True, the Olive Green model I was road-testing turned heads with its unique color as much as its silhouette, but still, the Cayenne's lines are just as attractive as those of its siblings, albeit a little more subtle.

Meanwhile, the interior is remarkably refined. The materials (including premium leather), colors (in my case, a spectacular Havanna/Sand Beige) and flawless fit and finish easily confirm Porsche as one of the leaders in build quality and design execution.

There's plenty of room, too, although access is a bit tricky for short people. Once you're comfortably seated, be it up front or in the back, you have all the freedom to stretch.

I have one major complaint inside, however, and it's the complexity of the controls (in typical Porsche fashion). The buttons are miniscule and some are hard to reach. Of course, that's a relatively small sacrifice given the absolute comfort provided by the Cayenne.

The materials (including premium leather), colors (in my case, a spectacular Havanna/Sand Beige).

On the road
The main reason people buy (or should buy) a Porsche, regardless of the model, is the driving experience. The Cayenne is no exception, even in basic configuration. First of all, any SUV with a six-speed manual gearbox starts with an edge in terms of sportiness. And correct me if I'm wrong, but the Cayenne is the only one in its class to offer such type of transmission, which leads to superior control and unquestionable fun.

Add an extremely-sharp steering and a great suspension delivering firm handling in tighter corners and you get a true "sport" utility vehicle, especially with a competent, weather-busting all-wheel drive system on top of that.

I have to admit, though, that accelerations do not quite live up to expectations. I noticed a small delay between throttle input and the actual forward surge, which quickly became annoying. Even the brake pedal takes time before converting input from the driver into braking power. That said, once you push it far enough, the vehicle will stop with outstanding effectiveness.

So, is the Cayenne worth the money? I'd say no if a compact SUV is what you dream about, but yes if you wish to add definite German prestige to your garage. Let's face it: the Cayenne truly deserves its branch in the Porsche family tree.


Photo Credit : Matthieu Lambert