Porsche updated its Cayenne SUV for the 2011 model year, giving the S trim model torque vectoring for its all-wheel-drive system and new cabin tech. With Porsche DNA, this model handles better than most rival SUVs.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Although it uses the same engine as the previous model, Porsche updated the all-wheel-drive system and cabin tech for the 2011 Cayenne S. It also gets some minor exterior changes.
The 4.8-liter direct injection V-8 in the Cayenne S produces 400 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy, at 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, is reasonable for an engine of this power.
The Cayenne S employs a substantial amount of suspension technology to help it handle off-road situations or hard cornering. Porsche added torque vectoring to its all-wheel-drive system.
The Cayenne S is also a luxury vehicle, as can be seen and felt in the cabin. Quality materials, such as leather and aluminum cover surfaces and are used for switches.
