Vehicle: 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with Sport Pkg and Comfort Plus Pkg
Price as tested: CDN$138175

Performance: When Porsche came out with the original Cayenne 7 years ago, it has quickly become the gold standard which others have to be judge when it comes to building a proper SUV. Is Porsche able to up-the-ante with their 2nd generation? We will find out after this review.

You can basically opt for anything right from the 290hp 3.6 liter V6 to the 550hp Turbo S with the Cayenne. Our subject is the latest Turbo. If you have thought you have driven a powerful SUV, you should have tried the Cayenne Turbo before saying about. That’s because with 500 ponies and 516 lb/ft of torque moving a 2-tonnes truck, this 4.8 liter DOHC V8 twin-turbo really moved this heavy Porsche with authority. It all have done without any annoying turbo lag when both turbos spool up. As with all Porsche, the engine comes with latest technologies like direct fuel injection and Variocam Plus. The best thing of all Porsche has to be its Teutonic engine note, which is always entertaining while music to every enthuisast’s ears. The engine always delivers superb refinement, smoothness and NVH; without losing to its performance prowess. Mated with this powertrain is Porsche’s refined 6-speed Tiptronic-S gearbox. This manumatic not only able to up and downshifts at redline, its also allow driver to drop cones with paddle shifters at any gear. Its gear ratios are perfectly match for Turbo’s sporty character. As the 1st and 2nd gears are low enough for exceptional acceleation, while leaving 5th and 6th tall enough for comfortable cruising. 3rd and 4th are always keeping the turbo engine in full boil.

Handling: We have always wondered what Porsche could make the original Cayenne Turbo handles like a sports car rather than an SUV. Their latest generation has taken the best to a new height. As we have known, this platform has been famous for its level of stiffness and rigidty. So that its able to handle as much horsepower as 550hp in the flagship Cayenne Turbo S. Along with all those electronic nannies right from PASM and PDCC, which enhance Cayenne’s driving characteristics. Then combined with world’s best ESC called PSM or Porsche Stability Management, which could well be the most uninstrusive stability control in the business. Not to mention the excellent AWD system that is mated to the rest of the equation. The result is an SUV that drives like other SUV in the business. The center-of-gravity is low even if the whole truck is tall. That means the driver feels like driving the best sportswagon rather than riding on a tall SUV. Porsche’s traditional awesome steering has transformed into Cayenne Turbo perfectly. The ultimate precision, directness and surgical feedback are something only Porsche engineers could do with an SUV. There are minimal body rolls when pushed Turbo into any corners. Its air suspension is comfortably compliant which means it rides just like any luxury car on the road, while providing sure-footness handling for most drivers. On the other hand, press the “Sport” button on the PASM really transformed the already sharply focused SUV into a real sports car. That’s if the driver has the ability to handle such a powerful SUV on a racetrack or just on black-top twisties. There are many carmakers wish they can combined sublime ride quality with sharp handling, not many have come even close to Porsche. There are even those who are dreaming of engineered an SUV like a sports car, many are not even close to Porsche. In fact, if the Audi RS6 Avant is the best sportswagon in the world. Cayenne Turbo has to be the best SUV in the world. The same holds true 7 years ago, it remains an undeniable fact today.

Brakes: Porsche Turbo brakes have always been highly recognized for their ability to haul anything to stop without any hesitation, right from their legendary 911 Turbo to their latest Panamera Turbo. The Cayenne Turbo is the prime example of how Porsche engineered a braking system more powerful than the engine itself. Even if it has to carry 2 tonnes of German prestige the brakes remain fade-free and solid even after a couple of hard stops in hot weather. The pedal remains solid and confidence-inspiring stops after stops. ABS doesn’t step in unnecessarily wrap out the hallmark of a wonderful braking system.

Interior: At the back of the Cayenne, it has a rear wash wiper which is something really needed for a hatch. The liftover and side cut-off are squared off for ease of loading into the back of the Cayenne. With the rear seats fold down properly, Cayenne can hold anything else without breaking a sweat. If there is one drawback, its the rear glass doesn’t open indenpendently, which it should.

If you think the original Cayenne interior is the result of Porsche’s cut-cutting from 996 era, the new one is anything better. The whole interior layout is exactly like the Panamera, right from the instrumentation gauges to the button-busy center console. However, the use of materials are all top-shelf, which justify the price tag Porsche charged for the Cayenne. Those power leather sports seats provide multiple adjustments while offering excellent back, thigh and side support even when cornering.

Conclusion: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has always applied to any successful product. When its time to redesign the segment leader, any carmaker has to take a huge risk of losing current customers while gaining new ones. Fortunately for Porsche, they are able to turn the Cayenne into an even better car. In short, its the new benchmark as the whole package.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
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Performance: 5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5