Hot Wheels
The Porsche Cayenne diesel is a surprisingly sprightly SUV. And its now in India.
The Porsche Cayenne diesel is a surprisingly sprightly SUV. And its now in India.
Sports car maker Porsche knows a thing or two about engineering cars. Makers of the most high-tech cars around,they shocked the car world when they launched their first SUV a few years ago. But though it was heavy and not really very useful off road,it handled and drove like a sports saloon,and the appeal of the badge added to the cars success. The Cayenne been popular in India too,but its about to get even more desirable,courtesy of a diesel motor under the hood. No matter who you are,if you are an Indian,youll ask: Average kya hai?
Driving Porsches first diesel vehicle in India feels special. Porsche may not make the engine themselves its based on an Audi unit but the tuning and performance delivery is all theirs. And it shows. The V6 diesel under the hood of this SUV makes 240 bhp,which in itself isnt too much when you consider that this car weighs over two tonnes. However,when combined with its 56 kg-m of torque and Porsches new eight-speed automatic Tiptronic,this car displays a surprising turn of foot. The first three gears are quite tightly packed,and the torque-y nature of the motor combined with its responsiveness results in the claimed 0-100kph time of 7.8 seconds. And the surge in power continues all the way up to 180 kph. While this is nowhere near as quick as the V8 diesel-engined Audi Q7 which,in comparison,feels at least a second or so quicker,the Porsche feels quick in its own right.
But sportiness isnt just about straight-line power and performance. Theres the other real challenge of making two tonnes feel more like 1200 kg,and Porsche has succeeded gloriously at that. No other SUV drives like the Cayenne. It responds almost perfectly to the slightest tweak of the steering wheel,and the steering is so accurate that you are soon driving almost subconsciously,nearly unaware of the bulk. And there is very little body roll or pitch from the car. Its so good that you feel you are driving a slightly raised sports saloon,not a bulky SUV. The massive six-piston monoblock discs are just perfectly weighted. It feels ultra-compact from behind the wheel,more like a large hatch than a full-sized off roader. While it may not have that massive hit of performance we expect from a car bearing a Porsche badge,it really does drive like a real Porsche. However,the ride quality has been sacrificed,as even when the Cayenne isnt in sport mode,it can get thumpy at times.
The German sports car maker has also pulled out all the stops on the cabin front. Porsches attention to detail,fit and finish even outshines Audi in many areas. Almost every black plastic piece has perfectly executed chrome highlights,the design of the chromed vents and aircraft-like central console is special,and the insides feel like they are hewn from a single block. Interior space is not an issue and the front and rear seats are both ample and supportive. And the leather oozes quality. Porsche has placed a mini replica of the centre console for the rear seat passengers,equipped with a full array of air-con controls.
The Cayenne also has just about enough Porsche DNA in its design. It looks compact,tight,and nicely tapered,and the new wedge-like nose works really well. However,the tail lights look out of place and out of sync with the rest of the design.
Sufficient pace,outstanding driving manners,top-class quality and build,these are the Porsche Cayenne diesels key attributes. To sum up,it has going for it the efficiency of the diesel motor,the allure of the badge and the practicality of an off-roader. Though it lacks a low range for serious mud-plugging duties,this Rs 59.2 lakh SUV could be the ideal way to discover India. Finally,a Sport Utility Vehicle where the word sport is not a massive exaggeration. And yes,a genuine Porsche that just has the finest driving manners. But do drive the petrol-powered 400 bhp V8 before you buy this one you might just get tempted,even though it costs approximately Rs 18 lakh more and is nowhere near as efficient. Maybe its time to forget where we came from automotively that little super-efficient 800 Suzuki and stop benchmarking running costs with it.
The writer is deputy editor,AutocarIndia
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