An Introduction To The 2016 Porsche Cayenne

When Porsche first announced it was going to enter the SUV segment it was met with a lot of skepticism, after all, the high-performance automotive brand was great at making elegant two door machines, what could they do with a vehicle of that size? However, Porsche maintained their resolve and unveiled what would be now an inseparable part of the brand.

Now some would say, I would rather drive a “real” Porsche but the Cayenne is a Porsche in every way. The driving dynamics are performance oriented and this is representative in the steering as it’s slightly weighted, which gives the Cayenne a sports car like responsiveness. Moreover, a number of handling systems such as the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and Porsche Active Suspension Management, all work in tandem to deliver an ultra stable ride. We felt the weight of the Cayenne evenly distribute and balance the vehicle as we entered and exited tight corners.

In terms of powertrain, the Cayenne we drove was equipped with a 3.6L Direct Injection V6 that produces 300-horsepower with 295-lbs of torque. That being said, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a strong 7.7 seconds. There’s also a standard auto start/stop function that aims to save fuel when you find yourself in heavy traffic or when you catch one too many red lights. Moreover, the 8-speed tiptronic allows shifts to be controlled via the paddle shifters or the gear stick.

The Porsche Cayenne has all heritage and elements of their iconic two door mainstays but with a more functional touch. The exterior is unmistakably Porsche from the rounded headlamps, the swooping hood that continues on to the curvaceous back. The Cayenne is not overly sharp but it still looks like it cut through the air with ease, and over the years it has been getting sleeker.

Inside, the cabin is plush and masterfully blends the contemporary with the old-fashioned. By contemporary, we mean the high-resolution touch screen, and by old-fashioned, we are referring to the buttons that are neatly organized in the center console. The variety of textures in the interior stimulates your sense of touch as you hop in and adjust the Cayenne’s settings to your liking. You’ll go from touchscreen to buttons to placing your hands on the leather wrapped steering wheel, then your thumb will roll across the integrated multifunction controls.

The driver seat looks like the cockpit of a jet. Porsche’s classic five dial dashboard provides the driver, from left to right, oil temperature, oil pressure, speed, revs, digital information, water temperature and fuel levels. The time is told through an analog clock at the top of the dash and it’s showcased in the same aesthetic as the dials, serving as a nod to the original 1964 layout with the clock as one of the original five.

Learn more about the Porsche Cayenne online.

Words & Photography: Jon Carlo Tapia