Aside from new versions of existing products, the latest trend amongst premium automakers is to create a coupe-esque version of their respective SUV models. One of the more recent coupe SUV introductions has been the Porsche Cayenne S Coupe, which I had a go in recently.
A strange concept
SUVs with a sloping roofline are the quickest way to divide a room at a braai, with some people besotted with them, and others crying sacrilege. Either way, the business case for such a creation is strong, with global SUV sales skyrocketing, and increased demand for more niche versions of these high-riding machines.
The Cayenne Coupe
For me, the Cayenne, of all the Volkswagen Audi Group products to be built on the MLBevo platform, the Porsche is the most suited to receiving the coupe treatment. This mostly because the brand’s Boxster, Cayman, Panamera and 911 all feature signature sloping, rounded rear-ends, making the Cayenne Coupe more familial in its appearance.
The new roofline makes the car 20mm lower while also being slightly longer and wider than the ‘regular’ Cayenne. This comes at a cost though, with the standard Cayenne S coming in at around 30kg lighter. There are the optional ‘Lightweight Packages’ which include a ‘double-bubble’ carbon fibre roof, less soundproofing and forged alloy wheels, but expect to pay for this, handsomely.
Locally, the Cayenne S, which is likely to make up the bulk of coupe sales, comes in at around R116 000 more than the standard Cayenne. The price for a more rounded rump is rear space, which, ironically, includes slightly more rear headroom, but drastically less boot space at 625-litres for the coupe versus 770-litres for the standard Cayenne. This means that you have to want the coupe to justify owning one versus the standard Cayenne.
The press car
The model that I had on test was the Cayenne S, finished in a colour called Crayon, and fitted with 21-inch RS Spyder design wheels. Under the bonnet is an Audi-sourced twin-turbo V6 mated with an eight-speed torque converter automatic and four-wheel drive. It produces 324kW/550Nm, making a 0-100km/h time of 5.0 seconds possible.
The Porsche brand manages to make all of its products either segment leaders or very close to the summit of their respective segment when it comes to driver satisfaction and dynamics. The Cayenne, despite its makers implying that it is the 911 of the SUV world, is very adept when pushing on, but this is no sports car, nor should it be. The Cayenne is a very accomplished all-rounder, something that provides performance, practicality, mild off-road ability and phenomenal levels of fit, finish and overall build quality.
Verdict
The Cayenne Coupe is a great modern automotive package, striking a balance between being reasonably attainable while blending a degree of practicality with high performance from a brand that has made a successful enterprise from those very attributes. Those looking for one or the other would be better off in one of the brand’s 911 models, or just a regular Cayenne, though. Expect to see many of these populating local roads.
Pricing
Porsche Cayenne S coupe R 1 451 000
