2018 Porsche Cayenne

The Cayenne was the first SUV from Porsche when it debuted in 2003. This is the second-generation for the midsize SUV, with an all-new model expected later this year.

The Cayenne is a Porsche that can seat five and take luggage with comfort. It's no 911, but it has much of that car's handling and ride baked in. As far as SUVs go, this one is definitely a Porsche. It can also go off-road, with an all-wheel drive system and adjustable air suspension.

Porsche offers a wide range of Cayennes, ranging from the base model to the 570 hp Turbo S.

The base Cayenne offers a 3.6L V6 that makes 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It has standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Cayenne comes comfortably equipped but offers an extensive options list. On top of more than a dozen interior colour options, buyers can choose 14-way power seats or 18-way adaptive sport seats. A premium package bundles the 14-way seats with park assist, adaptive xenon headlights, and a moonroof. Premium Plus adds rear sunshades, heated seats, LED headlights, and lane change assist. The Sport package adds air suspension with ride height control and a sports exhaust. Other options include extensive colour and trim choices, as well as a heated windscreen.

Cayenne Platinum bundles 20-inch wheels, fender flares, adaptive headlights, and park assist into one well-equipped package. It's designed to bundle popular options into a package that offers more value.

The Cayenne S adds twin-turbos to the 3.6L V6, boosting power to 420 hp and torque to 406 lb-ft.

The Turbo and Turbo S add big V8 power to the Cayenne. They use a 4.8L twin-turbo V8 and make 520 hp and 570 hp respectively. Active air suspension is standard, with Porsche dynamic chassis control standard on Turbo S. Added standard equipment includes a Bose surround audio system, LED headlights, and 18-way adjustable adaptive seats.

Cayenne GTS uses the V6 but boosts power to 440 hp. It also comes with a lowered suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management. A sport exhaust lets you push a button to make more noise. This model is for buyers who want better handling without the cost and power of the V8 Turbo. Special 20-inch wheels are standard and the GTS has larger brakes from the Turbo.

The e-hybrid Cayenne S is the green model. The plug-in hybrid can travel on electric power only for up to 23 km. Perfect for short trips. But it will run in hybrid mode and uses the 95 hp electric boost to bump power from the supercharged 3.0L V6 to 416 hp and 435 lb-ft. This model doesn't feel like a hybrid, but boosts both performance and economy.

Rated fuel economy for the Cayenne ranges from 12.9 L/100 km city, 9.7 highway for the base model to 16.7/11.2 for the Turbo S. The Cayenne S e-hybrid is rated for 5.1 Le/100km or 11.3/9.8 in hybrid mode.