Porsche Cayenne

Wanted by many, the brand’s most successful SUV, the Porsche Cayenne (E3 - third-generation), upgraded for the 2024 model year.

A single locally-assembled (CKD - Kulim) variant for Malaysia, with a price starting from MYR 599,999 (OTR, w/o insurance, two-year warranty).

Exterior colours, Carrara White Metallic, Quarzite Grey Metallic and Chromite Black Metallic. The Porsche Tequipment catalogue (optional add-ons) included.

Designed elegant and premium, the 2024 Cayenne gets a new dashboard, labelled the ‘Porsche Driver Experience’.

Cleanly-aligned, taking precedence are the screen setups (instrument cluster, infotainment, passenger display) and the Porsche Sport Chrono Clock.

Linked is a new centre console, featuring touch-controls (interior, drive settings) and, is deleted of the gear shifter (dash toggle).

Decked-out in soft- and hard-touch panels, the leather upholstery comes in monotone (Black) and dual-tone (Black-Bordeaux Red) colour schemes.

Overall, with a near-symmetrical layout, every accessibility on the dash is ergonomically positioned for the driver.

Featuring the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) setup, installed is a 12.65-Inch fully digital instrument cluster with a head-up display (HUD). 

Interior of the five-seater is upholstered in leather (monotone - Black, dual-tone - Black-Bordeaux Red), embossed with the Porsche crest on the front headrests. 

Fitted are Comfort Seats (front) with electronic adjustments (14-way, memory). The rear sees a bench seat with a 40:20:40 split-fold function (remote release).

Considering it to be a full-fledged SUV, its athletically stocky silhouette offers generous head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front and rear occupants get ample space.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel, wrapped in leather and finished in all-black.

Featured are multi-switches (drive modes, media, vehicle telematics), paddle shifters, and electric column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Drive is aided by Porsche’s Power Steering Plus (Electric Power Steering (EPS)).

The centre console, free of buttons and gear lever, makes room for the spacious armrest and large storage compartments. 

Elsewhere, it has other storage areas like large-sized door pockets, back seat pockets, and a decent-sized glove box.

There are four cup holders, two at the front centre console and two at the rear seating’s centre armrest. Also, there are four bottle holders, located at each side door pocket.

Multiple charging outlets. USB ports, 12 V socket, and a wireless charger. 

Accessing its powered-tailgate (contactless), opens up to 772-Litres (seats up) and 1,708-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacity.

Tipping the scale at 2,180 KG, the 2024 Cayenne stands at 4,930 MM long, 1,983 MM wide, 1,698 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,895 MM.

Commanding and solid, its overall silhouette exudes a planted stance, with clean surfaces and bulbous proportions. 

Sporty and smoothly sculpted, the front-end sees a slightly-dipped hood, cradled by muscular fenders and a highly-vented bumper.

Featured on the latter is a one-piece grille and side intake upper fitment, and a simple skid plate flanked by a set of smaller intake lower fitment.

All fitments are in black, matching the roof rails, window surrounds and lower body claddings (front, rear, sides, fenders).

Horizontally-sculpted, the rear-end portrays a curvaceous outlook, with smooth surfaces and bulbous proportions. 

Clean and elegant, the upper region is adorned with a roof-edge spoiler, the middle with a lightbar and Porsche script, and the lower with a new bumper. 

Featured on the latter is a new lower plate placement, slit-like fog lamps, and a dual-exhaust integrated diffuser.

All fitments are in black, matching the roof rails, window surrounds and lower body claddings (front, rear, sides, fenders).

A classic Porsche eye-drop framing, installed is a set of Matrix LED headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS). 

New, the tail lamps are in a lightbar design, featuring LED units with three-dimensional lighting graphics.

The side mirrors are electronically-powered (fold, adjust) with blind spot- and turn-indicators, and heating and auto-dimming functions.

Fitted are ventilated disc brakes, incorporating six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed callipers (350 MM - front) and four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed callipers (330 MM - rear). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Brake Auto Hold system.

The 2024 Cayenne gets an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite comprising of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Front and Rear Park Assist Sensors with 360-degree Surround-View Monitor, Automatic Brake Differential (ABS), Warn and Brake Assist with Pedestrian Protection, Blind-Spot Monitoring, Porsche Traction Management (PTM), Porsche Hill Control (PHC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Engine Drag Torque Control (MSR), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Trailer Stability Management (TSM).

Other ADAS are a cost option.

Passive safety includes 12 airbags, seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX, parking sensors (six-front, six-rear), soft-close doors, parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), impact beams (front, side, rear), door ajar warning, crash sensor, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), security alarm with anti-theft and engine-immobiliser.

Four drive modes available. Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual. The latter two are courtesy of the Sports Chrono Package.

Installed is a setup of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM), featuring two touchscreen displays, centre-mounted (12.3-Inch) and optional passenger-side-mounted (10.9-Inch).

Courtesy of Porsche Tequipment, included is a Rear Seat Entertainment Package, incorporating two 10.1-Inch rear screens (optional - MYR 13,500).

The suite of ADAS will make long and short journeys less tiresome, at the same time easing the day-to-day manoeuvrability of the SUV. 

Equipped is the Bose Surround Sound System (710 W, 14 speakers)

The 2024 Cayenne harbours a 3.0-Litre direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharged V6 petrol engine, making 348 HP and 500 NM of torque. 

Mated to the engine is an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels, via an Active All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system (Porsche Traction Management (PTM)). 

The setup features an electronically- and map-controlled multi-plate clutch (inter-axle differential lock).

Thanks to the Sports Chrono Package, it can go from 0 to 100 KM/H in 5.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 248 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 75-Litres, and fuel consumption rates at 10.8 L/100 KM.

The 2024 Cayenne has Keyless Entry system, engine On/Off button, powered-tailgate (contactless), four-zone auto-climate control (dedicated rear controls), steering wheel (column adjustments, multi-switches, pedal shifters), auto-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), electronic-powered seats, rear sunshades (auto - open, close), interior illumination system, armrests (front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six-front, six-rear), auto headlamps and wipers, voice control and speed sensing door locks. 

There are rear air-conditioning vents with a set of dedicated controls.

The seats are comfortable, especially with the amount of space the cabin provides. The power is sufficient with well-controlled composure and agile handling.

Featured is the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Adaptive Air Suspension, and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC).

Overall, very spacious with firm handling, suitable as a daily driver. Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) factored in. The cabin is acoustically well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Ultimately, the cabin is able to suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.

The 2024 Porsche Cayenne is built with a sophisticatedly sporty appeal, while still being able to offer space and practicality.

Its beautifully sculpted exterior is very well designed, with clean and seamless lines donating a powerful overall contour. 

Premium-made, the quality of the equipment and materials installed inside, is also impressive with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.

All in all, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne bargains more than just good looks, it also provides a thrilling driving pleasure.