Porsche Cayenne Diesel 2009 Review

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $101,900
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): PCM system $7990; sunroof $3290; 18-inch Cayenne Turbo wheels $2990; metallic paint $2190; telephone module for SIM card $1990; power tailgate $1390; rear sunblinds $590
Crash rating: not tested
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 9.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 244
Also consider: BMW X5 (more here), Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (more here), Range Rover Sport TDV8 (more here)

About our ratings

We liked our long-term test VW Touareg 3.0 TDI (more here ), so we were more than keen to drive Porsche's version of essentially the same car... Same, as in platform, and in this case, 176kW/550Nm powertrain. And overall proportions...

Several points of difference separate the two, however. As you'd imagine Porsche has upped the ante, among other things, on interior luxury. Not even the top-most Touareg, the R50, matches one of the 'cheapest' Cayenne models for cabin fit and finish. Then there's the sleek nod-to-911 exterior styling that's best expressed on the later Cayenne models, with a sharper nose, and grille, head and taillight remodelling.

More importantly, the Cayenne is a more responsive drive with quick-witted steering and a better tied down body. In terms of handling, there was still some roll on this standard steel-sprung variant but the Cayenne's solid steering offers plenty of feedback and the 2.2 tonne wagon is most times more agile than the VW.

The Cayenne manages to mix suburban and open road manners with good dirt road performance. And we're not talking slow rural runs but byways that undulate, wind and pitch. These show off the vehicle's more precise dynamics, yet the Porsche remains at all times comfortable and controlled. We're going by the seat of our pants, but if anything we reckon the Porsche stops better than the VW too.

Importantly, for the rural set, unlike the X5 and ML (at least those without the $10K-plus Offroad Engineering pack) the Cayenne features a 'proper' dual-range system. Via a centre console mounted toggle you can choose a 2.7:1 reduction and attack the really steep stuff. Just make sure the six-speed tiptronic autobox is in neutral when you do so -- otherwise the system will not engage.

The V6 diesel Touareg was a better performer in gear, however. We're not sure if it's due to the fact we had more miles in the long-termer to loosen up the turbodiesel mill (around 10,000km versus the new Cayenne diesel test car's 4000) -- or if Porsche has opted for other changes (throttle mapping, gearing, etc) for better efficiency. If it's the latter, it's a win: 9.3L/100km compared to the Touareg's 9.9.

This isn't about Touareg versus Cayenne, anyway, as the 'Reggie' has since had an update and badge-snobbery speaks volumes which we won't regurgitate here. What we will say is that the Cayenne is classy, comfortable and consumption-frugal transport.

While the abovementioned figure is for a combined cycle, we managed 8.4L/100km/h after a longer drive than the usual daily traffic-run, which translated to around 12.5L/100km/h over a week. Still, not bad for a big wagon.

The diesel Cayenne is $400 more expensive than the 3.6-litre V6 petrol variant that is Porsche's cheapest offer locally. The petrol asks 12.6L/100 for a combined cycle -- on paper. We'd hazard that the real world figure would be closer to 16L/100km. Even discounting the diesel's significantly better in-gear performance (the TDI engine has 550Nm versus the petrol's 385Nm) and driveability, on fuel usage alone you'll have paid for your diesel premium in under 10,000km. Makes sense to us...

Given the Cayenne Diesel shares so much with the Touareg (engine, drivetrain, body-in-white), we can't help but compare prices for the diesel Cayenne and VW, however. There's around $25K difference and it's hard to pinpoint the value of the extra spend save for dynamics (mentioned above) and the Porsche badge. That's not to say the Cayenne misses out on much -- we'd rank the Porsche cockpit and controls (and build quality) as a level above the VW, though some items you get as standard equipment on the Touareg demand extra cash on the Cayenne.

Our test car was optioned up to around $122K, and that didn't include a multifunction steering wheel for at-hand access to vitals like trip computer and stereo volume controls. Trip stats were accessed via the $7000-plus (optional) PCM unit and you'll still have to extend the meat that is your left arm for any audio adjustments. Information like average consumption is otherwise only accessible via the rather clunky depths of the standard instrument panel central display.

If anyone's got a 'standard-fit' Cayenne (highly unlikely we reckon), please let us know how long it took you to find the abovementioned average fuel consumption data. Given the choice, this tester would go with what we had as-tested -- with the PCM and without the multifunction steering wheel. This is largely because the latter option looks overdone and therefore odd for a Porsche.

Rear-seat passengers immediately commented on the space and comfort afforded by the big wagon. Seating all around is comfortable and supportive. The front buckets are better bolstered than the VW's (something else for your $25K!) but there's no standard heating. Wide opening doors and the middling height H-point make ingress and egress easy.

Outward vision is also good, and the Cayenne's side-view mirrors are slimmer and didn't obstruct vision at intersections like the Touareg's bigger (but probably ultimately more useful) version. And though Porsche tragics may still lament the fact Zuffenhausen is building this car at all, there is no doubt it does have kerb appeal.

If you're looking for something that's useful as well as luxurious, don't dismiss the Cayenne Diesel.

Plenty of real world performance, plenty of space and plenty of panache...

Overseas model shown.

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