PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS

Specifications

A car we want to hate. Only it’s a bit good and helps pay for more extreme 911s. The Cayenne might finally be growing into its awkward skin, but it’s always been something of an over-achiever. Sure, it can off-road, but its real ability lies on the road, where it drives with quite silly pace and ability for a 4×4.

It was facelifted last year, with a Macan-style front end and enhancements for all the engines. Big news is plug-in tech for the hybrid, but all are greener.

For all its mighty power, the 520bhp Turbo isn’t without some finesse. Porsche’s chassis people are pretty clever, making the Cayenne handle its bulk with athleticism that suggests they’ve made some sort of pact with a higher force. That ability permeates the entire range, even the newly enhanced S E-Hybrid which now has the power and response to match the other variants (the old one was too laggy). The new V6 twin-turbo-powered S with its 420bhp is a good all-round proposition and the V6 diesel is a great all-rounder with a much-needed power boost for 2015. The V8 S Diesel remains too, although the surprise new inter-range challenge from that S E-Hybrid is an interesting one.

SUVs don’t handle? The Cayenne disproves this, with all boasting handling to retain their not-so-easily gained speed, with commendable steering feel and handling precision.