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Review of the 2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS

2009 Porsche Cayenne

Price Range $44,600 to $123,600

suitable for: Diapers
School
Teens

11 to 14
City MPG

17 to 20
Hwy MPG

5 Seats
2 Rows
2 Latch Connectors
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Exterior

The Cayenne’s exterior is really sharp-looking. It’s understated, and its large grille reminds you it’s not just another small SUV. My test car was Crystal Silver Metallic, and it didn’t turn a lot of heads.

However, people who know cars noticed the Cayenne. They checked out its red Porsche brake calipers, and they knew what Cayenne meant (for the record, it means a lot of horsepower and torque, not pepper).

Beware this review could get a little technical because I have to mention these features that go above and beyond a regular ol’ car’s features. The Cayenne has a suspension management system that lowers it 2 centimeters for high-speed stability, but I used this feature to help my kids get in the car more easily. A traction management system sends torque where it’s needed (front or rear), and it also allows you to go into low-range gearing for off-road use and towing.

The Cayenne has all the fun features I look for in a car of this caliber: power liftgate, sharp front-end design, fog lights and 21-inch wheels. What it doesn’t have is a rearview camera. This was tricky because visibility wasn’t great in the Cayenne. You can get the optional rearview camera with front and rear parking sensors for $2,670, but my test car didn’t have them.

Driving the Cayenne made up for the lack of a backup camera. What’s the point of looking backward if I’m going forward really fast, like the Cayenne encourages me to? Right? The Cayenne has a top track speed of 157 mph and goes from zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds. Can your small SUV do that? I’ll answer for you: No.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair-Great
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Groove Freakin’ On

shopping around: At cars.com

key exterior: Features

    ● Bright red brake calipers
    ● Badging
    ● Front-end styling
    ● Air-suspension system
    ● Power liftgate

available exterior: Colors

  • Basalt Black Metallic
  • Black
  • Crystal Silver Metallic
  • GTS Red
  • Jarama Beige Metallic
  • Macadamia Metallic
  • Marine Blue Metallic
  • Meteor Gray Metallic
  • Nordic Gold Metallic
  • Olive Green Metallic
  • Sand White

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