Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Porsche Cayenne Diesel
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Full 2015 Porsche Cayenne Review

What's New for 2015

For 2015, the Porsche Cayenne receives significant changes. The Cayenne S now has a turbocharged V6 rather than a V8 and the plug-in S E-Hybrid replaces last year's S Hybrid. The Turbo also gets 20 extra horsepower and the same torque rating as the old Turbo S. The suspension design has been tweaked to improve ride and handling, and the available air suspension now includes a retractable load sill in the cargo area. A surround-view parking camera is now offered, as are ventilated rear seats. Revised exterior styling, active grille shutters for better fuel economy and additional standard features (with a commensurate higher base price) round out the updates. Note that the base, Turbo S and GTS trim levels are on hiatus and will return in the next model year.

Introduction

For a minute there, it looked as if the 2015 Porsche Cayenne might get lost in the shuffle. With the debut of the compact Porsche crossover SUV earlier this year, the Cayenne suddenly wasn't the hottest SUV under Porsche's roof. But it seems the Cayenne's designers couldn't just stand idly by while the pipsqueak got all the press. Accordingly, the 2015 Cayenne gets a host of upgrades aimed at reinvigorating its flagship status.

Engine offerings are a telltale sign of where a vehicle falls in the Porsche pecking order, and the 2015 Cayenne is clearly on top from this vantage point. Although the fuel-efficient diesel engines soldier on, the popular Cayenne S takes a step forward in terms of both performance and fuel economy. Instead of having a V8 like it did in prior years, it how has a turbocharged V6 (it's also used in the upgrade Macan Turbo). Compared to the old V8, it produces more power and torque, yet returns better fuel economy. The Cayenne Turbo keeps its V8, but it boasts 20 extra horsepower and 37 more pound-feet of torque this year. The more performance-tuned Turbo S and GTS trims take a model year off. They will return for 2016 along with the base model.

The new S E-Hybrid, meanwhile, is a story in itself, bursting on the scene this year as the first plug-in hybrid in the segment (and sending the previous S Hybrid packing). It allows about 14 miles of all-electric propulsion, which isn't a lot, but it's beneficial on short commutes, and the enlarged plug-in battery pack provides more energy to supplement the gasoline engine. This not only improves overall fuel economy, but allows for acceleration that rivals that of the regular Cayenne S.

There are also numerous exterior changes to keep the Cayenne looking fresh alongside its fashion-forward younger sibling, including new front and rear fascias, redesigned LED taillights and available LED headlights. With all the changes afoot for 2015, our consequential complaints about the Cayenne have dwindled to a single kvetch: There's still not much cargo space given the vehicle's significant size. That's one way in which the Cayenne would be expected to set itself apart from the Macan, but it's just not happening as long as the current body style sticks around.

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