Hello, everyone! I’m Mina, the editor of “Welcome Home, PORSCHE.” In response to readers who asked to hear firsthand stories from a range of Porsche owners, we launched our Porsche Owner Stories series. For the second installment, cara, who lives in Osaka, shares the story of buying and taking delivery of a 2016 model-year 958.2 Cayenne Turbo.

〘Owner profile〙
・Car: 2016 model-year 958.2 Cayenne Turbo
・Name: cara
・Location / home: Osaka
・Family: Five
・Previous cars: Maserati 3200GT (2000 model year) → Porsche 911 Carrera S (997, early model, 2005 model year) → first-generation Porsche Cayenne S (2006 model year) → Porsche 911 GT3 (997, later model, 2010 model year)
・A message for readers: The Cayenne Turbo delivers an exceptional balance of “go, turn, and stop.” Above all, it’s a car you can enjoy with complete confidence.

1) What Led Me to Buy a Cayenne

Why I Became Interested in the Cayenne

Let’s go back to 2005. With our three children growing up, we started looking for a car that could comfortably accommodate all five of us. Neither my wife nor I were drawn to sedans, wagons, or minivans, so we focused our search on SUVs.

Fortunately, there were plenty of dealerships near our home. I took my wife along—even though she wasn’t particularly keen on car shopping—and we visited several. But no matter where we went, we couldn’t find a car that truly appealed to her.

One day, on our way home from a family trip to Universal Studios Japan (USJ), we happened to spot a Porsche Center. We had never visited one before, and I remember stepping inside a little nervously.

A Carrera GT was on display in the showroom, and there were plenty of customers around. After I explained why we were there, a sales representative gave us a brief introduction—and we were soon invited to test-drive both the Cayenne and Cayenne S.

My wife, meanwhile, fell for the Cayenne at first sight. She loved its elegant lines and uncluttered design. The Cayenne was also a relatively rare sight on the road back then, which suited her: she didn’t like driving a car that everyone else had. At that point, it seemed the Cayenne had all but won her over.

What Was It Like to Test-Drive the Cayenne?

My wife said it too: although it wasn’t quite as pronounced as in older models, the Cayenne still had a solid, vault-like feel that made us feel safe and protected. We looked at other SUVs after the test drive, but came to the conclusion that “the Cayenne is still the best.” We decided to buy a 2006 first-generation Cayenne S.

Why I Decided to Buy a Cayenne Turbo

Owning a Cayenne gave me an even greater appreciation of what makes it special. Before long, I found myself thinking, “I’d like to own a Cayenne Turbo at least once,” and started looking into a 2016 model-year 958.2 Cayenne Turbo. We initially planned to replace our first-generation Cayenne S, but it was so practical that we decided to add the Turbo instead. As a result, we had both the first-generation Cayenne and Cayenne Turbo until quite recently.

2) Options and Specifications

When choosing options for the Cayenne Turbo, I focused on getting the most out of its driving performance and the excitement you feel behind the wheel—without compromising the safety and comfort we wanted in a family car.

〘Cayenne Turbo options and specifications〙
■Exterior color: Carrara White Metallic (a first for me)
■Interior color: Two-tone natural leather in Espresso and Cognac
■Wheels: 21-inch 911 Turbo Design E2 wheels (10×21)
■Chassis: Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), speed-sensitive power steering, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus)
■Interior: Seat ventilation (front and rear); seat heating (standard on the Turbo); central locking; keyless entry; privacy glass (VG40); front and rear side airbags with head airbags; four-zone climate control (Climatronic); second evaporator; Espresso seat belts; soft-close door assist; Comfort Lighting Package, Comfort Memory Package, and Driver Memory Package

3) The Wait for Delivery

The wait for delivery was seven months.

・March 2016: The dealer let us know an order slot for a Cayenne Turbo was available, and we placed our order.
・October 2016: Delivery

4) Porsche Performance: What It’s Like to Own a Cayenne Turbo

① Go, Turn, and Stop

The 2016 model-year 958.2 Cayenne Turbo also delivers a beautifully balanced combination of “go, turn, and stop.” I’ve owned three Porsches with very different purposes, and I’m always struck by how similar their fundamental driving characteristics are—whether it’s an SUV or a two-seater. Driving the Cayenne Turbo reminded me that Porsche’s core approach to the essentials of vehicle dynamics carries through every model range.

