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In today’s world of luxury 4x4s it is sometimes hard to remember what
off-roaders used to be like: agricultural refinement, poor on-road ability,
and the most sophisticated driver aid a pair of windscreen wipers. But in
spring 2003 the Porsche Cayenne heralded another phase in the evolution of
the 4x4 — the era of the supercar off-roader.
Powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the Turbo S Cayenne hurled the 2½
ton monster from 0-60mph in just 5.6sec and on to an unrestricted top speed
of 165mph. Matching its outrageous performance was its extraordinary price
tag: at more than £70,000 it was the most expensive off-roader on sale in
the UK.
The motoring critics either loved or loathed its controversial (that’s
shorthand for “plain ugly”) styling and many feared that Porsche had lost
the plot. After a lifetime of producing some of the most celebrated sports
cars on the planet, was the Cayenne the beginning of the end for the world’s
most profitable car maker?
Four years on we have our answer. Faced with the challenge of creating a
single vehicle that combined luxury-car refinement with sports-car
performance and the kind of mud-plugging ability that for years was the
preserve of the Range Rover, Porsche has proved the Cayenne is almost
certainly the best 4x4 in the world.
If the Turbo S seems a little radical for your motoring needs, used-car buyers
also have the choice of the slightly less hot S model. Sharing the same 4.5
litre V8 engine but without the twin turbochargers, this unit still produces
a very respectable 340bhp. With a top speed of 150mph and a 0-60mph time of
6.7sec it is no slouch, and best of all it looks something of a bargain,
with secondhand values around £15,000 less than the Turbo. In addition
drivers should find that visits to the fuel pumps are less frequent; push a
Turbo hard and you can easily dip under the 10mpg mark, while the normally
aspirated car should return closer to 15mpg. Still enough to have you taken
off Ken Livingstone’s Christmas card list but not bad for a vehicle of this
size and power.
Porsche added an entry-level Cayenne to the range in 2004, powered by a
Volkswagen-sourced 3.2 litre V6 producing 250bhp. Its performance is more
modest than that of its siblings, but nonetheless a 0-60mph time of just
over 9sec is still good for an off-roader, and with secondhand prices now
hovering around £25,000 for a 2004-registered example it’s not bad value
either.
Unlike with the VW Touareg — with which the Porsche shares most of its
underpinnings — the Cayenne’s power is not delivered 50% front and 50% back
but in a 38/62 bias that favours the rear. This gives it a much more
involving feel, and despite the inclusion of advanced traction control, the
enthusiastic driver can still get the Cayenne’s tail wagging a little under
extreme cornering and acceleration. The standard steering setup, with just
2½ turns from lock to lock, also endows the Cayenne with the kind of quick
responses that are almost unheard of this side of a sports car.
The Cayenne is equally impressive off road. With more than 10½in of ground
clearance, a low-ratio box and locking differential, it can handle approach
angles of up to 45 degrees and lean up to 30 degrees before toppling over.
Interior space is generous. The car is 7ft 2½in wide, so shoulder room is
excellent front and rear, and rear legroom is ample for most passengers. At
540 litres the boot is generous, and there is the usual complement of split
folding rear seats for large-item loading.
In true Porsche tradition the Cayenne’s interior fit and finish is very good,
but looks very Germanic. Leather upholstery is standard and the dashboard is
by and large a masterpiece of simplicity and function. The Porsche
Communication Management System, which includes satellite navigation, is
well worth having, although it was standard only on the Turbo S model when
new.
Colours The Cayenne is colour sensitive, and silver and black will be
easier to shift than some of the more lurid colours
Options Do not be fooled into paying huge premiums for high spec cars
as sellers try to reclaim the cost of expensive options, although sat nav is
worth paying about £1,500 extra for
Running costs Fuel costs can be astronomical on V8 models, with the
Turbo S among the worst of any car you can buy
Headlamps A xenon headlamp costs about £750 while a conventional
halogen unit will set you back about £450
Suspension Standard suspension gives a very firm ride. The air
suspension system that is standard on the Turbo S and an option on other
models is more compliant and worth hunting down
Tyres A heavy body and lots of power mean tyres take a pounding. Expect
no more than 9,000-12,000 miles per set
Safety Twin front and side airbags, full-length curtain bags and
antilock braking are standard
Warranty Two-year unlimited mileage warranty seems a tad miserly
compared with competitors’ three-year offerings
Vital statistics
Model Porsche Cayenne S tiptronic
Engine 4511cc, eight cylinders
Power 340bhp
Transmission Six-speed tiptronic automatic
Fuel 17.9mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 6.7sec
Top speed 150mph
Values
Mileage 10,000 20,000 40,000
2003 03
Trade £28,400 £27,350 £25,250
Retail £33,250 £32,000 £30,000
2004 04
Trade £30,800 £29,600 £27,200
Retail £35,500 £34,250 £32,000
2005 05
Trade £33,100 £32,800 £29,300
Retail £38,000 £37,750 £34,250
The one to buy
Porsche Cayenne S 2003 03 with 40,000 miles. Pay £30,000 at a Porsche dealer
or £28,000 privately
Or for similar money
2004 53 Range Rover 4.4 V8 Vogue 2005 05 BMW X5 4.4 V8 Sport 2005 55 VW
Touareg 4.2 V8 2006 06 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 New Nissan Murano 3.5 V6
