2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel | Road Test Review

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Porsche’s best seller is an SUV and this particular one will travel a 1000 kilometres on a single tank to prove why it is and will remain so.

The Cayenne was the car Porsche swore they would never build. Regardless of which, this sporty SUV has become their top-selling model and to cash in on its popularity they have expanded the Cayenne range which now includes a couple of diesels and even a hybrid. We sampled the 2013 base diesel variant to verify whether the European approach to fuel saving could be applied to the Middle East.

DESIGN & AESTHETICS

The Cayenne like any other Porsche is a highlight reel of automotive engineering, but stylistically, the podgy outgoing model was a bit of a design disaster which tried to show too much of the 911’s curves in itself. But Porsche have learned a valuable lesson and the second generation Cayenne is a more aesthetically appealing package, especially when compared to its predecessor.

The new SUV is longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model but somehow the designers have managed to make it look smaller and sportier. It has also gone on a diet of lightweight materials and lost about 185 kg in the process and much of its performance pedigree can be attributed to its weight loss.

The headlamps share some detailing with the Panamera “saloon” and complement the overall design. The same cannot be said about tail lamps, which look like the work of some hurried copying from a Korean SUV. Not much else has changed, besides the trapezoidal tail pipes and a new range of alloy wheels. The test car shod 19-inch Cayenne turbo wheels, but you can opt for larger 20-inch and even 21-inch wheels.

Overall, the exterior of the Cayenne is not a pageantry of beauty and design but its looks won’t offend you, neither will the Cayenne have to rely solely on its snob-value and performance to chart some respectable sales figures.

The insides of the Cayenne get a big improvement and a big ‘Thumbs up’ from us. The main event, so to say is the Panamera inspired sloping centre console and clumsy-yet-attractive arrangement of buttons. Each of the features can easily deployed, but finding its associated button or knob can be a bit of needle-in-a-haystack situation.

The 8-way power adjustable seats are comfortable and supportive as they are but if you fancy finer adjustments you can opt for the 14-way or even 18-way power adjustable seats.

Much of Porsche’s endearing racing tradition is evident in the Cayenne, for eg. the ignition is to the left of the steering column and the instrument console is centred around the tachometer. It has a speedometer to the left and a customizable TFT screen to the right which can alternate between the trip computer, navigation, audio controls etc with the touch of a button.

The 3-spoke steering wheel is thick-rimmed like in a 911 and there is great visibility from the driver’s seat – all of which are conducive to a sporty driving environment. You even have hand grabs to keep you in place while you get tossed about, around a corner or over a hill, but they can get in the way of large-framed people.

With 10 exterior paint schemes and 5 shades of leather upholstery to choose from including a dual-tone variety, you wouldn’t be challenged to find a fit that matches your personality inside and out. And if you pay the right kind of money, which is more money, you can have the interiors tastefully trimmed in walnut, mahogany, olive wood, anthracite birch, brushed aluminium or piano black glass.

You would be happy to know that 95% of the car can be recycled and the chances are your Cayenne may never need recycling at all. In fact, two-thirds of all the cars Porsche have built are still on the road today.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE

The Cayenne Diesel, as you may have guessed, is powered by diesel; the same fuel that propels slow-moving trucks and trains, but that doesn’t mean it is short on oomph. The VW-sourced engine is a common-rail 3.0-litre V6, force-fed by a turbocharger. Between crank and differential is an 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission that aids seamless shifting and the many ratios help build that reputable fuel economy. Give it 7.6 seconds and it will get from 0 to 100 km/h and it will keep fighting the wind till 220 km/h. Such thrust comes courtesy of 550 Nm of torque which is available as low as 2,000 rpm. Peak horsepower might seem modest at 240 bhp but the Cayenne will get you around town in a jiffy.

The Cayenne’s fuel economy is of tall-order. You can opt for the 100-litre fuel tank, a no-cost option over the standard 85-litre tank. With that sort of capacity combined with a claimed mixed fuel economy of 7.2l/100km (which is more like 8 or 9 in reality) and the auto start/stop function you can easily top 1000 kilometres on a single tank. Porsche themselves mention that “The battery and starter motor are replacement parts that are subject to greater wear and tear with frequent use of the auto start/stop function”. Hence, the long term outcome of such a technology is yet to be seen.

The Cayenne closes the gap between SUV and the sportscar, it undoubtedly is amongst the best handling road going SUVs out there today. Body roll is perceivable but well contained even as you hustle down a twisty stretch of tarmac, thanks to a full-time dedicated all-wheel drive system and Porsche Torque Vectoring. Ride is on the stiffer side but it becomes more compliant as speed improves. Off-road antics are helped by the self-locking centre differential, dune-friendly approach and departure angles, and the auto-levelling suspension that allows you to adjust ride height.

The black painted calipers don’t add to the stopping power but the 350 mm dia. front discs does the job aplenty. Getting from 100 km/h to a stop would only take about 110 ft.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY

Porsche defines customer personalization like no other, but with the litany of add-ons you might end up mortgaging your home or telling your kids that college education is not worth their while. However, option it carefully and get a perfectly well rounded car for the price.

Functionality in an SUV begins with cargo space and in the Cayenne you have 670 litres of it. You could push the rear seats forward by 160 mm if need more space; and if you are moving houses you could try folding down the rear seats for a total of 1780 litre. Besides folding they also split in a 40:20:40 fashion. The power lift gate also adds to your convenience; you can climb aboard while your lift gate closes and nestles the baggage in the bay automatically.

Porsche have always prepared for the worst and even in this time of economic turmoil, they have racked up record sales figures. Similarly they have prepped the Cayenne for the worst possible situation on the road as well. To maintain some sort of civility in the event of a crash and for improved road manners they have equipped the car with 10 airbags, adaptive cruise control, ISOFIX mountings for child seats, lane change assist and much more that will keep you cocooned in safety. And if parking perfection is your priority, the parking sensors and the rear-view camera will come of help.

If you couldn’t find yourself a free ticket for this year’s Jazz fest or you believe that some music artists are best heard on their studio recordings and you can always crank up the volume on the optional 585-Watt 14-speaker BOSE Surround Sound System. Burmester also produce a high-end sound system for the Cayenne – with 16 speakers and 1,000 Watt output you are in for a more orchestral experience. USB ports and aux-in are all part of the package and you can also store your routine musicals choices on the hard drive.

Unless of course the live experience is what you need, then the very user-friendly navigation system displayed on the 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen display will help you get to Meydan or DFC or wherever these concerts are held, on time and via the right route.

There are plenty of other gizmos to pamper yourself with, like the rear seat entertainment system, heated/ventilated seats, the panoramic roof, the standard 4-zone climate control system that works well even for a German car and many more features that the body-hugging suit-wearing gentleman at the Porsche would help you with or you can avoid the attitude and check it out for yourself on the company website.

Oh, and for fishing Fridays, you can haul your 3500 kg boat to the Marina.

VERDICT

If your life revolves around badges, berets, bags and beach parties the 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel will fit right in or if you desire the utility of an honest SUV, the Cayenne will do that too. For about AED 300,000 you can nicely spec out a Cayenne Diesel that makes the V6 petrol variant feel like 8/10 the car it is, with its equaling performance and overwhelming fuel economy figures. And just so you know, the fuel of the future is here.

FUN FACT

‘Cayenne’ is also a variety of pepper and the capital city of French Guiana. It also goes by the name Guinea spice that is used to flavour South East Asian dishes. It is red when ripe and has a heat rating between 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units.

EDITOR’S RATING      – 7.5/10 stars