Quick Impression – 2009 Porsche Cayenne
Porsche released their second generation Cayenne last year, boosting the power in the base model considerably over the early models. I had a chance to drive one recently, and left a bit underwhelmed despite the increased power.
There are things about this truck that are truly impressive. The exhaust note sounds nice, and the build quality seems first rate. I really like the look of the new model much better than the last generation, especially the tailpipe that’s now integrated into the bumper. Oddly the interior looks nearly identical, except for the new touchscreen navigation system and double height radio in the 2009 model.
Where the car leaves me cold is in its performance. The one that I took out was pretty much fully equipped, with a sticker well over 60K. It had all kinds of modes to switch into, but they didn’t really seem to have the effect that I would hope for. The most notable flaw was the acceleration from 30-50 seemed really sluggish. While I don’t expect an SUV to out race many sport cars, this one has that big Porsche logo that indicates a strong racing heritage. Or at least one would hope. I at least want to be able to merge on to the highway effortlessly. The cayenne didn’t leave me feeling that way.
I will say that it handled very well. After taking some long sweeping corners at impressive speeds, it did inspire some real confidence in it’s road manners. Even the braking seemed impressive for a vehicle of its size.
I’d recommend that a prospective buyer consider the S model. The gap in with Cayenne still comes from its engine, despite the increased power. Now you are starting to talk about a truck that will run you upwards of $70K as they are typically equipped. I was hoping that it might actually be a “value” at the base model, but I just didn’t see it. My guess is that others aren’t either. The dealer was surprisingly eager to talk about “deals,” and that’s just not typical of a Porsche dealer. Those guys are used to taking orders and making sure that you get exactly the car you want, not actually selling cars via price.
It’s not in my consideration set right now, as the S model is too expensive and the base isn’t enough.