- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
4.8TT, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
368kW, 700Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 14.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XC
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
2 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Few would deny the Cayenne four-wheel-drive was a significant development for sports car specialist Porsche but for the purists it probably wasn't a welcome one. So what will they make of this Cayenne, then the first Porsche sports car ever to use a diesel engine?
What do you get?
At $101,900, the diesel costs just $1400 more than the cheapest Cayenne, the V6, and many thousands less than its V8 and tarmac-melting Turbo siblings.
Value appears less convincing if you look further afield. Not only is the Porsche costlier than its relevant competitors, it's not that well endowed with toys, getting leather, power seats and the like but no satellite navigation and only 17-inch wheels. For a $100,000 car, that's disappointing.
How safe?
The Porsche's collection of six airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control and parking sensors is widely competitive.
It could be better, though. Unlike some rivals, there are no rear side airbags and you don't get a reversing camera, either.
What's inside?
The Cayenne features competitive space up front and good seat comfort and adjustability.
Back-seat occupants, too, get a respectable deal, while the handy 540-litre boot expands to a very useful 1770 litres if you drop the split-fold back seats.
By the same measure, the Porsche doesn't feel truly expansive inside, nor is its five-seat layout innovative in terms of packaging and versatility. And the drab design and dark colouring lend a somewhat gloomy feel, though everything is very solidly built.
Small-item storage, too, amounts to little once you get past the glovebox, centre console bin and thin door pockets, while some of the switchgear such as the trip computer that hides the average fuel use figure behind a raft of menus could be easier to use.
Under the bonnet
As with the petrol V6, the diesel gets its engine from the Volkswagen Audi Group.
Don't hold that against it. Not only is the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 strong enough to keep the competition honest on paper, it's also good on the road.
The Porsche lacks the idle refinement and soaring top-end that marks the brilliant petrol engines but in most respects it lives up to the expectations of the badge.
It's fast for a big diesel 4WD, sprinting from rest to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds. It's responsive, with a plentiful 550Nm torque peak from low in the rev range, while the smooth six-speed automatic minimises turbo lag.
The V6 also sounds suitably determined, though it's not spine-tingling in the manner of your typical Porsche six.
It is economical, though. We averaged a commendable 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres on our combined urban-highway test loop not as good as the 9.3L/100km official claim but considerably better than its petrol siblings, which start at 12.9L/100km.
On the road
Like other Cayennes, the diesel feels ponderous in tight urban going but on the open road it handles with dexterity.
While it never feels truly agile, the progressive steering responds smartly and it has grip (our test car ran on optional 18-inch wheels), poise and predictability.
Our steel-sprung test car (air suspension is also available but costs more) also rode well, smothering the bumps effectively but not so much so that you felt disconnected from what was going on.
The Cayenne's all-wheel-drive system delivers excellent traction. A differential lock and low-range gearing, as well as good ground clearance, make it one of the few luxury 4WDs that can venture off road. Why, then, has Porsche fitted a space-saver spare?
Verdict
If you're pondering pursuing a Cayenne V6 but worried about fuel economy, the diesel is a worthy, able and perhaps even preferable substitute.
However, while the Porsche is above average in some ways, it's also good rather than great in many departments that count, such as the cabin, and less-than-stellar value.
And with other luxury 4WDs boasting more toys and similar performance and dynamic capabilities, this might not quite be enough to tempt everyone.