These vehicles used to be derided by car lovers and critics, but they are fast becoming the must have ride of 2021 with sales catching many by surprise.
SUVs are at the top of most new car shopping lists, but it’s the coupe-styled versions that are proving to be the must have item of 2021 and their popularity has surprised some car companies.
Here are five things you need to know about the Porsche Cayenne Coupe.
IT’S A CAYENNE LARGE SUV, BUT PRETTIER
Well, to some eyes. More and more prestige brands are taking their giant and imposing SUVs and softening them with coupe-like sloping rear ends.
A sportier and prettier tail results, and Porsche has done an excellent job with the Coupe’s behind, with shades of 911 to the rear light strip. Its front end looks a dash gawky, though.
Competitors include the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and Audi Q8.
Porsche Australia originally thought about one-in-five Cayenne shoppers would pick the coupe over the normal wagon version, but this year coupe sales make up more than half the Cayennes sold. We’re slaves to fashion.
EVEN THE BASIC ONE GOES LIKE STINK
Porsche doesn’t know how to make slow cars. This entry-level $139,000 version ($11,000 more than the normal Cayenne) has a turbocharged V6 petrol engine good for 250kW and 450Nm.
Despite weighing more than two tonnes, it’ll still haul to 100km/h in six seconds flat. A V8 GTS version does the job in 4.5 seconds, the Turbo in 3.9 seconds and $336,100 Turbo GT in a frankly ridiculous 3.3 seconds. Cornering skills feel equally physics defying.
Adaptive suspension is standard and you can choose drive modes via a rotary dial on the steering-wheel. It can never truly hide its size and weight, but the Cayenne has great control and poise.
There are 20-inch wheels as standard, but our 21-inch RS Spyder rims (a $5130 option) with skinny rubber meant some harsh hits over bad surfaces.
IT’LL TOW YOUR BOAT TOO
SUV shoppers want versatility.
The Cayenne Coupe ticks the performance and handling boxes, seats four (five seats is a no-cost option), has impressive rear room despite the coupe styling and can tow as much as a Toyota LandCruiser. The Cayenne Coupe can handle 3500kg of braked trailer behind, meaning your lifestyle toys – yacht, horse float or caravan – can be brought along for the ride.
The V6 officially gulps a claimed 9.5L/100km, though we used 12L/100km. With your boat and trailer rigged it’s going to be expensive to run.
THE INTERIOR IS PLUSH
Partial leather electric seats come in “comfort” guise or “sport” (with integrated headrests) while a panoramic glass roof lifts the otherwise very black interior.
There’s a 12-inch touchscreen, satnav, a 7-inch digital navigation map in the instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay, 10-speaker audio, dual-zone aircon and a power tailgate. A classic Porsche tachometer survives despite all the digitisation.
Safety gear includes auto emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, radar cruise and a 360-degree camera.
Porsche has lowered the rear seats by 30mm to offer decent headroom, and as the roof line is only 20mm lower than a normal Cayenne, even tall adults have ample leg and head room.
OPTIONS CAN BLOW OUT THE COSTS
For a car costing about $150,000 drive-away, there are some annoying omissions to the standard equipment list.
Porsche insists buyers pay for tech that is standard on many $40,000 cars.
Lowlights include lane-keep assist ($1220), ambient lighting ($850), heated front seats ($910) and ventilated seats ($2120).
Other expensive options include contrast decorative stitching for $7250, a lightweight package (carbon roof, lighter wheels, etc.) for $26,860 and carbon exterior mirrors at $3120. A sports exhaust – it sounds a bit tame otherwise – is $5970.
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