This Really Is The New Porsche Cayenne, Honest

Porsche's famously conservative styling department has worked its wonders on the outside of the new Cayenne, but the inside sees some major changes - and there's news under the bonnet, too

Matt Kimberley

30 Aug 2017

This Really Is The New Porsche Cayenne, Honest

While the Porsche Cayenne is a pretty divisive car on CT, a new one is definitely worth a look. We promise this is actually the new one, but even we had to double-check we’d used the correct images…

This is the third generation in the controversial SUV’s lifetime and its ethos moves more than ever towards the best technology the Volkswagen Group can lay its hands on. Starting at the basics, while the wheelbase is the same as the old car’s, this one is longer by 63mm and a fairly inconsequential 9mm has been shaved off the overall height.

You can’t fail to miss the familiar grille, which is so large you could probably hide a Death Star behind it, so we’ll move on to the more interesting back end. A 911-style full-width horizontal strip joins the two tail light clusters and gives the Porsche logo some backing. Behind the powered tailgate is a 770-litre boot – that’s 100 litres more than before.

The interior is basically transplanted from the latest Panamera, with the addition of some grab handles and extra controls for the four-wheel drive system. The layout is pretty different to the old car’s, with a lot of the previously button-based functions having been moved to the 12.3-inch touchscreen.

It’s based on the same chassis architecture as the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, but produced to Porsche’s own specs. The engine range will carry on much like before, with a 3.0-litre single-turbo V6 opening proceedings with 335bhp and 332lb ft of torque. That will make it good for 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and a 152mph top speed.

A twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 will be at the heart of the Cayenne S. It has 434bhp and 406lb ft, slashing a second off the base car’s 0-62mph time and raising top speed to 165mph. Above that will be multiple diesels, Turbo, Turbo S and hybrid models. Prices will start at £55,965 in the UK, but expect six-figure sums for the top end of the range.

Comments

Still looks pretty good

[DELETED]

It’s a shame that the best-selling model of a German sportscar brand is a big, fat, ugly, heavy, expensive SUV. Seriously, Porsche is selling more Cayennes than 911s and Panameras combined. WTF.

And I think, if memory serves, that they sell more Macans than Cayennes, Panameras, 911s, Boxsters and Caymans (Caymen…?) combined.

If the profit from the Cayenne and Macan’s allow them to develop cars like the 918, GT2RS, 911R etc. then I see no problem with them, I even like the Cayenne a lot too.

The Carrera GT was only possible due to the success of original Cayenne.

It’s not Porsche’s fault - they are just making money which then can be used on GT cars and things like CGT or 911R

Its the fault of customers who prefer SUVs over wagons

Yeah well, the Carrera GT did end up coming to life as a result of the Cayenne so there’s that. I personally hate the Cayenne a lot.

$$$

Oh look, the new normie Porsche

We have a 2012 Cayenne. It’s the base model with the V6 engine and I must say I don’t know why one would buy the V8’s. For starters they are horrendously expensive compared to the V6. They deliber way more power but why do you need more than 300 bhp on a SUV? We use it to haul Trailers and transport kayaks and even for that 300 is enough. It’s a shame that they didn’t offer the V6 in the last couple of years in production.