The Joy of Driving the Cayenne

The other day, I was driving our Cayenne E-Hybrid and found myself thinking again, “Why is driving the Cayenne so much fun?”

Then I asked my husband sitting in the passenger seat.

Why is driving the Cayenne so enjoyable? I get that the Boxster and 911 are thrilling with their engine sounds, especially with a manual transmission where you really feel like you’re driving. But the Cayenne feels easy, quiet, and comfortable—almost like it could get boring. Yet somehow, it’s so fun you want to keep driving it. Why is that?

He replied,

Yeah… the Cayenne is totally different from the Boxster or GT3. But it’s definitely fun. I think it’s probably the handling. Even though it’s an SUV, you can drive it exactly how you want, like a sports car. No matter how awkward your lane changes are, it handles everything smoothly and with ease. This excellent handling is one of the biggest differences compared to other brands. That’s because it uses parallel steering geometry, after all. And unlike a supercar, the handling isn’t too harsh, so it really fits the human sense of comfort.

Indeed… handling plays a huge role. The first Porsche I ever drove was a Panamera, and what impressed me most was the handling.

I was amazed, thinking, “This must be what unity between car and driver feels like…” and “It’s the first time I’ve driven a car that responds exactly as I want.”

My husband continued,

Also, the sense of solidity and road contact is important. No matter how good the handling is, if the suspension feels too soft, it can feel a bit unsettling. And if the ride is too light, the joy of driving fades. The Cayenne feels the smoothest and more luxurious than the Panamera among Porsches, yet its handling is pure Porsche, which makes you want to keep driving it.

While ride comfort and road feel are largely a matter of personal preference, I remember when we test-drove SUVs from other brands before buying the Cayenne, the lack of road contact made driving a bit scary.

Also, it’s comfortable yet accelerates amazingly. The E-Hybrid’s motor assist makes it feel even faster, but once you step on the gas, it accelerates with surprising power for an SUV. It’s more than enough for highway merges and overtaking. That probably makes driving stress-free. The engine sound during acceleration is pretty nice, too.
When I had the Panamera Turbo, I didn’t really feel like going on tours, but with the Cayenne, I think, “I’d be happy to go touring in this.” The Panamera is more of a luxury sedan—its class and power sometimes made me choose my routes carefully, but the Cayenne feels like you can drive anywhere without worry.

My husband said.

That’s true. The Cayenne is an SUV, very comfortable, but fundamentally it’s still a true Porsche, I thought again listening to him.

Riding the Boxster After a While

Then, a few days later, I had the chance to drive the Boxster again after several months.
We have two-seater Porsches like the Boxster and GT3, but with three kids including a newborn, my chances to drive them are limited.

I wish I could drive them more, but I only get to drive the Boxster or GT3 a few times a year at best. On the other hand, because I rarely drive them, the thrill when I do is huge (laughs).

When I drove the Boxster recently, it was even more fun than I expected.

The weather was nice, so I opened the roof and enjoyed the engine sound all around me while speeding through mountain roads with the wind.

Shifting mostly between 2nd and 3rd gears myself, feeling the exhaust pops and crackles when I lift off the throttle, and the auto-blip sounds—no exaggeration, I thought, “Is there any greater luxury than this…?” It was that much fun.

And once again, I realized how much fun Porsche’s handling is. It turns exactly as I want, moving like an extension of my own body.

I thought, “The Boxster is my very own Red Hare,” (the legendary swift horse)… lol

Whether the engine is in front or rear, whether it’s a two-seater or four-seater, whether it’s the latest water-cooled or the old air-cooled models… their performance and appeal differ greatly, but every model carries that unmistakable Porsche handling.

Porsche is Porsche no matter what you drive. Saying that with confidence, I’ve never driven a Macan yet, so I’d love to try driving one someday.