2005 Porsche Cayenne Review

Porsche has been selling sports cars in America since 1950, but its Cayenne sport-utility vehicle has been out only since 2003 and already accounts for more than half of Porsche sales in this truck-crazy country.

Porsche purists here screamed when they heard that their beloved automaker was -- gasp! -- building a sport-ute, which is the first Porsche of its type -- and the automaker's first four-door model.

But times change, and Porsche tired of seeing its car customers buy a sport-utility from rival automakers. The mid-size Cayenne let it sell both a car and a sport-ute to customers, and also allowed folks to get a Porsche without buying a sports car.

While Porsche withdrew from top-level sports car racing to transfer resources to develop the Cayenne, it needed large profits from a sport-utility to protect its status as the world's only independent automaker of note -- and to develop more competitive race cars.

To hold development costs down, Porsche developed the Cayenne with giant Volkswagen, which sells its more subdued Touareg version.

Porsche sold 16,343 Cayennes during the first 11 months this year, while sales of its mass produced 911 and Boxster sports cars and exotic new low-volume Carrera GT auto totaled only 12,433 units.

Expect 2005 Porsche car sales to pick up now that its revamped 2005 911 and Boxster have arrived. But don't expect Cayenne sales to fall off dramatically because many Americans still are in love with sport-utilities, although some are backing away from giant ones.

The all-wheel-drive Cayenne is a mid-size sport-ute that's a few inches wider and longer than a BMW X5 sport-ute and has good off-road ability. It comes as a base $41,100 model with a 3.2-liter V-6 with 247 horsepower and six-speed manual gearbox and as a $56,300 S version with a 340-horsepower V-8. There's also an $89,300 Turbo version with a twin-turbocharged 450-horsepower V-8.

Both V-8 models come only with Porsche's six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, which has a manual-shift feature and raises the price of the V-6 version to $44,100.

Don't let the higher V-8 horsepower numbers seduce you. I've tested both Cayenne V-8s, but found while testing the V-6 version that it's the most user-friendly Cayenne for Chicago area driving.

Both V-8 models are very fast. But they have a nonlinear power delivery, especially with cold engines. Put your foot on the gas with a Cayenne V-8 and it leaps from a standing start instead of accelerating smoothly, like a Porsche car.

Others have discovered the same problem. Motor Trend magazine said after driving a Cayenne S for its June 2004 issue that "throttle tip-in is abrupt, especially when cold.'' (Tip-in refers to initial acceleration.) Consumer Guide said in its January 2005 issue that both Cayenne V-8 versions have "sometimes ragged power delivery.''

The Cayenne V-6 is only slightly jerky when cold and provides a much more linear power delivery when warm despite a somewhat rough automatic transmission developed for maximum efficiency rather than Lexus-like smoothness.

Among new features of the 2005 Cayenne is the six-speed manual gearbox, which is fine for a Porsche sports car but out of place for a big, luxurious sport-utility. The Cayenne is 67 inches high, 188 inches long and weighs 4,762-5,850 pounds

Also new for the 2005 Cayenne are a handy optional rearview camera and standard electronically latching tailgate. There also are new body colored front/rear aprons and side door sills, Homelink garage door opener and such options as satellite radio and SportDesign and Light Comfort option packages.

Options can cause base prices to jump dramatically. But all Cayennes are so well-equipped with comfort, convenience and safety features that they need few -- if any -- options.

The sophisticated Cayenne V-6 is a Volkswagen-sourced engine, also used in the Touareg. There's a precedent for Porsche-Volkswagen engine sharing: The 1970-76 Porsche 914 two-seater had a four-cylinder Volkswagen engine and was marketed in Europe as a "VW-Porsche,'' although sold exclusively as a Porsche in America.

The V-6 was tuned by Porsche to hold its peak torque all the way from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. The engine thus is responsive in town and on the highway, where it provides decent 65-75 mph acceleration.

The Cayenne V-6 does 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds with the manual and in 9.1 seconds with the automatic -- and is an easy 85-mph cruiser on empty roads. The S hits 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while the Cayenne Turbo takes only 5.2 seconds to reach that speed.

Scale-bending weight doesn't allow any Cayenne to be fuel-thrifty. The V-6 provides an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 19-20 on the highway, while the S provides 14 and 18. The Turbo delivers an estimated 13 and 18. At least all versions have a large 26.4-gallon fuel tank.

Despite the weight, the solidly built Cayenne drives much like a sporty car. Steering is quick, handling is sharp, and the ride is supple. The brake pedal is touchy, but the Cayenne has Porsche's impressive stopping abilities.

Big outside door handles and a moderate step-in height allow fairly easy entry to the quiet, roomy, upscale interior, which has a sports car feel. It easily seats four to five tall occupants, who sit high for a good view of surroundings. However, thick roof posts partly obstruct driver rear visibility, which is assisted by large outside mirrors.

The generous cargo area has a low, wide opening and can be greatly expanded by easily flipping the rear seatbacks forward.

The front bucket seats provide good support, but the 911-style gauges are too spread out for a quick read of all of them. Audio system controls are small. Climate controls have an offbeat design, but are large. Porsche's traditional awkward ignition switch location to the left of the steering wheel is retained. But attention to detail is shown by the sliding cover for the two front console cup holders.

The beautifully engineered Cayenne is impressive in most respects, and it's nice to know that the lowest-cost version with the V-6 is the most pleasant.

2005 PORSCHE CAYENNE

PRICES
$41,100-$89,300

LIKES
Carlike. Roomy. Sharp handling. Comfortable. Prestigious.

DISLIKES
Occasional nonlinear acceleration. Touchy brake pedal. Low fuel economy.