Interior space of the big Porsche is comparable to the BMW X5 and the Mercedes M-Class, though not much more functional
 |
| The V6 moves the base Cayenne along at a fair clip, not neck-snapping at 8.7 seconds to 100 km/h, but adequate for keeping up to and even passing highway traffic. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America) |
than some of the excellent sport station wagons making their way into the Canadian market of late. In the Cayenne, Porsche has achieved the holy grail of sporty SUVs in spades, being it is a truck that drives like a car. The V6 moves the base Cayenne along at a fair clip, not neck-snapping at 8.7 seconds to 100 km/h, but adequate for keeping up to and even passing highway traffic if given a long enough lead time. Its top speed is only 215 km/h, which is hardly Porsche-like, but fast enough to lose your license just the same.
Probably more important to buyers of the base Cayenne is that the V6 is a smooth, quiet powertrain, again not necessarily a
 |
| The Cayenne does most everything it's called upon to do very well, and for that deserves credit. (Photo: Porsche Cars North America) |
Porsche trademark but nevertheless appreciated in a luxury SUV. What wasn't appreciated is the Cayenne's thirst for premium fuel, especially at today's horrendous prices. This is a heavy machine, and even with a thrifty V6 uses more than its fair share.
Still, it's big, bold and, well, not exactly beautiful, but it has presence if only for the substantial patch of real estate it occupies and its extremely attractive Porsche badging. What's most important, to some anyway, is the respect it garners. It does most everything it's called upon to do very well, and for that deserves credit.
