The engine is very quiet while driving. Road noise and engine sound are well insulated, providing a very comfortable cabin environment. Even with the sport exhaust equipped, it remains quiet. At this level of quietness, the sport exhaust might not be necessary—at least with the windows closed inside the cabin, that’s how it felt.
Opening the windows and moving to a winding road, I revved the engine a bit in sport mode. The V6 produces a crisp, well-rounded sound. It’s not very showy in the low to mid RPM range, but the sound improves significantly as it approaches higher revs. Compared to the Panamera 4S with the same engine, it seems to have less high-frequency tone and a stronger midrange.
The engine power feels consistent with the catalog figure of 0-100 km/h in 5 seconds. Nowadays, cars hitting the 3-second range are common, so this might feel less impressive, but not long ago this was an overwhelming high-performance car. There’s no way you’d feel it’s slow or underpowered, and you won’t be disappointed getting overtaken on the highway.
Torque delivery is natural, and you probably won’t notice the turbo when cruising. However, as mentioned earlier, acceleration from kickdown can feel a bit abrupt. This can be good or bad depending on the road and situation, so it’s hard to judge definitively.
Regarding handling, since the Cayenne offers many combinations of ride height and driving modes, it’s difficult to generalize. But in the sportiest Sport Plus mode on winding roads, it’s clear to anyone that this SUV has ‘un-SUV-like’ agility. Body roll is minimal, and the entire body feels noticeably tighter to the driver.
Among Porsches, the Cayenne S Coupe stands out for its distinct differences between modes.
Even without consciously trying, just steering through corners applies the right load and the car turns exactly as expected. If you’re driving alone, it’s a car you can genuinely enjoy on winding roads. In such moments, it’s clear that even as an SUV, it’s unmistakably a Porsche.
You might wonder how it feels in normal mode on winding roads. I’d say it’s comparable to the sport mode of other manufacturers’ SUVs. There’s more body roll than Sport Plus mode and a more relaxed feel, but there’s absolutely no severe understeer.
It can easily handle spirited driving on public roads, so anyone can drive it fast.
When I first learned about Porsche, I didn’t like the Cayenne. A Porsche that’s an SUV? A Porsche that’s tall and big? That’s not a Porsche, and I didn’t understand why anyone would choose a Porsche SUV. So, even when dealers suggested test drives, I often declined.
However, after buying and driving Boxsters, GT3s, and Panameras—from commuting to circuit driving—and experiencing everything from air-cooled Porsches to legendary classics, I’ve been fortunate to gain a broad Porsche experience.
With that experience, driving the Cayenne feels like it’s not a half-hearted car. It’s not just a Volkswagen Group vehicle wearing Porsche’s badge made to cash in on the SUV boom. Within the constraints of a large SUV body and weight, it’s clear Porsche seriously crafted a true Porsche.
So, if you buy a Cayenne, there’s no need to feel guilty for not getting a 911. On the contrary, if you’re buying a Cayenne, I hope you don’t just think “I want an SUV” but rather think of it as buying and driving a Porsche.
This Cayenne S Coupe is a very well-made Porsche. Among Porsche’s lineup, it’s one of the most luxurious models. The Panamera is also luxurious, but I think the Cayenne is even more so. If GT models like the GT3 represent the pinnacle of sportiness, the Cayenne represents the pinnacle of luxury.
It offers exceptional ride comfort and luxury, yet still delivers precise handling, an addictive driving feel that makes you want to keep driving, overwhelming performance, and highly controllable brakes—truly the essence of Porsche.
The Cayenne S Coupe, with its beautiful roofline and low, aggressive stance, is ideal for those who prefer a sporty SUV look and value acceleration, power delivery, and engine feel more suited to high-speed driving than city cruising.
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