We recently handed the keys to one of our Porsche Cayennes to motoring YouTuber Bobby Freeman. You can watch Bobby drive the Cayenne around our local roads in Kent on his channel.
Alternatively, Bobby talks us through the Cayenne S he sampled below.
History of the Porsche Cayenne
I wanted to make a video about this car because, well, if you're not familiar with it, imagine the Porsche 911. Now, imagine a bigger, meaner, angrier version of it. That's the Cayenne. It might sound weird, but it actually works. The Cayenne was the first ever sports SUV, and it was released back in 2002. People were sceptical at first, questioning how Porsche could make an SUV.
While the engineering was undeniably Porsche, the first Cayenne wasn't exactly a looker. But it was fast, especially the ones with the 4.8 V8 turbo engine. Since then, the Cayenne has gone through various iterations, and this one here is the latest.
Exterior Design
The new Cayenne looks much better than the first one. Porsche has completely addressed the aesthetic issues. This Cayenne is a gorgeous looking car!
As always, Porsche incorporates certain styling cues throughout the car that make it instantly recognizable as a Porsche. For instance, the shape of the lights and the raised bits above the headlights are all Porsche trademarks. These design elements help drivers position the car precisely during turns.
The front of this Cayenne doesn't look too different from the previous generation Cayenne, with slightly redesigned grills. The side profile is also similar, but that's how Porsche likes to do things - small evolutions rather than revolutions.
The biggest difference between this Cayenne and the older ones is the back. The taillights are connected by a horizontal bar, which is a nicer design than the previous Cayenne's taillights. Let's hope Porsche incorporates this design element into the new Macan as well. Another nice styling touch is the way the Porsche lettering is encased in glass at the back.
This Cayenne also boasts a huge boot that can fit a whole Macan in there, and there's no load lip, making loading and unloading cargo a breeze. There's also a massive amount of space under the boot lid.
Interior Design
The interior is where you'll see the biggest departure from the previous Cayenne. This one has a red and black interior, which is one of the nicest interiors Bobby has ever seen. It makes you feel like a badass!
The previous Cayenne's interior, while nice, felt a bit plasticky. This new Cayenne's interior feels much more high-end. The steering wheel is the same throughout the Porsche range, which some might say is to save money.
One cool feature this Cayenne has is a customizable dial that can display various things, like a G-force meter. There's also a night vision screen, but Bobby clarifies that it's a joke and shouldn't be used for actual driving.
This Cayenne is packed with high-end technology, putting it on par with Mercedes and BMW. There are lots of little nooks and crannies for storage throughout the cabin, including a proper cup holder and a traditional gear stick. The new Cayenne also has a massive touchscreen in the middle, but thankfully, it still has some dedicated buttons for easy control.
Driving Experience
The Cayenne may be an SUV, but it still drives like a true Porsche. You can feel the feedback through the steering wheel and chassis, and the throttle response is immediate. It definitely feels like it was bred on the racetrack. But at the same time, it's incredibly comfortable for cruising.
One option Porsche offers is PDCC, which stands for Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control. This system stiffens the suspension on the outside of the car during cornering, making the Cayenne corner incredibly flat. You can even four-wheel power slide this car, which is a testament to Porsche's engineering. There's also a sport mode that firms up the suspension and makes the throttle more responsive.
Outro
Overall, the Porsche Cayenne is a truly wonderful car. It combines the best of both worlds: a luxurious, comfortable SUV and a sporty, agile car. I genuinely love and admire this car. The Cayenne has come a long way since its not-so-attractive beginnings, and this latest iteration is a masterpiece of engineering. If you're in the market for a car like this, then the Cayenne is definitely worth considering.