is effectively button-free with most controls swapped for a more clutter-free haptic touch. The touch works brilliantly and is a joy to use. There are some physical controls like the rotary dial to change between menus and volume control. The knurled finish on them looks and feel very premium but they are a bit difficult to operate because the gear lever comes in the way.

The instrument cluster is an information overload giving you a myriad of information on the part digital cluster. There is so much to digest in that, you will probably need the owner’s manual to understand what the various dials tell you. We like how the rev counter is still analog and that wrap around effect of the instrument cluster. The equipment list is long but since this is a Porsche, there are many boxes still to be ticked. But with memory function seats, 4-zone climate control and Bose audio coming as standard, we don’t think you will need to spend too much more to make it a more luxurious experience.

The interior of the new Porsche Cayenne is indeed well-built and tech-laden

The steering is another talking point which not only looks sporty but also feels great to hold. The chunky steering also houses well laid out controls to change the various settings on the instrument cluster. The driving modes can be changed via a brilliantly located rotary dial on the steering wheel. It is a logical position because you don’t have to take your eyes off the road when you are changing them.

All the seats are very comfortable and supportive. The front seats are shaped well, provide excellent support and can be adjusted in a variety of positions to suit the driver as well as the passenger. The rear seat is also very nice, offering a good amount of knee room and legroom. Head room is also good but the transmission tunnel robs of some space that could be used by a third passenger. The cabin has enough storage areas and the boot is also very accommodating.

The overall quality is exceptional, to say the least. The cabin feels very well screwed together and from the way the doors shut to the general finesse of the interiors, one is left with the feeling that the interiors will last forever. Some plastics, however, could’ve been better and the wood inserts feel a bit aftermarket. But that is all we can say against the interior of the Cayenne, which on all other counts is a wonderfully built, supremely comfortable place to spend time in.

Performance – The Porsche Cayenne Turbo is powered by a 4.0-litre bi-turbo petrol engine which sees an increase in power and torque by 30 HP and 20 Nm respectively, the third-gen model belting out 550 HP and 770 Nm, resulting in a half a second quicker 0-100 km/hr sprint at just 3.9 seconds! The engine is very responsive, thoroughly refined at idle and once you get in the mid-range, it starts getting vocal (in a good way), redlining at 7000 RPM with a raucous note, although it isn’t very loud and should have been more audible inside the cabin.

The Cayenne takes off right from get-go as there is crazy thrust from the motor

Left foot on the brake, right foot on the accelerator engages launch control (Performance Start in Porsche speak) but you need to wait a bit for the turbo to build boost pressure, resulting in an ideal launch, it absolutely flies off the line and pins you back in the seat, gathering pace so quickly that the claimed 286 km/hr top speed seems like a cakewalk. The 8-speed torque converter gearbox is super fast with shifts and very aggressive with downshifts when you drive in Sport Plus mode, it also firms up the suspension, engine and steering. You can manually take control of cogs using the gear lever (push it left) or via the steering mounted paddles. The Cayenne Turbo returns a fuel economy of 4-7 km/l, depending on your driving style, there is a stop/start function too. The engine also shuts 4 of the cylinders when you go easy on the throttle to save fuel.

Driving Dynamics – The Porsche Cayenne uses an air suspension, it also gets electromechanical anti-roll bars, rear wheel steering and torque vectoring (some of this is optional though). This sports SUV is set up on the stiffer side so you can feel a lot of the road, especially in Sports Plus mode and on not so smooth roads, although on good roads, it does ride smoothly. A modest weight reduction of 10 kgs has happened from the previous generation but you can’t feel any of the 2175 kgs weight as the Cayenne does feel light to drive and the steering is an absolute joy to use, it offers terrific feel and feedback at all speeds.

You can adjust the ride height depending on where you’re driving this Porsche

The massive 21-inch tyres have a ton of grip on offer and the adjustable ride height means you can go all the way up to 245 mm when going off-road or drop it down to 162 mm for sporty driving. The body control is fantastic, the Cayenne drives more sports car like than SUV and is pinpoint accurate, inspiring confidence to push it hard. In spite of the sportiness, it still is very capable off-road, thanks to the use of electronics (it misses out on locking differentials which were there in the original model).

The Cayenne has a 5 star safety rating, it comes with a slew of electronics

Safety – The new car is just 10 kgs lighter than the old one thanks to weight-saving material used in the vehicle’s construction. However, Porsche insists that the use of steel has been generous at impact points to make the Cayenne Turbo an extremely safe car. You get all the regular equipment like ESP, Traction Control and up to 8 airbags. The car has been recently awarded a full 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating making it very safe. Porsche hasn’t equipped the Cayenne with radar-based crash avoidance systems though. The four-wheel drive system and potent grip offered by the tyres make driving a safe and secure experience. Further, you get all-around cameras and sensors to ensure parking this almost 5-metre long SUV is an easy task.

Verdict – The Porsche Cayenne is a capable SUV but there are a lot of SUVs at this price point which are as capable, some even more with off-road hardware bits. However, what the Cayenne offers is a sports car-like driving feel which no other SUV does, making it a practical sports car for Indian roads as you can have fun around the corners and yet not worry about the speed bumps or potholes. The Cayenne is the most fun you can have in an SUV, the fact that it can be driven on any kind of roads is what makes it one of the best SUVs in the world.

What’s Cool

* The Cayenne is attractive and understated at the same time
* The engine is power packed, offers terrific performance
* The Cayenne can also go off-road
* The cabin is lovely with great quality and features
* Handling is super engaging, just like a sports car

What’s Not So Cool

* Design could have got some more changes
* The exhaust note is not very enticing

Alternatives: – Maserati Levante, Mercedes-AMG G63, Lamborghini Urus, Range Rover Sport SVR

2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Specifications

* Engine: 3996cc, V8, Petrol
* Power: 550 HP @ 5750-6000 RPM
* Torque: 770 Nm @ 1960-4500 RPM
* Transmission: 8-Speed AT
* Fuel Consumption: 5-9 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Top Speed: 286 km/hr
* 0-100 km/hr: 3.9 seconds
* Tyre Size: 285/40/21 (Front), 315/35/21 (Rear)
* Suspension: Aluminium multi-link (Front), Aluminium multi-link (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Disc (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 8 Airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP

2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 4926 mm X 2194 mm X 1673 mm
* Wheelbase: 2895 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.95-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 90-litres
* Kerb Weight: 2250 kgs

Testers’ Note:

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