Porsche Cayenne review

With the eight-way electrically adjustable driver's seat you get on entry-level models, there's no lumbar adjustment for altering back support on long journeys. The optional 14-way seat (standard on Turbo models) has this useful feature, and, in conjunction with a steering wheel that offers plenty of reach and angle adjustment, no one should have any difficulty getting comfortable behind the wheel. You don't sit as high as you do in a Range Rover Sport, though.

All the major controls, including temperature and fan speed, are easy to find, but the cruise control buttons are tucked away behind the steering wheel. Some of the minor controls are operated by touch-sensitive buttons on the central console, and because you can’t find them by feel in the way that you can with physical buttons, you have to look away from the road to use them.

Porsche’s semi-digital instrument cluster is clever at putting information, such as the sat-nav map, directly below your line of sight, but the steering wheel intrudes on your view of the two outer dials. In hybrid models the display also shows your remaining electric range, as well as diagrams of the current energy flow.

All Cayennes give you a lofty driving position on par with the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, although the Range Rover Sport perches you even higher, if you’re into that kind of thing. The result is a decent view out, and a relatively clear one thanks to windscreen pillars that aren’t too thick. The rear pillars are pretty chunky, though, so you’ll be grateful for the standard front and rear parking sensors. Should you need a little more help, rear-view and 360deg cameras are optional.

Bright LED headlights are standard for more relaxing night driving. These can be upgraded to 'matrix' adaptive LED headlights that can automatically shape their light pattern to avoid dazzling other road users, allowing you to keep the main beams on even with cars in front.

All Cayennes have a giant 12.0in touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. It has sharp graphics and proves responsive to touches and swipes, rarely lagging until you zoom in and out of maps really quickly. Most of its icons are a decent size, although the layers of menus and the sheer number of functions can require lots of practice to find your way around. It's fine to use when you’re stationary, but can prove troublesome on the move. That's why we much prefer BMW's rotary iDrive controller.

Sat-nav, DAB radio and Bluetooth are standard, as is smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay, but there’s no Android Auto. There's also a Porsche-designed app available that, among other things, lets you send navigation destinations to the car from your smartphone. 

The standard stereo has 10 speakers but a fairly puny 150 watts. Music lovers might want to upgrade to the reasonably-priced Bose 14-speaker system (standard on the Turbo and Turbo S E-Hybrid models), and there's a mega-expensive Burmester upgrade above that.

Porsche has earned a reputation for high quality, and the Cayenne’s interior is rich with dense, squidgy plastics, supple leather and switches that operate with slick precision. If you want your surroundings to be even more indulgent, you can add an extended leather pack for the dash and doors, but it’s not a cheap upgrade. 

The overall effect is rather spoiled, though, by the presence of some 'Poundland chrome' plastics dotted around, including on the steering wheel. Arguably, the Cayenne’s interior presentation is a little dour compared with the glitzy Mercedes GLE or the exuberant Lamborghini Urus, but taste is a personal thing.