Is the brand new Porsche Cayenne nonetheless probably the most driver-centric luxurious SUV? We drive from Guwahati to Cherrapunji to seek out out.
As stunning and picturesque as it’s, Meghalaya is severely underrated. Lush inexperienced forests, beautiful valleys, heat folks and a number of the finest roads within the nation. It won’t sound like the proper setting for a luxurious SUV, but it surely positive is ideal for a Porsche.
So to pattern the Cayenne facelift, we had been flown to Guwahati, from the place we’d be driving on a lovely highway, for round 150km to Cherrapunji – one of many wettest locations on earth.
Refined modifications to the design which solely a Porsche afficianado would be capable of spot.
Rainfall right here averages across the 11,000mm mark, which, for reference, is nearly six occasions that of Mumbai (which is supposedly at all times flooded). Additionally, this was the height of the monsoons, so the expectation was that the wipers can be doing extra work than the rest within the automotive.
Porsche Cayenne facelift suspension, tech and options
We began the day on a surprisingly heat morning with no indicators of the notorious downpour. It was sizzling! With the Cayennes gleaming, parked in a convoy with German precision, we picked those we preferred to have a look at and made a beeline for Cherrapunji, seeking rain.
Drive modes provide wide selection of set-ups.
The brand new inside positive does make the Cayenne really feel like a Taycan; that is largely as a result of triple screens on the dashboard, out of which, the passenger display is a Rs 1.5 lakh non-compulsory further. Since I used to be within the passenger seat for our first stint, I poked round to see what was on provide. It’s slick and responsive and vibrant as effectively, and it allowed me to arrange the media and navigation, and if it had web connectivity, it might enable streaming content material as effectively. A neat security function is that the passenger display is just not seen to the motive force courtesy of a particular tint.
An alternative choice that was a part of the bundle was the Rs 2.8 lakh Bose sound system, which was simply epic. The centre console too is closely up to date with the chunky gear lever being omitted to make more room. The gear selector is now a toggle-style swap on the dashboard. Instead of the previous selector is a shiny panel for the local weather management operate, and by the point we crossed the lodge gates, it was smudged in fingerprints.
Comfortable rear seats are extra practical than luxurious.
Getting out of Guwahati isn’t a lot of a problem barring some mild site visitors, and as soon as you might be on open roads, the Cayenne comes into its personal. As a passenger, I might inform the brand new closely reworked suspension was working wonders. Battered sections had been surprisingly simple to get throughout they usually had been barely noticeable within the cabin. This might be anticipated in a Vary Rover, however on a Cayenne, which has historically been a sporty SUV, it was pleasantly sudden. The Indian model will get air suspension as commonplace and Porsche Lively Suspension Administration (PASM) with its two-valve know-how. It’s extraordinarily intelligent tech, and it’s calibrated completely for Indian circumstances.
Sports activities Exhaust is a Rs 5.9 lakh choice, however well worth the worth.
On the lunch cease, it was time to get behind the wheel and see how the brand new Cayenne drives. It started with Shillong’s peak site visitors although. Faculties had opened up and it was chaos on the very fairly but additionally very slender streets. As we inched forward, the parking sensors with the gorgeous 360-degree digital camera had been perpetually on show beeping and flashing as bikers prevented grazing the bulbous fenders.
Porsche Cayenne facelift engine, efficiency, trip & dealing with
However lastly, we inched out of Shillong and onto what may probably be some of the gorgeous roads in India. The ultimate 50-odd kilometres unveiled the true magic of the North East and the Cayenne.
The suspension on the brand new Cayenne that has improved considerably and upped trip high quality.
The engine within the Cayenne is a extra highly effective 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 which now makes 353hp and 500Nm; not probably the most thrilling figures, and even performance-wise, it received’t make you giggle. It does the 0-100kph dash in 6 seconds and you probably have the Rs 2.2 lakh Sports activities Chrono pack, it should shave off 0.3 secs as effectively. On the uphill sections in Sport Plus, you may inform the engine likes to rev excessive and energy is robust, particularly within the mid-range and top-end. Change the mode to Consolation and it simmers down, however the response remains to be fairly robust.
This V6, by the way, can even be the only engine on provide in India. The 659hp Turbo GT with its V8 wouldn’t meet emissions norms and the e-hybrid didn’t discover many patrons to be viable. Nevertheless, the Cayenne S with its 474hp V8 might make it to India.
Twisties stay a Porsche speciality, providing dealing with that’s second to none.
However greater than the outright efficiency, it’s the dealing with that has at all times been a Porsche trait. Present the brand new Cayenne a set of corners, swap to Sport Plus mode, which corporations up the suspension, and abruptly you aren’t driving an SUV. Phrases like lean and physique roll exit the window and the satisfaction of a well-calibrated steering is second to none. I might suggest getting the Rs 5.9 lakh non-compulsory sports activities exhaust that provides drama and makes the in any other case refined V6 extra thrilling.
Porsche Cayenne facelift styling
Nearer to Cherrapunji, darkish clouds solid their shadow by way of the Rs 4 lakh panoramic sunroof. We had been in for a full cloudburst showdown however we reached the resort in time and the heavens opened simply as we parked the vehicles, washing away the day’s drive.
Like each Porsche, the brand new Cayenne too is an evolution and never a revolution.
The torrid rainfall was nearly as good as a strain wash and as soon as it stopped, the nuances within the design updates had been once more a delight to see. Like each Porsche, the brand new Cayenne too is an evolution and never a revolution. The headlamps are barely sharper, the MATRIX LEDs are techier and the bumpers are redesigned. There’s 20-inch wheels as commonplace, however you may select from as many as 24 wheel choices, starting from 20-inch to 22-inch. Decals are additionally an choice if you wish to spruce up the styling and the rear is now sleeker to have a look at due to the repositioning of the quantity plate.
Porsche Cayenne facelift worth and verdict
This being a evaluate, on the way in which again, I did what most Cayenne house owners received’t do, or quite, shouldn’t do – I sat within the again seat. The sporty theme is carried over from the entrance and whereas it’s no Vary Rover, there was enough house to stretch out in, and actual cozy seats with local weather controls on the left and proper, and non-compulsory further solar blinds. And due to the excellent suspension, you’ve distinctive trip high quality.
On the face of it, not an enormous change however loads of enhancements underneath the pores and skin.
That stated, there’s a sense that you’re lacking out on one thing although, it doesn’t really feel as particular because it does from the motive force’s seat. At Rs 1.3 crore, it isn’t low-cost, and by the point some important choices are ticked, you get very near the Rs 2 crore mark. So to purchase this automotive, you’ll want to be very positive of what you need for choices in addition to utility. If you wish to be chauffeured round, there are higher choices, and likewise in order for you one thing snazzy and unique. However if you wish to drive your self and are assured that you’ll make it out of town typically, different SUVs will wrestle to return near the brand new Cayenne.
