Review of the new Porsche Cayenne 3.6 V6

Only in something the scale of a Porsche Cayenne could a 3.6-litre engine that develops 290bhp be seen as underwhelming but drive this luxury 4x4 and you'll wonder what the point of splashing out for a V8 version is. The change from 3.2 to 3.6-litre capacity slashes a second off the 0-60 time and liberates another 40bhp. It's all the Cayenne you'll need.

Few cars divide opinion like the Porsche Cayenne. There is one camp who see it as an abomination, diluting the Porsche sporting brand and another who think it a very clever and timely piece of opportunism that pulled the company back from the edge of a financial black hole. Then there are the people who have driven a Cayenne. These tend not to be divided in any way, shape or form. They love the Cayenne.

Recently, Porsche's opposition have bared their teeth and the Cayenne needed to answer back. The 250bhp 3.2-litre V6 model was just starting to look a little flaccid in the face of this onslaught so Porsche has done the decent thing and plumbed a much more modern powerplant into the bluff front end of the Cayenne. With 290bhp on tap and coupled with prettier styling for the monster Porsche, this Cayenne is going to attract a whole lot of customers who may once have shielded their childrens' eyes when the previous model drove by.

Since its inception, the Cayenne has appealed to buyers looking for a sharper, more sporting drive from their 4x4. Despite this, it's always been extremely good off road, as long as you don't mind exposing those big alloy wheels to a bit of a pranging. The latest Cayenne aims to improve driveability significantly, thanks in no small part to Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDDC). This system stabilises roll during cornering and is offered as an option on all models. The result on the road is better handling and agility plus greater directional stability and ride comfort. When off-roading, owners will notice better axle articulation.

Engine-wise, the entry-level V6 now uses direct injection technology and the 0-60 time is down to a mere 7.8 seconds and top speed rises to 141mph. In other words it's got enough about it to keep a decent hot hatch honest. It's only on narrow roads that the sheer bulk of the Cayenne becomes apparent. Even the standard chassis without PDDC is astonishingly talented. Porsche Traction Management (PTM) can direct up to 100 per cent of drive to the front or rear wheels if necessary so you'll never be shy of urge when accelerating onto a wet roundabout or away from a T-junction. In fact the biggest problem here is ensuring your hands are quick enough on the wheel to cope with the Cayenne's startling quick step-off from a standing start.

"Few cars divide opinion like the Porsche Cayenne.."

Perhaps Porsche tried a little too hard with the original Cayenne to ally it to the design ethos that had worked so successfully with the 911. As a 'sports ute' it looked rather odd, and became more ungainly the paler the colour it was specified in. The latest model makes amends, giving the Cayenne a front end look all of its own. Where the 997 series 911 has gone back to round headlamps, the Cayenne now gets more feline looking projector beam lights and a grille that's less frog-like than before. This not only looks the part but also significantly improves cooling.

The wheel arches are more clearly defined than before and every Cayenne model is fitted with a rear diffuser and a roof-mounted spoiler. As before, there's plenty of space inside, although if you really want a 4x4 capable of carrying a big family, you'd probably be better off looking at an Audi Q7. The build quality of much of the switchgear has been improved and Porsche has also revised the materials used for the seating.

What often goes forgotten is quite what a bargain this entry-level Cayenne is. Porsche knows that the global volume (and hence the big profits) come from the V8 engined Cayenne versions and given that there's a fairly rigid price structure that Porsche must adhere to, the V6 has to slot in with enough breathing room between the two cars. This means that the entry-level Cayenne 3.6 is priced at £37,100 which now looks comparatively good value for money when put up against direct rivals from BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Even this model is well-equipped and if owners specified the no-cost 'badge delete' option, most onlookers would figure that this was at least £60,000 worth of car. Put simply, this car is £10,000 dearer than a Toyota RAV4 T180 and a good £13,000 cheaper than any Mercedes M Class that could keep up. That this Cayenne is quicker and better built than a £54,000 Range Rover Sport 4.4 V8 tells you all you really need to know about the value proposition. Standard equipment is a bit mean, the 17-inch alloys looking rather sorry for themselves in the Cayenne's vast wheelarches. A Tiptronic auto version is also offered.

Whilst you won't buy a Porsche Cayenne if you're working to a tight budget, they're not the financial liability one might at first expect. The relatively low upfront price makes it an attractive alternative to an executive saloon and residual values, while not as impregnable as they once were, are still relatively firm. Porsche carefully managed the facelift of the Cayenne to ensure that this car is different enough to its immediate predecessor but not so divergent in look and feel as to ruin its used valuation.

It's worth watching the options though. Using Porsche's car configurator, I specified a Cayenne 3.6 as I would have it and with the metallic paint, 20-inch alloys, wheel arch extensions in black, bi-xenon lights, aluminium roof rails, and leather sports seats with memory, the total totted up to £43,550. I would be surprised if even one car leaves the dealers in standard trim, and its worth taking into account the cost of options when figuring out your likely residual values. In case you were wondering, fuel economy is pegged at 21.9 mpg combined, 15.3mpg around town and 28.8mpg on a longer run. That coupled with a 310g/km carbon dioxide emissions figure demonstrates that 2,235kg of petrol-engined car doesn't get moved anywhere on the cheap.

The 3.6-litre Cayenne is uneasily seductive. Perhaps it's the relatively low £37,100 asking price or the fact that it's now decently quick, but it makes buying a huge and highly profligate 4x4 seem like the act of a sane person. Make no mistake, this Cayenne comes with major league bills in terms of fuel, insurance and other ongoing running costs. It might be the entry-level Cayenne but it pays to do your homework first.

The styling updates have done much to make the Cayenne more appealing. Whereas before the Porsche had a face like a sack of scaffold clips, it now looks a good deal sleeker. It's still not what you'd call pretty but progress is progress. Until Porsche releases a diesel or a hybrid Cayenne, this model might well qualify as the best of the bunch. It's certainly the most relevant, if not the most fun.

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