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2008 Porsche Cayenne Tiptronic
2008 Porsche Cayenne Tiptronic


Base price: $46,400

As tested: $51,650

3.6-liter, 290-hp V6

14 city/20 highway

More info:
www.porsche.com/usa



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Like the Infiniti FX SUV, the Porsche Cayenne is an odd-looking vehicle. But while some idiosyncratic rides leave us flat (the Murano, for example), the Cayenne intrigues, and recent front end updates make it even more compelling. The jawline of the last model looked not unlike a smiling child's toy. The new, much more aggressive grill has the look of a feral, snarling animal. Yes, it's still odd-looking, but it's an ugly duckling we really like.

As we've noted before, Porsche designers are least concerned with interiors. So it's not a surprise that the new Cayenne's cabin isn't like a suite at the Four Seasons. Pluses include tremendous front and rear legroom, an oversized boot with an all-weather mat and a terrific automatic rear hatch. Irritations included a small sunroof and the lack of a back-up camera or reverse sensors, which are really a must in a vehicle this size.

We tested the base model Cayenne, which features a 3.6-liter, 290-horse V6. (In comparison, the Cayenne S has 385 horses, and the Turbo a beefy 500.) It took a few seconds to get the Cayenne rolling, but once it was, we gave it solid points in the power department (0 to 60 in 7.9 and a top speed of 141). Our tester had the optional Tiptronic S transmission (an extra $3K), which we thought was overkill in a truck with this little horsepower. However, even though the steering wheel-mounted control buttons were awkward, shifting was much crisper than in regular auto mode.

-- by John D. Thomas

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