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Summary
Impossible to imagine ten years ago, but true: The Porsche Cayenne is a 165-mph high-performance machine that will fit a family of five, haul a small washing machine, tow a large boat and get you carefully through the woods when there's no road. It's a 5000-pound speed-sled that can handle rugged trails.Porsche performance, design and engineering values come at a premium price, however. The Volkswagen Touareg V8 has German engineering and similar horsepower, equipment, luxury and utility for about $15,000 less than the Cayenne S. Yes, the Cayenne has unique Porsche character, but it shares its basic floor plan with Touareg, and both are very good SUVs. Do rapid acceleration, excellent brakes and the right sounds add up to a Porsche, or just a nice SUV that goes faster than the rest and costs more than most? We can't imagine that many buyers need the extreme mix of attributes offered by the Cayenne Turbo. But then, how many buyers actually need an SUV? Often, need isn't the issue or even the primary motivation in purchasing an automobile. Having built smallish, specialized, really fun sports cars for more than 50 years, Porsche knows that better than most. Mitch McCullough contributed to this report from Los Angeles.
(Source: New Cars Test Drive)
Model Line Overview
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Model Lineup:
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Porsche Cayenne ($41,100); Cayenne Tiptronic ($44,100); Cayenne S ($56,300); Cayenne Turbo ($89,300) |
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Engines:
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3.2-liter ohc 24-valve narrow-angle V6 with variable valve timing |
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Transmissions:
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6-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shift |
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Saftey Equipment (standard):
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antilock brakes; Porsche Traction Management; Porsche Stability Management anti-skid electronics; seatbelt pretensioners and force-limiters; dual-stage front airbags; front occupant side airbags; curtain-style head protection airbags |
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Saftey Equipment (optional):
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none |
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Basic Warranty:
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4 years/50,000 miles |
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Assembled In:
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Leipzig, Germany |
Specifications As Tested
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Model Tested (MSRP):
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Porsche Cayenne Tiptronic ($44,100) |
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Standard Equipment:
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all-wheel drive with two-speed transfer case; leather seating with 12-way power adjustment; charcoal and microparticle cabin filtration; heated retractable exterior mirrors; multi-function trip computer; 72-watt 12-speaker stereo with CD; power windows with one-touch operation; insulated laminated privacy glass; cruise control; central locking with remote; Homelink remote garage door and lighting operation |
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Options As Tested (MSRP):
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Porsche Communications Management system with GPS navigation and integrated telephone/audio controls ($3,070); driver memory package ($360); heated front seats and steering wheel ($520); power glass sunroof ($1,100); high-gloss light wood package ($990); Olive wood steering wheel ($290); 19-inch Cayenne Design wheels ($2,390); six-CD changer ($650); Prosecco metallic paint ($495) |
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Destination Charge:
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765 |
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Gas Guzzler Tax:
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Price As Tested (MSRP):
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54730 |
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Layout:
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all-wheel drive |
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Horsepower (hp @ rpm):
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247 @ 6000 |
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Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm):
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229 @ 2500 |
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Transmission:
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6-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shift |
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EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:
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15/19 |
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Wheelbase:
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112.4 |
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Length/width/height:
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188.2/75.9/66.9 |
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Track, f/r:
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64.6/65.2 |
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Turning circle:
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39 |
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Seating capacity:
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five |
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Head/hip/leg room, f:
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39.68 /NA/40.63 |
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Head/hip/leg room, m:
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Head/hip/leg room, r:
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38.85/NA/35.98 |
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Cargo volume:
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62.5 |
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Payload:
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1800 |
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Towing capacity:
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7716 |
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Suspension, f:
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independent, aluminum double wishbone |
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Suspension, r:
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independent, multi-link |
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Ground clearance:
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8.5 |
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Curb weight:
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4785 |
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Tires:
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P275/45R19 |
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Brakes, f/r:
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disc/disc with ABS |
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Fuel capacity:
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26.4 |
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