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2004 Porsche Cayenne S Road Test Update

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Khatir Soltani
Purveying Passion is Porsche's Business

There are vehicles a person buys because of needs, and then there are vehicles a person buys because they just can't help themselves. Flights of passion are what Porsche cars and now, SUVs are all about.

If it were not for the Cayenne SUV, it's quite possible Porsche would no longer be an independent manufacturer producing great sports cars. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
While some have lambasted the legendary brand for entering the sport utility segment, others recognize Porsche's need to expand its marketshare overall, and increase its bottom line so that it can continue building sports cars like the Boxster, 911 - in all its guises - and Carrera GT. After all, if it were not for the Cayenne, it's quite possible Porsche would not have weathered the current drought in car sales and be gobbled up by a multi-make automaker - albeit 911 sales are up 20 percent in the U.S. as of April 2004.

The Porsche SUV is simply the best all-round sport utility money can buy. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)
But there's another argument for the Cayenne, and a better one I might add. It's simply the best all-round sport utility money can buy, at least from a driver's perspective. It handles with greater stability than some sport sedans and most competitive sport utilities, with only BMW's X3 and X5, plus Infiniti's FX capable of giving it a run for its money on pavement. But none of these is at all capable in serious off-road conditions. Here, as previously reported in a special "Off-Road Test," the Cayenne has few rivals as well, especially when optioned out with the driver adjustable air suspension (PASM).

So why an update review on a vehicle that has been thoroughly covered in a previous road test as well as a separate off-road test? Because of some good improvements Porsche has made since the Cayenne's inception, as well as some problems that have cropped up along the way.
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada