[? --first ?] hear the name Porsche you might think well
built and luxurious.
But the first thing that comes to mind
might not be a family friendly SUV.
Well, it could be time to rethink that.
Hi.
I'm Travis from Edmunds.
We painstakingly test and review hundreds of cars, trucks,
and SUVs each year, while CarMax buys, sells, and expertly
appraises thousands upon thousands.
We've combined forces using our testing knowledge
with CarMax's experience to help you make the right choice
for your next car.
And, if your next car happens to be a luxury SUV with some
go fast bits and a Porsche badge,
it turns out that could be a pretty fun decision.
For more information on the Porsche Cayenne
and all of its rivals click the link in the description below.
And, if you want more videos like this,
be sure to subscribe to the CarMax YouTube channel.
This is the Porsche Cayenne.
It was Porsche's first entry into the SUV world,
and it was redesigned back in 2019
so you get what we've got here-- a 2019 Cayenne.
It offers high performance driving thrills
and luxurious interior appointments,
along with all the stuff you'd expect from a family SUV,
like space enough for cargo and passengers.
You might have a hard time telling
the difference between a 2018 and a 2019 model,
but I promise you this is a redesigned vehicle.
If you look closely you can spot some of the differences
like new headlights, new tail lights, wider wheels and tires,
and there are a number of new powertrains under the hood.
This one, the base version, comes with a three liter V6.
That's no slouch.
But there are three other available powertrains for 2019.
Unfortunately, if you want to wait for the high performance
GTS model you have to wait until later years.
But Porsche isn't the only luxury automaker
that has a family SUV with several engine options.
There are lots of competitors out there
and we want to see how this one stacks up.
So let's take a look inside and get it out on the road
to see how it performs.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room--
cargo space.
You might be thinking a luxury SUV
with the heart of a sports car, it's
probably got cargo space issues, right?
Well, you'd be correct.
The Cayenne only has about 60 cubes
of cargo space with the seats folded flat,
which doesn't even compete with a compact Honda CRV which has
75 cubic feet of cargo space.
Look, it's not nothing.
You can still fit some large items back here
but it doesn't really compete with class rivals.
First, let's talk about things up front.
The cons start with the center console.
There's a lot of panel blacks here
and, if you have greasy fingertips
from eating fast food, it's going to get dirty in a hurry.
Then there's the fact that the buttons are small and sometimes
hard to locate.
I mean the volume knob is behind the shifter.
That's not really convenient when
you're trying to turn up or down the stereo while driving.
Then there's the outward visibility issue.
Sure, it's easy to see out of the front
but there are large pillars in the back
and rear visibility suffers as a result. Finally,
there's the list of standard driver aids.
It's not very long.
You get automatic emergency braking
but if you want stuff like blind spot monitoring,
lane keep assist, parking sensors, or adaptive cruise
control, those are all optional.
Which is kind of uncool on a luxury vehicle.
Now let's talk about the good stuff.
The Cayenne has an excellent driving position.
The seat and the steering wheel both have
a ton of adjustability.
And there are lots of nice materials in here.
Even on a car that's a couple of years old
it feels pretty swanky.
Small item storage is good, too, with a lot
of spaces for your smartphone or your wallet,
a couple of decently sized cupholders
for water bottles, large door pockets,
and a decently sized center console.
Then there's the roominess of the cabin.
Anywhere you sit in here will have plenty of headroom or leg
room, and all of the seating positions are comfortable.
All right.
OK.
Enough about the interior.
I can hear you saying it.
Let's take this thing out for a flippin' drive.
If you're expecting a sporty driving experience
from the Cayenne, just because it's
got a Porsche badge on the nose, well you're in luck.
Because that's exactly what the Cayenne provides.
Even with the base three liter V6, during Edmunds testing,
it was able to go from zero to 60 miles an hour
in just 5.3 seconds.
That's impressive considering how big this vehicle is.
And with the upgraded 2.9 liter V6--
which has more power--
during Edmunds testing, it was able to go
from zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds.
That's fast sports car territory.
And it's not just straight line acceleration, either.
Sure, there are twin turbo V8s in the lineup that
are powerhouses of speed, but steering and handling
are impressive too, and they really
reflect the Porsche's sporty driving aspirations.
The steering wheel is a little bit heavy,
but it returns to center quickly and it feels responsive.
And handling-- well, there's not a lot of body roll.
This is actually a pretty fun car
to drive around curvy roads.
And the best part is, none of this performance
comes at the cost of comfort.
Normally, if you want something with high performance
aspirations, you have to trade off
at least a little bit in terms of ride quality or seating
comfort.
But the Cayenne-- it's an excellent daily driver,
it's a fun weekend car, and it's large enough
to haul your family around in style.
Let's stop for a moment and talk about tech.
In the Cayenne you get this large, 12 inch screen
that's crisp and has excellent graphics.
It's easy to read even in harsh sunlight.
It's connected to a 10 speaker audio system,
and there are options for systems from Bose or Burmester
if you want some more sound.
Then there's the screen itself.
Interacting with it is easy and controls are simple to learn.
Unfortunately it's a pretty slick surface
so your greasy fingerprints are going
to smudge it up a little bit.
Then comes smartphone integration.
If you've got an iPhone, great, you
can hook up to Apple CarPlay--
no problem.
Unfortunately, if you're using an Android phone
you're going to have to use Porsche's interface
because Android auto isn't available.
So what have we learned about the Porsche Cayenne?
Well it certainly lives up to the Porsche name.
It's fast, it's sporty, and it's fun to drive.
It's also a totally serviceable, family SUV.
It may not have the most cargo space in the segment,
but it should be enough for most buyers.
If you just want to throw your gear in the back
and go for a fun weekend drive, this could be the one.
For more information on the Porsche Cayenne
and all of its rivals, click the link in the description below.
And if you're looking for more car review videos,
be sure to subscribe to the CarMax YouTube channel.