![]() The eight-speed automatic isn’t new but it bears mentioning simply for how good it is. The optional rear-axle steering helps with this, too, particularly in lower-speed maneuvers. Steering feel is excellent and incredibly communicative, making the Cayenne feel nimble and far smaller than it is. Even with my test car’s optional 22-inch wheels (20s are standard) making the ride feel firm, it was never harsh, and as the suspension firmed up, the degree of control increased. Even in Normal mode, there’s very little body roll in corners, and it lessens as the modes get more aggressive regardless of driving mode, the isolation from bumps and road imperfections is outstanding. There wasn’t a previous-generation Cayenne to validate that claim in the moment, but I can say that the new air suspension does an incredible job of making the Cayenne feel comfortable in Normal then dialing up the performance as you move through Sport into Sport Plus. The optional air suspension that was on my test vehicle is new, and Porsche says it provides greater differentiation than the old version between Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes. ![]() ![]() The active exhaust system burbles and pops for a pleasant soundtrack in the Cayenne’s most aggressive driving mode, Sport Plus, but in its quieter setting, it won’t annoy the neighbors.ĭriving enjoyment in a Porsche is about more than just going fast in a straight line, and despite nearly 5,000 pounds of bulk, the Cayenne delivers. Want to skip the delay? Opt for the Sport Chrono Package and get access to Sport Response mode, which for 20 seconds primes the turbos and transmission for more immediate response. There’s a bit of a delay in its power delivery, but it’s not overly frustrating, and it never hampered passing or merging. Power feels more than ample press the accelerator pedal, and you can feel the force building before it comes on in a flood. With 468 horsepower and 442 pounds-feet of torque, the Cayenne S gets an additional 34 hp and 37 pounds-feet of torque out of its new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 compared with the previous S variant’s twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6. Porsche sells far fewer plug-in hybrid Cayennes, regardless of body style.Ģ024 Porsche Cayenne | Manufacturer image For what it’s worth, about 30% of Cayenne sales since the coupe’s introduction in the 2020 model year have been coupes, according to Porsche. ![]() I wanted to try out the new V-8 engine in the Cayenne S, and while I would’ve preferred the more popular SUV body style, sometimes you take what you can get. Given a choice of European-market Cayennes to take out for the day, I grabbed a Cayenne S coupe, which turned out to be closest from a features standpoint to the model that’ll be sold here. I recently traveled to Los Angeles to spend some time behind the wheel of the updated Cayenne (per ’s ethics policy, we pay for our travel and lodging at such manufacturer-sponsored events). Related: 2024 Porsche Cayenne: Spicy SUV Gets Upgraded Performance, New Styling, New Tech Not new: All versions of the Cayenne come standard with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission and, with the exception of the coupe-only Turbo GT, are available in both SUV and four-door “coupe” (read: sloped roofline) body styles. The cockpit is also all-new and borrows heavily from the Taycan electric sedan. For the 2024 model year, Porsche gives the Cayenne subtly updated styling, ups the power across the lineup and refines the suspension to improve handling. The alchemy that goes into making an SUV engaging to drive with minimal sacrifice to practicality may or may not involve invoking eldritch gods, but whatever it takes, Porsche is close to mastering it after decades of practice with its Cayenne SUV. I was recently one of three judges in a comparison test of mainstream compact SUVs, and the two most fun-to-drive entrants - and they were legitimately fun to drive - finished in last and next-to-last place. Focusing on practicality can negatively impact performance and vice versa. Most SUVs struggle to exist in multiple worlds. Versus the competition: Few luxury SUVs are anywhere near as engaging to drive as the Cayenne, and it doesn’t mistake technology for luxury in the way that some competitors do - but it doesn’t come cheap. The verdict: The 2024 Porsche Cayenne nails every point on the spectrum of the driving experience from sedate to sporty, and its updated cockpit brings welcome technological advancements with only minor complaints. 2024 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe | photo by Max Bednarski ![]()
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