The Cayenne is a capable machine for a 'softy' - and particularly in light of its very enjoyable on-road demeanour. It would lift wheels over uneven ruts and holes, and yet push on regardless.
Although the off-road section of the drive program was by no means the most demanding we've ever seen, it did illustrate the Cayenne's overall competence. On no occasion did the car exceed its approach, departure or break-over angles.
This really tells you all you need to know about the Cayenne. It's a family wagon offering a 3500kg braked towing capacity and some soft-road competence, but its Porsche DNA dictates a road/performance bias for a reason: There's a certain breed of SUV buyer who prefer track work over trail work. The Cayenne is for that type of buyer.
<a href="https://cdn.loptienganh.edu.vn/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/porsche-cayenne-2018-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-csn-inline-image wp-image-246795" src="https://cdn.loptienganh.edu.vn/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/porsche-cayenne-2018-1.jpg?height=427&width=640&aspect=fitWithin" alt="" width="640" height="427"></a>
Happy Valley
On the country roads between Adelaide and the Barossa Valley the Cayenne was in its happy place. The engine in the base model was refined and muscular, but lacked the aural charm of the twin-turbo Cayenne S, let alone the V8-engined Cayenne Turbo. While it was a perfectly acceptable engine, it just didn't sound as distinctively 'Porsche'.
Nevertheless, the engine was healthy enough to push the Cayenne up to speed quite rapidly, and that was when the Cayenne's ride and handling balance swam into focus. Fitted with steel springs, unlike the upmarket variants also tested, the base model was a little more prone to float over long, wavy bumps taken at speed. And there was a choppy quality on patchy bitumen. The steel springs also sent up a faintly audible harmonic vibration on poorly-surfaced stretches of country road.
All that said, however, the base Cayenne felt communicative, thanks in part to its 19-inch wheels. There was a sense (felt through the seat) of the car moving into a neutral stance when pitched into a corner, and the steering was responsive and tactile. So, even the 'cheap' Cayenne was an endearing drive, although the engine of the Cayenne S is just about worth the extra dosh.