② Power and Acceleration

With 520 PS from its turbocharged engine, there’s plenty of power. The Cayenne Turbo was mainly my wife’s daily driver, and its manners were always reassuring. She especially appreciated how easy it made merging onto the highway.

③ Torque-Converter Automatic

The Cayenne is now the only model in the range to use a torque-converter automatic transmission, and it’s exceptionally comfortable. That could change as PDK continues to evolve, but for now, I find the torque converter makes for smoother shifts at low speeds in the Cayenne.

④ Ride Height

As an SUV, the Cayenne sits a little higher, so getting in and out doesn’t feel as effortless as it does in a sedan—at least until you get used to it. The air suspension lets you adjust the ride height at both the front and rear, but I never used it specifically to make getting in and out easier.

⑤ Ride Comfort

Ride comfort is beyond reproach: it’s simply excellent. Of course, this may be part of the Turbo’s character, but there’s a slight hint of turbo lag before it surges ahead with impressive speed. Perhaps thanks to PDCC, body roll was barely noticeable, even through sharper corners, despite the Cayenne’s size. The back seats were comfortable too, and the kids were very happy with them.

Having previously owned a 2006 model-year first-generation 955 Cayenne S, I found the 2016 Cayenne Turbo felt lighter on its feet. On the other hand, it seemed to have lost some of that tank-like feel.

⑥ Fuel Economy

I think fuel economy was around 4–5 km/L. That’s to be expected.

⑥ Fuel Economy

The Cayenne’s cargo capacity is impressive, especially compared with other Porsche model ranges. We could fit everything our family needed—even a bicycle.

5) Options I’d Choose Again—or Skip—on a Future Porsche

I’m planning to buy the Cayenne S E-Hybrid when it goes on sale in Japan next year. I’ve recently started questioning the idea that “Porsches are expensive to option, but you can’t enjoy one without adding options.” The Cayenne S E-Hybrid should come with the essential comfort features, so this time, I’d like to experience a Porsche in completely unoptioned form.

I think Porsche’s philosophy is that a car’s core performance is more than sufficient as standard, with a range of options available for owners who want to add more.

6) Things to Keep in Mind

We chose a two-tone Espresso and Cognac interior, but I think a black interior would have felt more understated. Also, the perforated leather on the ventilated seats has more holes, and once I caught something on the seat and tore the leather. The replacement cost was around ¥300,000.

7) Overall Impressions

The Cayenne Turbo delivers an exceptional balance of “go, turn, and stop”—and, above all, it’s a car you can enjoy with complete confidence. I know I’m repeating myself, but Porsche isn’t just about the 911 sports car. Across its model ranges, the fundamentals of “go, turn, and stop” are tuned to the same core standards. At first, I was hesitant because of the Cayenne’s size, but it’s surprisingly easy to drive.

I sometimes think that once you understand the way a Porsche behaves, you might find other cars unsettling by comparison. My wife certainly feels that way.

I recently had the chance to test-drive the new Cayenne S, and it has evolved enormously. It feels light in the best possible way, whatever you’re doing, yet you can still sense the reassuring weight settled over all four wheels. Of all the Cayennes I’ve driven—including test cars—it was the first time I thought, “Maybe the non-Turbo is the better choice.” My wife seemed to have much the same reaction.

8) What Does Porsche Mean to You?

To me, Porsche is like family.

I always want to own at least one Porsche. It gives us a strong sense of protection, so my family feels safe riding in it—and I feel confident driving it. After driving the new Cayenne, I could tell that Porsche’s driving dynamics continue to evolve. I want Porsche to remain a part of my life for years to come.

〘Editor’s note〙
I recently test-drove the new Cayenne too, and it completely changed my idea of what an SUV could be. As cara says, I came away convinced that “every Porsche is unmistakably a Porsche.” We’re hoping cara will share more insights about other Porsche models in the future. Thank you, cara!