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The third-generation of the Porsche Cayenne, the German company’s largest SUV, which retains its five-seat layout, but looks far more attractive than before. Along with that, the Cayenne gets the firm’s latest interior and infotainment technology and it’s lighter than its predecessor, to the benefit of dynamics and efficiency. The cabin is lovely to look at and touch, and there’s ample room for five adults with extra versatility in the back to allow you to prioritise either legroom or boot space.
What will its rivals be?
With a starting price of over €100,000, the Cayenne operates in a lofty sphere, so it competes with other high-end luxury SUVs. Audi’s Q7 comes to mind, though that has seven seats in most guises and focuses on diesel power. The BMW X5 and X6 are the Cayenne’s closest rivals in terms of driving dynamics, though the Range Rover Sport should not be ruled out either. Mercedes doesn’t have a good alternative to the Cayenne, but the GLE and GLS arguably could be considered to be rivals with a different remit.
Any tech info?
There’s a very long list of options to choose from and, given Porsche’s sports car roots, it should be no surprise that many of them are designed to make the Cayenne even better to drive. Buyers can specify dynamic roll control, rear-wheel steering and air suspension, for example, along with seriously upgraded brakes.
What will the range be like?
To start with, it’s all petrol power for the Cayenne. There’s a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 in the entry-level model, a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 in the Cayenne S and an incredibly powerful twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 in the range-topping Cayenne Turbo. We expect diesel and petrol-electric plugin hybrid versions to arrive in 2018.
Expectations?
Sales of the Cayenne will remain modest in Ireland given its pricing, but the next-generation hybrid version could benefit from our tax regime and convince buyers that might otherwise consider Audi, BMW or Mercedes SUVs to go for a Porsche badge.