FOR ANY business, particularly for those based in the countryside, Porsche’s latest Cayenne Diesel is a good alternative to the predictable Range Rover.
The German car, which was revamped recently, has permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential. The luxury SUV’s power is transmitted to all four wheels with optimum precision and control.
It is a refined and impressively quiet off-roader which is also capable of great acceleration – it is a Porsche after all! The latest three-litre V6 Diesel engine offered in the Cayenne now delivers 242 bhp – 5 bhp more punch than previously via an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission, which includes steering wheel mounted gearshift controls. Fuel economy has risen to 39.2 mpg and CO2 emissions have dropped to 189 g/km. In addition, the power increase has had a positive effect on performance: the acceleration time from 0-62 mph is just 7.6 seconds, and the top speed is 138mph.
Unsurprisingly, the Cayenne makes a great towing vehicle and the preparation for an optional tow bar system comes as standard. For the biggest loads, you can choose from two towing options: an electrically retractable tow bar unit, which was fitted to my test vehicle (at a cost of £825), or a manually detachable tow bar. With the electric version, the ball neck can be retracted beneath the rear apron – all at the push of a button. Both options have a maximum braked trailer load of 3,500 kg (with a maximum nose weight of 140 kg) and come with a 13-pole socket. This makes the car ideal for anyone with, for example, an equine business. It is absolutely ideal for lugging a fully laden horse trailer and, with its 4×4 capacity, it is perfect for getting in and out of muddy fields.
Of course, the Porsche doesn’t just come with tow bar options; it has a lot of others – but they come at a cost. For instance, the Cayenne I drove had: metallic paint (£697.00), Porsche communication management including navigation mode (£2,137.00), black full leather interior package (£2,177.00), universal audio interface (£227.00), air suspension with self-levelling ride height adjustment (£2,380.00), Bluetooth phone capability (£534.00),19-inch Cayenne Design II alloy wheels, with all season tyres optimised for rolling resistance (£1,456.00), electric tilt/slide sunroof (£1,004.00), bi-xenon headlights (£1,165.00), brushed aluminium interior package (£526.00), roof rails including roof mouldings in aluminium finish (£590.00) and a heated windscreen (£324.00). Phew! Along with the electric tow bar fitting that pushed my Cayenne Diesel’s price tag to a whopping £60,380.00!
Option-packs aside, Porsche says that the basic Cayenne Diesel is confirmation that a 100-metre sprinter can also run a marathon. To be honest I would agree, because that statement pretty much encapsulates the oil-burning model’s attraction – it is a tremendously sporty car to drive, but it is also very practical and delivers decent fuel economy for everyday use.
Click to play Porsche Cayenne Video (31 minutes)
PROS ‘N’ CONS
- Comfortable √
- Fast √
- Practical √
- Good for towing √
- Pricey options list X
FAST FACTS
- Max speed: 138 mph
- 0-62 mph: 7.6 secs
- Combined mpg: 39.2
- Engine: 2,967 cc V6 turbo diesel
- Max. power (bhp): 242 at 4400 rpm
- Max. torque (lb/ft): 406 at 2000 rpm
- CO2: 189 g/km
- Price: £46,338 on the road
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
